Ultrasounds are pretty much a standard procedure for women who are expecting a child. Most doctors recommend that you get at least one ultrasound around your 18-22 week mark. This is where they will look at the baby's growth and development. This ultrasound will help to determine if the baby is healthy and if there are any concerns. Here are some things that you need to know about an ultrasound.

Is An Ultrasound Safe For The Baby?

Luckily, an ultrasound is completely safe for the baby, so long as they are controlled and not too often. There have been multiple studies that have looked at how an ultrasound affects the fetus. These studies show that so long as there are only a couple ultrasounds, everything should be fine. It is when the mother gets an excessive amount of ultrasounds that they start to worry about the effects on the baby.

Anything that has that much magnetic force shouldn't be used in excess. Instead, you should only do a quick ultrasound and nothing more. It is when you start to get ultrasounds at places that are not certified to do it, and the technician keeps the ultrasound on the fetus for too long that you start to become concerned.

What Should I Expect From The Ultrasound Tech?

In many cases you will get the ultrasound done by a radiology technician. This is a person who is not a trained doctor, but who has been specifically trained in doing ultrasounds. These technicians know exactly what pictures to take and what areas they need to look at.

Although the technician can tell you the gender of the baby, they cannot give you a medical diagnostic. For instance, if they see something abnormal with the heart then they cannot tell you there is a problem. Instead, they send the pictures and test results to a qualified medical professional. This doctor will interpret the results and advise you on what to do next.

Are There Any Reasons Not To Get An Ultrasound?

There are no real reasons that you shouldn't get an ultrasound, but there are some limitations that you need to be aware of. An ultrasound has given inconclusive results. For instance, the baby may appear to have a problem, like down syndrome, in the ultrasound and be born without any abnormalities. Blood tests are usually more effective in determining problems. However, an ultrasound is a great tool for deciding if blood tests are necessary.

These are just some of the things you need to know about ultrasounds. For further assistance, contact professionals, such as those from Hudson Valley Imaging.