There are a few milestones that expectant mothers look forward to most: feeling their baby kick for the first time and seeing their baby for the first time during an ultrasound.
While you never know exactly when you’ll feel those first few flutters (it can vary), your ultrasound cadence is much more predictable. These imaging tests use sound waves to create pictures of your baby in the womb, which helps our team monitor your pregnancy, track your baby’s growth, and detect potential issues early.
Our team here at OBGYN Westside, PLLC, offers prenatal ultrasounds to expectant mothers from our offices on the Upper West Side of New York City and recommends the right ultrasound schedule for you. If you have questions about your upcoming ultrasound, don’t hesitate to ask.
In the meantime, here’s a general look at when you need prenatal ultrasounds and why you need them.
The timing of ultrasounds during pregnancy typically follows a schedule that aligns with key developmental milestones during each trimester.
Known as the anatomy scan, your second-trimester ultrasound evaluates your baby’s organs, growth, and development. Because your baby’s body is fully developed at this time, many parents use this as an opportunity to learn their baby’s sex if desired.
There is an early anatomy ultrasound at 15-17 weeks and then a follow up detailed anatomy ultrasound at 20-22.
Later ultrasounds are sometimes recommended to assess your baby’s position, amniotic fluid levels, and overall health as you near delivery.
Ultrasounds can also be included in non-stress tests during your third trimester. A non-stress test (NST) is a simple, non-invasive test that monitors your baby's heart rate and movement to make sure they’re healthy and getting enough oxygen.
Additional ultrasounds may be necessary if you have a high-risk pregnancy or your OBGYN Westside provider needs more information about your baby’s health.
Scenarios where you might benefit from additional ultrasounds include:
You might also need another ultrasound if your technician couldn’t capture all the necessary images in a previous ultrasound based on your baby’s movement or position.
Prenatal ultrasounds have three very important purposes. Our team uses ultrasounds to:
Ultrasounds allow our team to monitor your baby’s development. We can check that your baby is growing as expected and measure vital markers like heart rate and movement.
Ultrasounds help identify structural issues, genetic abnormalities, or other health concerns that may require further testing or treatment. For example, if the ultrasound reveals that your baby has a cleft lip, you can prepare ahead and plan for their future surgery.
Ultrasounds also help our team prepare for your delivery. For example, if your placenta is covering your cervix — a condition known as placenta previa — or if your baby is breech, you may need a C-section. Both of these conditions can be confirmed via ultrasound.
While traditional ultrasounds focus on medical assessment, 4D ultrasounds provide detailed images and videos of your baby. These are typically optional rather than medical evaluation.
During your ultrasound, you lie on an exam table. Your technician applies a warm gel to your abdomen and uses a handheld device called a transducer that moves over your belly and sends sound waves to create an image of your baby on a screen. The process is 100% noninvasive, painless, and usually lasts about 30 minutes.
After your ultrasound technician completes your scan, your OBGYN Westside provider reviews your results and discusses them with you.
Questions about your upcoming ultrasound? Give us a call or book an appointment online today. For prenatal emergencies, call our after-hours number.
