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In today’s medicine ultrasounds are commonly used in many different fields. An ultrasound is able to be produced when high-frequency sound waves are bounced off an object and form an image of the objects on a screen. Having the image on the screen allows physicians to look at the size, shape and the important features of many parts of the body. Ultrasounds are commonly practiced in the first to second trimester of pregnancy. This is done to determine if the baby is growing properly and to make sure all is well. When an ultrasound is performed they may be able to determine the gender of a child also.
Some physicians and parents request routine ultrasounds to be done throughout pregnancy, this is not advisable. There are medical reasons to do an ultrasound, such as the possibility of complications during pregnancy, if there is a suspicion of too much or too little amniotic fluid, if the uterus is not growing properly, either too fast or too slow. Many ultrasounds or sonograms are done to confirm the due date when the mother is unsure of her last menstrual period; these are important medical reasons for ultrasounds.
There seems to be no documented complications of abdominal ultrasounds, but as with any medical procedure caution is always advised. If your physician request that an ultrasound be performed, ask him why and what for. If his answer is that it is procedure at this stage, you may want to further question him to see if he thinks that there may be any complications that may arise in the future of your pregnancy. If you are having an ultrasound just to determine the sex of your child, do not rely on this information, an ultrasound is often not able to determine this. The reason: the baby may be turned or the technician just can not tell. Ultrasounds also may increase your physician’s bill by up to three hundred and fifty dollars.
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