Obstetric ultrasound is a routine part of antenatal care, using high-frequency sound waves to create images of the uterus and its contents. It can be used to evaluate a pregnancy, check for fetal abnormalities, guide medical procedures, and confirm that no fetal or placental tissue has been left behind after a miscarriage or abortion. However, it should not be used for generating souvenir images or videos of developing infants unless there is a medical need.
Obstetric ultrasound is an ultrasound imaging technique designed to be used in the prenatal care process. There are a wide variety of uses for obstetric ultrasound and this procedure is a routine part of antenatal care for many women, especially women in Europe and the United States. Some laymen are familiar with the images generated during an obstetric ultrasound, as the technician often prints out images for parents to view and explains to parents the structures displayed on screen during the course of the procedure.
In ultrasound imaging, high-frequency sound waves are bounced off the body to create an image of the contents. This is accomplished by using a transducer that emits waves and then listens for the response, generating an image based on the length of the response time and the frequency change. The result can be a still or moving image, with advanced technology used to create three-dimensional ultrasound images that provide even more detail.
The image can be obtained by coating the belly in a conductive gel and sliding the transducer along the belly, or by inserting the transducer into the vaginal canal to obtain a better image, in which case the procedure is known as a transvaginal ultrasound. The resulting image will represent the uterus and its contents, along with surrounding structures.
There are a wide variety of applications for obstetric ultrasound. This type of medical imaging is routinely used to evaluate a pregnancy by determining how far along the pregnancy is and confirming that the fetus is developing normally. An ultrasound can also be used specifically to check for fetal abnormalities or problems such as a detached placenta. If a mother has pregnancy complications that indicate fetal distress, obstetric ultrasound can be used as a diagnostic tool to check the baby’s status without using invasive techniques.
A doctor may also use obstetric ultrasound to guide specific medical procedures. In prenatal testing that involves taking samples of amniotic fluid or placenta, ultrasound is used to guide the biopsy needle so that the fetus is not injured. Obstetric ultrasound can also be used following a miscarriage or abortion procedure to confirm that no fetal or placental tissue has been left behind. Failure to check the remaining tissue can lead to infection and complications, including a loss of fertility.
Several government health agencies have specifically recommended against the use of obstetric ultrasound for the purpose of generating souvenir images or videos of developing infants. While ultrasounds don’t appear to cause harm to developing babies, they also haven’t been shown to be perfectly safe, meaning they should be avoided unless there is a medical need for an ultrasound. During a medically necessary ultrasound screening, such as a diagnostic screening to confirm the age of pregnancy, parents may ask the ultrasound technician for still images.
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