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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffA fetal ultrasound can be done at any point during pregnancy. Your health care provider may use a fetal ultrasound to:
- Confirm the pregnancy and its location. Some embryos develop in the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus. A fetal ultrasound can help your health care provider detect and treat a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy.
- Determine your baby's gestational age. Knowing the baby's age can help your health care provider determine your due date and track various milestones throughout your pregnancy.
- Confirm the number of babies. If your health care provider suspects a multiple pregnancy, an ultrasound may be done to resolve the question.
- Evaluate your baby's growth. Your health care provider can use ultrasound to determine whether your baby is growing at a normal rate. Ultrasound can be used to monitor your baby's movement, breathing and heart rate as well.
- Study the placenta. The placenta provides your baby with vital nutrients and oxygen-rich blood. Any problems with the placenta need special attention.
- Identify fetal abnormalities. An ultrasound can help your health care provider detect various congenital abnormalities. An early diagnosis may lead to early interventions that help save or improve a baby's life.
- Investigate signs or symptoms. If you're bleeding or having other complications, an ultrasound may help your health care provider determine the cause.
- Perform other prenatal tests. Your health care provider may use ultrasound to guide needle placement during certain prenatal tests, such as checking a sample of amniotic fluid for specific genetic problems (amniocentesis) or testing a sample of the placenta for genetic abnormalities (chorionic villus sampling).
- Determine fetal position before delivery. A C-section may be needed if the baby is in an abnormal position.
Fetal ultrasound isn't recommended simply to determine a baby's sex — but it may be a bonus for curious parents when an ultrasound is done for medical reasons. Similarly, fetal ultrasound isn't recommended solely for the purpose of producing keepsake videos or pictures.
If your health care provider doesn't suggest a fetal ultrasound but you'd like the reassurance the exam can provide, share your wishes as you work together to determine what's best for you and your baby.
- Routine tests in pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp133.cfm. July 24, 2009.
- Shipp TD. Ultrasound examination in obstetrics and gynecology. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Shipp TD. Physics and safety of diagnostic ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Routine prenatal ultrasonography as a screening tool. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Ultrasound. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1167.asp. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Keepsake fetal imaging. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. http://www.aium.org/publications/viewStatement.aspx?id=31. Accessed July 23, 2009.
- Avoid fetal "keepsake" images, heartbeat monitors. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm095508.htm. Accessed July 23, 2009.
- Ectopic pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp155.cfm. Accessed July 27, 2009.
- Special tests for monitoring fetal health. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp098.cfm. Accessed July 28, 2009.
- Fetal echocardiography. The American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4686. Accessed July 28, 2009.
- Ultrasonography in pregnancy. Washington, D.C.: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.guideline.gov/summary/pdf.aspx?doc_id=14180&stat=1&string=ultrasonography+AND+pregnancy. Accessed July 28, 2009.
