Ultrasound Appointment - Valley Women's Health

20-22 Week Appointment

Ultrasound Visit

A fetal ultrasound, or sonogram, is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of a baby in the uterus.

Fetal ultrasound images can help your health care provider evaluate your baby’s growth and development as well as determine how your pregnancy is progressing. Ultrasounds are an exciting and informative part of your prenatal visits!

The day you have your ultrasound will also serve as your doctor’s visit for that month. At this appointment, you will only be seeing the sonographer or ultrasound technician, and the nurse. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to them! They are both qualified to answer. We also have doctors and nurse practitioners available for any problems that may arise.

Please be on time for your appointment. We schedule patients every 40 minutes. We will reschedule your ultrasound if you are 15 minutes late with no exception.

Please see the links below for helpful information about common ultrasound questions.

What is an Anatomy Ultrasound?

An anatomy ultrasound is typically the most extensive ultrasound done and often will be used to determine the babies size, weight and to measure growth ensuring the fetus is developing according to plan. In addition, the anatomic ultrasound looks at and takes measurements of many different anatomic parts of the fetus.

Face
Brain (ventricles, choroid plexus, mid-brain, posterior fossa, cerebellum, cisterna magna, measurements of anterior and posterior horns of lateral ventricles)
Skull (shape, integrity, BPD and HC measurements)
Neck (nuchal fold thickness)
Spine
Heart (rate, rhythm, 4-chamber views, outflow tract)
Thorax (shape, lungs, diaphragm)
Abdomen (stomach, kidneys, liver, bladder, wall, umbilicus, cord, abdominal circumference AC)
Limbs (femur, tibia, fibula, humerus, radius, ulna, hands, feet femur length FL)
Genitals (gender, abnormality)
Cervix (length and opening)

Will I be able to find out the gender of my baby?

Our main purpose for doing an ultrasound is to assess the overall health of your baby. If you would like to find out the gender of your baby, please let the technician know. There are no 100% guarantees when we try to determine the gender of your baby, but our technicians will do their best!

How do I get digital images of the ultrasound?

We use imaging equipment that offers the highest quality in imaging. We use a third party provider (Tricefy) that allows us to offer you digital images that are HIPAA compliant. These images will be sent to you via email or text that will have a secure link where you can access those images.

If you would like digital images of your ultrasound please notify the sonographer at the beginning of your scan. You will be asked to supply the sonographer with either an email address or a phone number where we can send you the link. We are unable to record your ultrasound on VHS/DVDs, and we do not allow recording of the scan on iPhones, DSLRs or any other video cameras.

How do I get a picture of the ultrasound?

We will give you printed ultrasound pictures that you may take home. Our emphasis is on the overall health of your baby and not necessarily the pictures we take. However, we are very confident that you will love your experience and the pictures we take for you.