Preparing for Your First Obstetrics Ultrasound

If you are a pregnant woman, then you will go through a series of tests and examinations throughout the duration of your pregnancy. And, your obstetrics professional will complete the exams like your ultrasound. There are some things that you should do to prepare for the imaging, so keep reading to find out what you should do.

1. Drink Water Beforehand

The first ultrasound will often be completed at either the six- to eight-week or the ten- to thirteen-week mark. This will depend on how your pregnancy is progressing and whether or not your doctor wants to examine the fetus early due to high-risk pregnancy concerns. Both of these early ultrasounds will require you to drink some water beforehand. And, you will most likely need to consume the fluid about one to two hours before your scheduled appointment. Your doctor will give you clearer instructions. 

Water consumption is extremely important for clear imaging during the early parts of the pregnancy. Specifically, a full bladder helps the sound waves reach the uterus more easily so your physician can clearly identify anatomical structures of the fetus. 

If you are asked to drink water, you should drink the entire recommended fluid amount. And, since your bladder will be full, you want to wear loose and comfortable clothing that will not press on your bladder as you wait for your appointment. You should also make sure that you arrive at your appointment on time so you can be escorted to the ultrasound room as soon as possible so your urge to urinate is not overwhelming.

2. Collect and Provide Accurate Information

At the time of your ultrasound, your obstetrics professional will measure your fetus to make sure its growth is on track. Your doctor will use your last menstrual period along with these measurements to determine your due date. With that said, measurements can also indicate that your fetus is smaller than usual and that more testing must be completed to make sure that your baby is well. 

So, to best assist the doctor with measurements, you want to provide the most accurate date of your last menstrual period. While this information should have already been provided during the first few visits, you may want to solidify the date a bit better if you previously gave an approximate range. Also, you want to provide your doctor with any additional medical information, like family medical histories.

For more information, contact an obstetric clinic. 


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