If you are expecting a baby, you might be scheduled to have an ultrasound. An ultrasound is one of the best ways to determine if the baby is growing right and if they are healthy. The doctor can see from the ultrasound pictures if the baby has any medical problems, if the mother's body is responding properly and so much more. Here are some things that you need to know about getting an ultrasound.

Who Will Do The Ultrasound?

Your doctor generally will not administer the ultrasound. Although they could do the ultrasound, they generally have an ultrasound technician do that actual ultrasound. They tell the technician what pictures to take, the organs to measure, and what they need to see.

For this reason, while you are getting the ultrasound, you should not ask medical questions to the technician. They are only certified to administer the ultrasound, not diagnose from it. Even though the technician may be able to see problems, they cannot tell you. Instead, they will send it to the doctor and refer you to them. The only exception to this is the gender of your baby. If you choose to find out the gender, the technician can tell you if it is a boy or girl.

How Often Do You Get An Ultrasound?

You will get a couple ultrasounds in your pregnancy if your pregnancy is normal. Many times, it depends on your insurance and how many they will pay for. As a general rule, everyone will get an ultrasound between 18-22 weeks of pregnancy. This is the ultrasound that will tell you if it is a girl or a boy and can detect any problems with the baby. The technician will measure all of the organs and the mother's fluid and look for any abnormalities. In some cases, you will get an ultrasound in the beginning stages of the pregnancy, around 8-12 weeks, and then if there are complications, you could get more ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy. High-risk pregnancies tend to get more ultrasounds.

Are There Any Risks Of Getting Ultrasounds?

There seems to be very little risk of ultrasounds. The baby seems to be able to handle the procedure well, and it causes no discomfort to the mother. The benefits of an ultrasound outweigh any minimal risks, which is why it is recommended that you get an ultrasound during your pregnancy. However you should only get an ultrasound done with a certified technician, just to be safe.

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