Schedule Your Ultrasound at Our Houston, TX Office
We Provide Comprehensive Care for Women
At Houston Obstetrics & Gynecology, we offer comprehensive healthcare to help women maintain happy, healthy lives. As part of these healthcare services, we perform ultrasounds that allow us to get a clearer picture of the happenings inside the body. While ultrasounds are most commonly known as a way to see a growing baby in the womb, they are also used to diagnose and manage medical conditions. We can perform ultrasounds at our Houston, TX location. Our office is equipped with state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment and the latest technology to ensure you get the best care. We can even complete 3D ultrasounds. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with us, please reach out to us today.
What Is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a medical scan that is used to view structures inside the body. Using high-frequency sound waves, an ultrasound can capture live images from inside a patient’s body. Unlike other imaging techniques, like x-rays and PETscans, ultrasounds do not use radiation to produce images. For this reason, it is the chosen method for capturing images of a developing fetus during pregnancy.
What to Expect During Your Ultrasound
If you’ve never had an ultrasound before, you may be wondering what to expect during the appointment. The entire process is very quick and easy, and you can return to your normal activities right away. We recommend that you wear comfortable, washable clothing to make the appointment easier. Upon arriving, you may be given a hospital gown to put on and asked to undress from the waist up or waist down. Your ultrasound scan will be completed in a darkened room, as this will allow your doctor and technician to easily see the images the scan produces on the viewing screen. You can expect the following during your ultrasound:
- You’ll first recline back on the exam table and expose the area of the body that is being observed.
- We will then apply a water-based gel to the area that will allow a wand, called a transducer, to glide over the skin.
- The doctor will move the wand over the area, which will emit ultrasound energy painlessly through the skin. This energy will be used to produce images of your body’s interior that will appear on the screen.
- To get the best picture, your doctor may have to press the transducer firmly against the skin.
- After all the necessary images are captured, we’ll clean up the gel, and you can return to your day.
When Is an Ultrasound Needed?
An obstetrician most commonly uses ultrasounds to capture images of a developing fetus or assess the placenta and uterus. If you are pregnant, you can expect to get ultrasounds throughout your pregnancy, usually at the six, eight, ten, twelve, and twenty-week milestones. In addition to pregnancy, ultrasounds may be ordered to help your doctor evaluate other issues you are facing. Ultrasounds can be used to assess and diagnose infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding, fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and other problems.
The Importance of an Ultrasound
While getting the chance to see your baby is the reason ultrasounds are important to parents, these scans are also a crucial part of patient care. They’re a vital part of checking in on the baby’s development and can help both doctors and parents better prepare for safe and healthy delivery. Ultrasounds are essential in obstetrics because they help to:
- Check Health of Baby: Ultrasounds are used to ensure that the fetus has a heartbeat and develops as it should.
- Determine Number of Babies: Without an ultrasound, it would be impossible to know if a woman is carrying more than one baby. An ultrasound will be able to definitively show if you are pregnant with twins, triplets, etc.
- Identify Issues: Ultrasounds are used to determine if any early pregnancy issues exist, such as ectopic pregnancy. This will help the doctor develop a treatment plan to address any concerns.
- Prepare for Birth: An ultrasound scan will help determine how far along the pregnancy is, allowing for a more accurate due date. In addition, ultrasounds are used in the final weeks to check the baby’s position and determine its growth, all in an effort to better predict and prepare for labor.
How Long Does the Exam Take?
Ultrasound exams are a very quick procedure that is completed right here in our office in Houston, TX. The exam can be done in as little as 20 minutes, which means you won’t have to take too much time out of your day for the appointment. Once the exam is complete, you can return to your day as usual.
Schedule an Ultrasound at Our Houston Office
If you need an ultrasound, please feel free to contact our office to schedule an appointment. Our team can complete scans to diagnose health conditions as well as to check on the development of your baby. Give us a call today to make your appointment!