You’re pregnant and you want to know what’s going on with your baby.
Ultrasounds are a great way for expecting mothers to get an inside look at their unborn child. There are many different types of ultrasounds, and it can be confusing to understand which one you might need.
That’s why we put together this article to explain the main differences.
Keep reading to learn more.
Types of Ultrasounds Explained
Understanding the types of ultrasounds will help you determine which one is best for you. This is important because you don’t want to pay for a scan that you don’t need.
It’s also important to know about these types of ultrasounds because they can tell you different things about your child. So, it helps to be familiar with each type and how it works before the baby is born.
There are four main types of ultrasounds:
B-mode Pregnancy Ultrasounds
This ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the fetus which you can see on a screen.
It is also called an “obstetrical” ultrasound. This is because doctors use them during pregnancy or after birth when there may be complications with the mother or child. The sound waves bounce off of internal structures and onto a probe where staff record the images and send them to a computer monitor for observation.
You can also use this to obtain measurements of the fetus such as head circumference, weight, blood flow rate, etc.
M-mode Ultrasound
This type of ultrasound is also called an “echo” or “Doppler” ultrasound. It uses the Doppler effect to measure blood flow throughout the unborn child’s heart.
The sound waves bounce off of internal structures and onto a probe where doctors track the images and send them off to a monitor.
Doppler Ultrasound
We use this ultrasound to detect abnormalities within the fetal organs.
It uses sound waves to detect abnormalities such as a missing limb or organ, lack of blood flow, or too many limbs.
The sonographer usually obtains measurements such as head circumference, weight, blood flow rate, and more while using this ultrasound.
Fetal Echocardiography Ultrasound
These ultrasounds detect abnormalities within the fetal heart or surrounding anatomy. You can do this during pregnancy, after birth, or both.
You can use this type of ultrasound to measure blood flow velocities, for example, in the fetus’ heart. It is also used to measure blood pressure in different chambers of the unborn child’s heart.
Do Ultrasounds Hurt?
No, ultrasounds don’t hurt. So you don’t have to worry about that.
Doctors use some of these types of ultrasounds during pregnancy to check on the unborn child as well as the mother. Ultrasound technicians carefully place a probe on your belly to acquire images and record data.
A Better Understanding of Ultrasounds
It is important to understand what you’re looking at when viewing your baby on an ultrasound monitor; while some images may be more complicated than others, it’s something every parent should be able to enjoy.
In the end, no matter which types of ultrasounds you’re having, your baby will still look beautiful and amazing on the screen!
Equipped with your better understanding, contact us to book your next ultrasound.