• Signs, symptoms and risks of ectopic pregnancy
• How an ectopic pregnancy is detected
• The role of ultrasound in diagnosing ectopic pregnancy
• How to prepare for your ultrasound
• How to access and interpret your results

Ectopic pregnancy overview

Unpredictable and not fully understood, ectopic pregnancies can be very dangerous to the bearer’s health. Learn how an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed.

What is an ectopic pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy which implants anywhere outside the uterus. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes, though in rare cases they can implant elsewhere.

Ectopic pregnancies are not viable, nor can they be moved to the uterus. They can cause intense pain and severe damage if left untreated. If there is a chance of a potential ectopic pregnancy, an ultrasound scan will be ordered.

Most patients discover whether they have an ectopic pregnancy between the fifth and tenth week of pregnancy. The first signs begin to appear two weeks after a missed period.

Signs and symptoms associated with an ectopic pregnancy

In the earliest weeks, an ectopic pregnancy might present with the same symptoms as a regular pregnancy, including sore breasts, fatigue and nausea. Patients may notice a change somewhere between weeks 5-10.

Not all ectopic pregnancies share the same symptoms, but common experiences include:

• Bleeding: Unexpected vaginal bleeding, especially if it is different (brighter, darker, heavier or more watery) than usual.
• Cramping: Some people report regular cramping, a sensation similar to but not quite the same as menstrual cramping. It might have a different locus in the body.
• Dizziness/fainting/lightheadedness: If accompanied by excessive sweating and/or nausea, these can be an early sign of ectopic pregnancy.
• Pain: Ectopic pregnancies often cause pain on one side of the abdomen or pelvis. The pain may be minimal at first, then increase in intensity. It also tends to spread. Unexplained shoulder pain can also be a symptom, especially if it hurts more when lying down.

How is ectopic pregnancy detected?

Doctors diagnose ectopic pregnancies with a blood test, a pelvic exam and an ultrasound scan. Often all of these methods are used together.

• Blood test: The first step is to have a blood test, to confirm pregnancy. The test measures human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) blood level.
• Pelvic exam: During a pelvic exam, the doctor will palpate the abdomen and pelvic region to check for pain, sensitivity or tenderness. The doctor might also find signs of fluid build-up or other swelling.
• Transvaginal ultrasound: In a transvaginal ultrasound, the technician inserts the transducer wand into the vaginal canal to capture images of the reproductive cavity. Early in a pregnancy, a transvaginal ultrasound can pick up much more detail than a transabdominal ultrasound.
• Transabdominal ultrasound: A transabdominal ultrasound is taken by running the transducer over the skin of the abdomen. It can provide a broader perspective of the entire pelvic region, which may help to locate any internal bleeding.

How early can an ectopic pregnancy be detected by ultrasound?

Ultrasounds can typically identify an ectopic pregnancy during the first trimester (e.g. before 13 weeks), though it can happen earlier. The gestational sac becomes visible at 4.5-5 weeks and large embryos can be seen as early as 6 weeks.

Can an ectopic pregnancy be missed on an ultrasound?

Ultrasounds can identify more than 70% of ectopic pregnancies but depending on the size and placement of the embryo, it is possible to miss an ectopic pregnancy on an ultrasound. If the ultrasound cannot confirm an ectopic pregnancy, laparoscopic surgery might be required. Laparoscopic procedures are day surgeries in which tiny incisions are made to insert a small tube (laparoscope) so doctors can directly view the affected areas.

What do ectopic pregnancies look like on ultrasound scans?

The sonographer will be scanning for the signs and structures or early pregnancy, such as:

• A thickening of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus)
• Blood or tissue buildup
• A decidual cast (extra, sloughed-off portion of the endometrium)
• An empty uterus despite high hCG levels
• A gestational sac (a dark, fluid filled sac surrounding the embryo)
• Fluid buildup in the abdominal or peritoneal cavity
• A yolk sac (embryonic nutrition sac that is absorbed by the embryo during the first trimester)
• The embryo (called a fetal pole in the earliest stages of pregnancy)

Ectopic pregnancies occur most frequently in the fallopian tubes. 95% of all ectopic pregnancies are either ampullary (in the middle of the fallopian tube), fimbrial (at the far end) or isthmic (at the uterine end). 3% are interstitial, e.g. located where the tube passes into the uterus.

Much more rarely, an ectopic pregnancy might be located elsewhere, such as:

• In abnormally shaped uterus (cornual)
• The abdomen (abdominal)
• The cervix (cervical)
• The muscle of the uterus (intramural)
• The ovaries (ovarian)
• Scar tissue (e.g. a Caesarian scar)

A heterotopic pregnancy consists of two simultaneous pregnancies implanted at different sites. One is usually viably implanted in the uterus while the other is ectopic.

Ectopic Pregnancy in the interstitial portion of the Fallopian tube (Image credit: Ultrasound Care)

Preparing for your ultrasound

Understanding what will happen during an ectopic pregnancy ultrasound can help assuage any anxiety. The following steps can help patients be ready:

• Bring a copy of your requisition: Your requisition has important information for the imaging clinic.
• Know which type of ultrasound you’ll receive: Check beforehand if the clinic has any special preparation recommendations.
• Drink lots of water the week before: Good hydration produces better images.
• Arrive with a full bladder: Soundwaves travel well through liquid.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothes: You’ll need to change into a hospital gown.
• Bring a support person: You may not be able to have someone with you in the exam room (each imaging clinic will have its own rules) but having someone with you before and after can be a comfort.

What to expect during your scan

Pregnancy ultrasounds are safe, low risk, pain-free imaging techniques. To capture internal images, the technician moves a sound wave-producing transducer through conductive gel. The sound waves bounce off internal structures and tissues and the ‘echoes’ are compiled into real-time images.

A transvaginal ultrasound can be uncomfortable, but it should not be painful. An ultrasound for an ectopic pregnancy typically takes 20-45 minutes. It does not require extensive preparation and after the scan you can go about your day as normal.

The sonographer is not legally allowed to answer questions about ultrasound results but is free to discuss the procedure itself. You can ask:

• Can I have someone with me during the exam?
• What can my support person do during the scan?
• How long will this appointment last?
• When will I receive your results?

When will I get my results?

A woman looking at her pregnancy ultrasound on PocketHealth

The technician sends the ultrasound images to a radiologist for examination and analysis. The radiologist forwards a report and the images to your doctor, who discusses them with you at a follow-up appointment. The process usually takes several days.

With PocketHealth, you can have secure access to your ultrasound results before that follow-up appointment – often as soon as they are released by the radiologist.

Understanding my results

Navigating your ultrasound doesn’t have to be confusing. This section will help you understand who analyzes your images and what they might mean.

Who interprets the results?

Although you can have early access to your results with PocketHealth, it’s very important to follow-up with your referring physician. A radiologist will study and interpret your ultrasound images, then create a report describing the results. Your referring physician will share and discuss those results with you.

With early access to your ultrasound results, you can ask more informed questions, such as:

• What are the signs of ectopic pregnancy?
• What other changes or symptoms will I notice?
• How often do I need to get an ultrasound with ectopic pregnancy?
• How do we proceed from here? What are the next steps?

MyCare Navigator, which highlights any recommendations contained in your report, will also create a list of customized questions to help steer your discussion with your doctor.

How do I make sense of my results?

Ultrasound images are captured in shades of black, white and gray. The different shades represent the density of the tissue the sound waves encounter. The densest structures, like bone, are white, while the least dense, such a fluid, are black. The images have a cone-like shape, with the narrowest end of the cone being the top of the image.

Your ultrasound report will be full of specific terminology. If you have any difficulty understanding it, Report Reader provides an easy-to-understand definition of medical terms. However, it’s important to understand that while PocketHealth educates and empowers patients, it is not a replacement for professional medical advice.

For more detail, please see our page about how to understand your ultrasound results.

Stay on top of your pregnancy journey with PocketHealth

Discovering you have an ectopic pregnancy can be difficult. The symptoms can be painful and the consequences severe. As you search for a diagnosis, PocketHealth can help you keep track of your pregnancy reports and ultrasounds. The more you understand about your condition, the more prepared and proactive you can be.

The post Everything You Need to Know About an Ultrasound for Ectopic Pregnancy appeared first on PocketHealth.

Ultrasound report reading involves interpreting all the numbers, abbreviations and sometimes even colors, which can be overwhelming. This article will break down what they all mean, helping you better understand your results and prepare any questions for your upcoming appointment. For expecting patients, it will also break down how to read pregnancy ultrasound reports.

What’s in your ultrasound report?

Your ultrasound report includes images from your scan and an assessment made by the radiologist, ultrasound technician or other specialist. The report may contain technical medical terminology and other complex data. Some possible details in the report include:

• Type of scan performed (e.g., abdominal ultrasound)
• Technique used (Doppler, endoscopic, etc.)
• Reason for the scan 
• Findings and impressions
• Specific measurements (e.g. fetal anatomy or cysts)
• Comparisons to previous scans, if applicable

What do black, white and gray represent on an ultrasound picture?

An image showing what different colors mean on an ultrasound

The ultrasound probe, also called a transducer, sends high-frequency sound waves into your body through a sound-conducting gel. The sound waves bounce off your internal structures, whether liquid, soft tissues or bone, and the ultrasound machine converts the collected sound waves into images in shades of black, white and gray. The intensity of the shade you see represents the density of the structure the sound wave encountered.

What does black on an ultrasound mean?

Black in an ultrasound image represents liquid, like amniotic fluid or a fluid-filled cyst. Most sound waves pass through fluid-filled areas, with only a small amount reflected back, making the area appear like a black spot on ultrasound results.

What does white mean on an ultrasound mean?

White represents very dense structures like bone or kidney stones. Sound waves directed at bone easily reflect back, appearing bright white on the ultrasound image.

What does gray mean on an ultrasound mean?

Gray in an ultrasound represents different types of tissue. The darker the gray, the denser the tissue, since only some of the sound waves are reflected back. Lumps or masses typically appear as dark gray spots on an ultrasound.

Doppler ultrasound color meanings

Red and blue colors on Doppler ultrasound for arterial and venous blood flow

Most ultrasound images are only black, white and gray. However, if you have a Doppler ultrasound, you may also see colors in your image. Colors are only seen in Doppler ultrasounds, which capture images of the direction and speed of blood flow in your vessels. What do the colors mean on an ultrasound? The following sections will overview the various meanings.

Is color on an ultrasound bad?

Color on an ultrasound is not negative; it is a useful way to categorize features like blood circulation. Different colors indicate various vascular areas, helping the ultrasound technician understand what they’re observing.

What does red and blue mean on an ultrasound?

Red and blue on Doppler ultrasounds have specific meanings. Blood flowing toward the transducer (arterial blood flow) appears in red, whereas blood flowing away from the probe (venous blood flow) appears in blue.

This means that arteries, carrying blood away from the heart, are displayed in red, while veins, which bring blood back to the heart, appear blue. Deviations from these color patterns may signal blood flow abnormalities and warrant additional investigation.

What do yellow or orange mean on an ultrasound?

Yellow/orange are not usual Doppler colors. When yellow does appear, it is typically at the interface between red and blue. Yellow can suggest blood flow issues or turbulence, which is important for diagnosing blood vessel conditions and initiating appropriate intervention.

What does green mean on an ultrasound?

Most Doppler ultrasound systems don’t use the color green, unless they are particularly advanced. When green does appear, its meaning can vary depending on the machine’s parameters. It’s important to ask your doctor to help interpret this color, as the results will depend on the specific color map used. In some machines, green may represent one aspect of blood flow, while in others, it could have a completely different meaning. Color maps can differ from machine to machine.

Some possibilities for green include:

• Areas with very low-velocity blood flow, such as in capillaries. 
• Tissue perfusion, which is blood being delivered to tissues and organs. If there is green, this means your body is getting enough blood supply. Less or no green colors can mean impaired perfusion, possibly pointing to organ conditions.
• Replacement color for yellow/orange, meaning it is diagnosing blood turbulence.

How to read ultrasound report numbers

Now that you have a solid understanding of what your report shows, you can see how your ultrasound images support the radiologist’s findings.

Upon first glance of an ultrasound picture, you’ll notice numbers and acronyms at the top of your image. These don’t have anything to do with the contents of your scan. Instead, they’re used by the hospital or imaging clinic to identify each patient and record the ultrasound equipment settings used, along with any other hospital or clinic-specific information they collect. Additional data may include your name, the hospital reference number and other such identifying information.

Ultrasound image of a newborn’s right kidney in the sagittal plane. The information in the blue boxes is collected by the hospital or imaging clinic for administrative purposes only.

Understanding contrast and common visual effects

During your ultrasound, the technologist, sometimes called a sonographer, will adjust the ultrasound machine settings and probe angles to get the best image possible. Depending on your situation, you might even receive a contrast agent. Changing settings and angles provide different views, while the contrast agent improves the quality of your images. The following terms describe visual effects in your ultrasound images:

What is attenuation?

Attenuation is the reduction of signal intensity from the probe, producing a shadowy effect that makes the area look darker. This helps the radiologist clearly distinguish between different types of tissue.

What is enhancement?

Enhancement refers to the efforts made to improve ultrasound images.

• Preprocessing enhancement methods increase the intensity and clarity of the sound waves to produce better images.
• Postprocessing enhancement techniques refine the quality of captured images.

What is anisotropy?

Anisotropy is an image artifact, meaning a spot or feature in the ultrasound image that is introduced by accident and does not exist in the tissue being scanned. Such image artifacts disappear when the angle of the probe is changed.

Tips on how to read an ultrasound

The following tips will explain the basics of how to read an ultrasound picture, and what it means.

Tip 1: Review your radiology report findings first

Before reviewing any images, it’s important to first examine the findings in your accompanying radiology report, when available. They usually provide a short paragraph with an overview of any findings or impressions.

Access to your imaging results does not replace reviewing those findings with your doctor during a scheduled appointment. This is a critical step because your healthcare provider interprets the results along with other scans or your overall medical history.

Get early access to your ultrasound results

• Online Access
• Easy Sharing
• Permanent Storage

Tip 2: Orient yourself

This is possibly the most challenging aspect of reading an ultrasound since it’s not always clear what exactly you’re looking at. Ultrasound images appear in gradients of black and white which can be tough to distinguish, and certain organs or body parts can be easily mistaken for others.

It’s important to remember that with most ultrasounds (excluding transvaginal ultrasounds), you are looking at a mirror image. In other words, the left side of the image shows the left side of the body part, and the right side of the image shows the right side of the body part.

Most ultrasound pictures have a cone-like shape: the narrowest end of the cone is the top of the image, where the ultrasound probe was first placed on the body. Start your review there. Much of the topmost section will be gray, representing layers of tissue. Below, where the image widens out into a fan shape, is the area of the body that the ultrasound was scanning for—and the reason you had the appointment in the first place.

Tip 3: Remember what the shades of black, white and gray mean

As covered earlier, it’s important to remember that different colors represent various aspects of an ultrasound. Black areas in your images indicate fluid, while tissue appears gray. The brighter the gray tone, the denser the tissue. The brightest white represents bone. Keep these distinctions in mind as you review your images to differentiate between tissue, bony structures and fluid-filled areas. For Doppler ultrasounds, refer to the color meanings discussed earlier in this guide.

Tip 4: If you have repeat imaging, compare to previous ultrasounds

How to read pregnancy ultrasound reports: Understanding your baby’s ultrasound pictures

Many parents and family members are excited to examine pregnancy ultrasound images and check the progress of the baby’s development. All the above tips still apply, but there are also a few additional things to look for in your fetal ultrasound image.

Locate the uterus

One of the first tips for how to read an ultrasound for pregnancy is to find the uterus. The uterus will be a clear, dark, pear-shaped section in the ultrasound image. What you can see in a pregnancy ultrasound will depend on how far along you are. For instance, you might see the yolk sac in early pregnancy ultrasounds, but it is gradually absorbed by the embryo and disappears before the second trimester.

Ultrasound image at 7 weeks pregnant shows the embryo and the amniotic, gestational and yolk sacs within the uterus.

Locate the fetus

Since ultrasounds use sound waves instead of radiation to create images, they are widely used to monitor fetal growth and progress, as well as measure gestational age and confirm if there’s sufficient amniotic fluid. The development of the fetus will change dramatically during each trimester of pregnancy.

• First trimester: In early pregnancy ultrasounds, you’ll see the small bean-shaped fetus in amniotic fluid inside the gestational sac. The yolk sac and umbilical cord might also be visible.
• Second trimester: Limbs will become apparent, and the head and body will be increasingly proportionate. External sex organs will develop, though you’re unlikely to be able to distinguish the baby’s sex at this point unless the fetus is in the correct position.
• Third trimester: Female and male genitalia become more defined, as do eyes, hair and nails. In preparation for labor, the baby may move heads down into the fetal position later in the pregnancy.

Ultrasound image of a fetus at 11 weeks pregnant (first trimester).

Understand common fetal measurements and acronyms

In a pregnancy ultrasound image, you’ll see letters and numbers, typically listed down the side or along the bottom of the image. These are the fetal biometric measurements recorded by the ultrasound technician to assess fetal development. Here’s a list of some of the most common measurements:

• AC: Abdominal circumference, to assess development and growth
• BPD: Biparietal diameter, measuring the distance between the two sides of the baby’s head, to assess age in later trimesters
• CRL: Crown-rump length, used to assess gestational age between weeks 6-13
• FL: Femur Length, measured during the second and third trimesters
• GA: Gestational age, which may change as the fetus develops and affect the estimated date of birth
• GS: Gestational sac, to assess growth, may be called the mean gestational sac diameter (MSD)
• HC: Head circumference, a development measurement taken in the second and third trimesters

There may also be other fetal measurements taken to identify abnormalities during certain weeks of pregnancy. For example, the Nuchal Translucency measurement (NT) is taken late in the first trimester and measures the amount of fluid behind the embryo’s neck to assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome.

Getting your results

A pregnant person looking at their pregnancy ultrasound report on PocketHealth

Turnaround times for ultrasound results can vary widely depending on the facility and your doctor’s availability. Often, patients wait a week or more and receive their results during a follow-up appointment. With PocketHealth, you don’t have to wait as long—your results are securely accessible as soon as the report is available, allowing you to review them often before your follow-up visit.

Your imaging results are interpreted by a radiologist—an expert in medical imaging—who carefully reviews your scans and provides a detailed report of any findings. This report is then sent to your referring doctor, who, with a deeper understanding of your medical history, can offer further insights and recommendations.

To better understand your ultrasound reports, Report Reader provides clear, straightforward definitions for medical terms. Simply tap or click on any underlined words to reveal their meaning. This is paired with illustrations and highlights of anatomy in your ultrasound pictures to help you better understand your results and prepare for follow-up appointments.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions regarding understanding ultrasounds.

How do you check your ultrasound report for abnormal results?

When looking at an abnormal vs normal ultrasound report, it can be challenging to decipher the terminology. Certain terms may indicate whether results are within expected baselines. For instance, words and phrases that may suggest normal results include:

• “No evidence of”
• “Expected size and placement”
• “Normal”
• “No abnormal findings”

Possible terms that may indicate irregularities found in the ultrasound include:

• “Indeterminate”
• “Abnormal”
• “Findings”
• “Suspect”
• “Hypoechoic” (which can also be a normal finding)

Despite these possible phrases, it’s important to remember that there are often many benign explanations for abnormal findings. Usually, any impressions or suggested next steps from the radiologist will be included in the ultrasound report. In such cases, questions about these should be discussed with your medical provider.

What is a USG report?

USG stands for ultrasound sonography. The term sonography is often used interchangeably with ultrasound, as both refer to the same imaging technique. Additionally, a sonogram refers to the actual image produced by the ultrasound, not the technique itself. Patients curious about a USG report meaning can simply think of it as the same as an ultrasound report.

What does an ultrasound show?

Ultrasounds can be used for multiple conditions and purposes. They excel at assessing soft tissues and fluid-filled structures (such as cysts), provide real-time imaging for guiding doctors during procedures or evaluating fetal movement and can also help show blood flow within vessels, such as during a Doppler ultrasound. Some common reasons to have an ultrasound include:

• Gynecologic conditions, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Breast ultrasounds for screening and diagnosing breast conditions like cancer or nodules
• Assessing bladder and kidney conditions, such as kidney stones
• Prenatal evaluation of the patient and fetus

Does red and blue on ultrasounds mean cancer?

While many patients wonder if red and blue on ultrasound reports are bad, they are usually only found in Doppler ultrasounds and represent the direction of blood flow. They do not indicate cancer.

Take control of your health journey

PocketHealth makes it simple to keep track of your ultrasounds. All of your ultrasound images are in one secure location and can be accessed online anytime. Reports can also be easily shared with other physicians in your care team, if needed. Additionally, it makes it easy to track health changes over time, such as with repeat imaging. When used in conjunction with your medical provider’s professional advice, it is a powerful tool for organizing and understanding your imaging results and your health.

PocketHealth MyCare Navigator gives personalized insights into your health and identifies any recommended follow-up steps. This feature can also generate individualized questions to ask your doctor based on the findings in your report, ensuring you make the most of your consultation.

The post How to Read an Ultrasound Report: Learn What Colors & Numbers Mean appeared first on PocketHealth.

In Canada and the U.S., you have the right to access your health information contained in medical or health records. Having access to your medical records, including your ultrasound scan results, allows you to advocate for your own health and treatment while also relieving ‘scanxiety’, or the stress of waiting for medical results. A 2023 Leger study revealed more than half of patients experience ‘scanxiety’ when waiting on medical results.

Quick access to your ultrasound scan results gives you the freedom to take control of your health and share your results with any care provider you choose, making it easy to get a second opinion and compare medical images over time. With PocketHealth you can often view your ultrasound scan images and written report before your follow-up appointment.

How does an ultrasound work?

An important diagnostic imaging test, ultrasound scans help your practitioner visualize soft tissue structures, including organs or blood vessels, to understand shape, development or irregularities better. Ultrasound machines use high-frequency sound waves to capture internal images of the body.

During your scan, an ultrasound technician will use a transducer, also called an ultrasound probe, to capture images from inside your body. After applying a clear gel to your skin, the technician will move the transducer over whatever organ or body part is being examined, sending sound waves into the area. Some sound waves bounce back, which the transducer collects and sends to a computer, compiling them into images.

Unlike X-rays, an ultrasound machine doesn’t use ionizing radiation, so they’re considered a safer alternative for monitoring fetal development during pregnancy.

How long does it take to receive ultrasound results?

After your ultrasound scan, a radiologist will analyze the images and create a written report detailing what they see. The hospital imaging department or imaging clinic then sends your report to your referring healthcare provider, who will discuss the results with you during a follow-up appointment.

Although, on average, it can take up to a week to receive your results, how long you wait depends on different factors, including:

• Urgency. If your ultrasound is to explore a sudden injury or an unexpected symptom, you may be sent for a scan quickly, and your doctor will request the results right away.
• Complexity. Complex injuries or illnesses may require more than one radiologist to review the results or repeat imaging. This can slow down the time it takes your doctor to receive your results and schedule a follow-up appointment.
• More information required. Your doctor may send you for another appointment if the radiologist requests more information than your initial imaging can provide. This can delay how soon you’re able to attend your follow-up appointment to discuss the results.
• Comparing with previous scans. If your doctor is monitoring a chronic injury or illness, the radiologist will likely want to see any previous imaging you’ve received to compare the results. If you don’t have your previous pictures available online or haven’t used the same clinic for past scans, it may take some time to get all your imaging to the radiologist and delay your follow-up appointment.
• Mode of transmission. How quickly the radiologist sends your results to your referring physician impacts how soon you’ll have your follow-up appointment to discuss your results. Clinics may send your results by email or fax, which can sometimes delay how quickly your doctor receives the results.

If you are pregnant, your OB-GYN or midwife will send you for regular, scheduled ultrasounds to track the growth of the baby and monitor how your body is responding. These appointments will be booked ahead of time, and you will typically attend a follow-up appointment or receive a call about your results. In some cases, you may attend many pregnancy ultrasound appointments in a short period of time, depending on the trimester of pregnancy you’re in.

5 benefits of having access to your ultrasound scan results

Access to your results can take some time, and it can be nerve-wracking waiting for your physician to share your results at a follow-up appointment. PocketHealth helps you take control of your healthcare journey once your report is complete, by giving you fast, easy and secure access to your results as they are released by the hospital imaging department or imaging clinic.

Here are 5 ways PocketHealth helps make sure you are a partner, not a passenger, in your own care:

• You get faster, easier access. PocketHealth allows you to see your images and reports the moment the radiologist releases them, and you can view them from any device. No need to wait for your follow-up doctor’s appointment.
• You can share your results. If you want to keep your entire healthcare team up to date or need a second opinion, you can email, print or fax a secure access page to another practitioner from your account. And that practitioner doesn’t need a PocketHealth account to view your images online in full, diagnostic quality.
• You can ask more informed questions. Your report might contain complex medical terms you’re unfamiliar with. With PocketHealth Report Reader, you can easily understand what those terms mean, allowing you to have more informed conversations with your practitioner during a follow-up appointment.
• You’ll never miss a follow-up. A study from the American College of Radiology reports that 60% of medical imaging recommendations are never followed up on. PocketHealth’s MyCare Navigator spotlights any follow-up recommendations, allowing you to be on top of next steps.
• You own your records. All your records are secured with bank-level encryption technology and will always be centralized in one place for you to access and share. PocketHealth secure storage helps you avoid requesting records in writing, which can take 30-60 days and may require a fee.

With access to your imaging and report, PocketHealth enables you to arrive at your next doctor’s appointment feeling informed and ready to participate in your healthcare journey.

What will my online ultrasound results show?

The results of your ultrasound scan will help your doctor diagnose conditions and offer a treatment plan.

The radiologist who reviews your test results will make notes on your report about what they see in your ultrasound images. Your doctor will use these notes to help their diagnosis.

Whether you have a kidney, liver, stomach, gallbladder, breast, heart or abdominal ultrasound exam, among others, sometimes additional testing is required.

Your doctor may send you for a transvaginal ultrasound or a transrectal ultrasound, to more clearly view the internal organs in those areas. Or other tests, like a CT scan, MRI or X-ray, may be ordered to assist your doctor in making a more complicated diagnosis.

Understanding density and how it appears on an ultrasound

Depending on the density and amount of liquid in the area of your body being explored, your images will appear in shades of black, gray or white.

Areas that contain a lot of fluid or liquid, like cysts or amniotic fluid in a pregnant woman’s uterus, will appear black, while tissue that contains less fluid will appear gray. Very dense tissue and bone will appear white. Understanding how dense certain tissue is allows the radiologist to determine whether there are any irregularities in your images.

Who has access to my ultrasound results?

Your ultrasound results may be available to many different parties, depending on your case. Here’s a list of individuals and other parties who may have access to your ultrasound results:

• You. Patients are legally allowed access to their own medical records, including imaging and reports in Canada and the U.S. You can gain access to your medical records through some patient portals or via secure online platforms like PocketHealth.
• The ultrasound technologist. Your ultrasound will be conducted by a trained technologist, who will capture the images during your procedure before sending them to the radiologist. Can the ultrasound technologist share your results? No, but they can give you information about the exam procedure.
• The radiologist. The clinic or hospital where you get your ultrasound will have radiologists on staff to closely review your imaging and create a report based on what they see. This report is sent directly to your referring physician or midwife. You can get access as soon as the report is released using PocketHealth.
• Your primary care provider (often a referring physician or midwife). The hospital imaging department or imaging clinic will send your ultrasound images and report to your primary care provider, who will review the results and discuss them with you at a follow-up appointment.
• Parent or legal guardian. In cases where a minor requires an ultrasound, a parent or legal guardian will have access to their medical reports to facilitate medical care and treatment.
• Advocate or caregiver. In cases where a patient cannot sign a consent form to receive their medical records, their advocate or caregiver will receive the records on their behalf.
• Insurance companies. When an ultrasound is required to assess the details of an injury or treatment requiring insurance coverage, an insurance company has the right to review medical imaging and reports.
• Care facilities. Nurses and staff at long-term care facilities can view the records of patients who require specialized care. Treatment is often ongoing, and staff need up-to-date medical records to provide the best care.
• Rehabilitation centers. Patients who visit a rehabilitation center may require medical treatment during their stay, and attendant doctors or nurses can view their records to ensure they provide the best care.
• Hospitals and labs. These facilities often need to review current and prior medical records, including ultrasound imaging and reports, to make sure they can provide the appropriate treatment and recommendations.

Use PocketHealth to better advocate for your health

Waiting for your results can be stressful, but having secure access to your images and reports using PocketHealth allows you to better understand your results ahead of your next appointment. This means you can prepare more informed questions and have an in-depth discussion about any next steps in your healthcare journey.

PocketHealth’s Report Reader can help you further understand complex medical terms in your report, by providing clear definitions. For a more personalized experience, MyCare Navigator tracks your recommended follow-ups and provides a list of questions to discuss with your doctor based on your report results, helping you be an even more active participant in your care.

How PocketHealth works

Learn how to use PocketHealth to securely access, better understand and share your ultrasound records.

The post How Long Do Ultrasound Results Take? appeared first on PocketHealth.

Ultrasounds are used for a wide variety of situations. Ultrasounds are routinely used to monitor fetal growth during pregnancy, assess soft tissue injuries and diagnose illnesses. Ultrasound technology helps your healthcare practitioner visualize organs and other soft-tissue structures inside the body to determine shape, development or irregularities.

Ultrasounds are performed by trained medical professionals at hospitals, medical facilities and clinics specializing in imaging services. If you live in Mississauga and have received a requisition for an ultrasound, here’s a breakdown on:

• What an ultrasound is and why you might need one
• Some tips on finding a Mississauga ultrasound clinic
• How quickly you can access your results

Why get an ultrasound?

A healthcare practitioner may refer you for an ultrasound to explore the reasons behind symptoms like internal pain in a certain region or to determine the size or shape of a mass.

There are many different reasons to get an ultrasound, depending on the location of the pain or patient concern, such as:

• Identifying the cause of lumps and cysts found anywhere on the body (e.g., breast ultrasound)
• Monitoring fetal growth and development during pregnancy (e.g., obstetric ultrasound)
• Determining if kidney or bladder stones are present (e.g., abdominal, endoscopic, pelvic or renal ultrasound)
• Assessing the extent of acute injuries, such as an ACL tear (e.g., ankle or knee ultrasound)
• Investigating underlying causes of joint issues and inflammation (e.g., musculoskeletal ultrasound)
• Examine the heart for any cardiac problems such as heart defects, blood clots or blocked arteries (e.g., echocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiogram or intravascular ultrasound)

Ultrasounds do not use radiation, making them a safe option to capture fetal development during pregnancy.

When to get an ultrasound instead of an X-ray

Ultrasound technology uses high-frequency soundwaves to capture images of the soft structures inside your body, like organs, muscles and joints. These sound waves bounce off the liquid inside the organ or tissue to capture detailed images.

Bones are hard, dense structures and do not contain much liquid, so ultrasounds are not typically used to explore them. If your practitioner believes you may have a fracture, they will likely send you for an X-ray, instead of an ultrasound.

Where to get an ultrasound in Mississauga

To get an ultrasound, you’ll need a referral from your doctor. A referral is a paper requisition form that your doctor fills out, indicating the type of ultrasound requested and any other important details, such as the exact location where an ultrasound will capture images. For example, if you receive a requisition for a breast ultrasound, your referring physician will pinpoint the area of concern on a diagram.

Ultrasounds with referrals are covered through OHIP and are available at several Mississauga imaging clinics and hospitals. Except in emergency cases, you will make an appointment at an imaging clinic for your ultrasound. Keep in mind that private clinic appointments are not covered by OHIP.

Whether your ultrasound is covered by OHIP or not, ultrasound clinics and imaging departments at hospitals typically don’t provide walk-in ultrasound services, so you’ll need to make an appointment and bring your requisition form and Ontario health card to the appointment.

Your referring practitioner or medical office assistant will likely be familiar with imaging clinics in the area and may be able to assist you in finding a clinic.

Here’s a list of some imaging clinics and hospitals in Mississauga that offer ultrasounds:

• Bluewater Imaging
• Credit Valley Diagnostic Centre
• Credit Valley X-Ray & Ultrasound
• Dixie X-ray Associates
• GAM Diagnostic Imaging
• GNMI – Mississauga
• Mississauga Diagnostic Imaging & Breast Centre
• Mississauga Hospital – Trillium Health Partners
• The Credit Valley Hospital – Trillium Health Partners
• The Hospital for Sick Children
• WELL Health Diagnostic Centres Mississauga

How long will it take to get an ultrasound appointment?

Depending on where you’re located, it can take weeks to get an ultrasound appointment. Ultrasound clinics are often busiest during lunch or before and after 9-5 working hours, so if you can go during off-peak times, that may increase your chances of being seen sooner. Try calling a few different clinics to determine which one can give you the earliest appointment.

How much does it cost to get an ultrasound in Mississauga?

Ontario healthcare (i.e., OHIP) covers ultrasound imaging, except for 3D and 4D ultrasounds, which are considered elective. To qualify for OHIP coverage, you must bring a valid health card and your requisition form to your appointment. In Ontario, you can pay for an ultrasound if you don’t have a valid health card, but you will still need to make an appointment and bring a referral from your doctor to the private clinic you choose.

How to prepare for your ultrasound

Ultrasounds require some preparation, but exactly how to prepare can differ depending on the ultrasound you’ll be getting. It’s wise to call ahead to confirm if you:

• Are allowed to eat or drink before your appointment. Some types of ultrasounds require an empty stomach or bladder.
• Need to drink lots of water to ensure you have a full bladder. Abdominal ultrasounds, including pregnancy ultrasounds, are more effective when your bladder is full.
• Are required to have an enema before the procedure. Rectal ultrasounds may require that your bowels are fully empty before the appointment.

If you have questions about what happens during and after your ultrasound appointment, you can call ahead to ask the clinic:

• How do you share my images?
• How long is the appointment?
• Can anyone join me for support?
• Can I take my own photos and videos during the appointment?

Don’t forget to bring your requisition form to your ultrasound appointment because this documentation communicates which type of exam you require and makes the check-in process easier and faster. You may also want to wear loose and comfortable clothing that’s easy to take on and off because many ultrasounds require you to remove certain items of clothing to capture the necessary images.

How quickly can you get your ultrasound results?

If your practitioner referred you for an ultrasound, you’ll have a follow-up appointment with them to discuss your results. This appointment will likely happen in-person or over the phone within 7 days of your ultrasound, but you may wish to access your ultrasound imaging and report as soon as possible.

With PocketHealth you can quickly and easily access your ultrasound images and report—often before your follow-up appointment with your practitioner. Access your records here.

PocketHealth enables you to securely access, share and store your imaging and other health information in one place, which makes it easy to compare and review images over time. If you visited a private clinic for your ultrasound, you can share your records directly with your doctor through PocketHealth.

Ultrasound terminology can be complicated and you may not comprehend all of the medical terms used in your report. PocketHealth Report Reader makes it easy to understand terms in your ultrasound report and also highlights any follow-up recommendations, so you can feel informed and confident when speaking to your doctor at your ultrasound follow-up appointment.

How to understand your ultrasound results

Depending on the density and amount of liquid in the area of your body being explored, your ultrasound images will appear in shades of black and grey.

Areas that contain a lot of fluid or liquid, like cysts, or the amniotic fluid during pregnancy ultrasounds, will appear black, while tissue that contains less fluid will appear grey. Very dense tissue and bone will appear white. Understanding how dense certain tissue is allows the radiologist to determine whether there are any irregularities in your images.

Your ultrasound report will contain acronyms and terms you may not understand, but this article can give you a head start at decoding your ultrasound report.

Next steps after your ultrasound

If you’ve got an upcoming Mississauga ultrasound appointment, you might have some questions about where to go for your ultrasound, how to prepare and how soon you can see your results.

Viewing your ultrasound results through PocketHealth ahead of your follow-up appointment enables you to understand the medical terms and details of your report so you can discuss it with your practitioner. Access your ultrasound records through PocketHealth to become an advocate for your health and a participant in your healthcare journey.

How PocketHealth works

Learn more about how to use PocketHealth to access and share your ultrasound results.

The post Getting an Ultrasound in Mississauga? What to Know Before Your Appointment appeared first on PocketHealth.

While this guide outlines potential findings, your doctor will provide your official diagnosis and next steps during your follow-up appointment. For those who prefer early access, PocketHealth offers secure, instant access as soon as your report is uploaded. This allows you to review your results and prepare questions for your doctor in advance.

Why get an early pregnancy ultrasound?

Getting an ultrasound is a normal part of pregnancy monitoring and the best way for your practitioner to keep tabs on your health and the development of the embryo. There are several reasons why you might have an early ultrasound:

• To establish the gestational age of the embryo: Measuring the size of the embryo using crown-rump-length helps narrow down the due date.
• To count the number of embryos: If there is more than one, an early ultrasound will attempt to discern if the embryos share a gestational and amniotic sac to determine the type of twins or multiples. Keep in mind, sometimes it is too early to see these details. The discovery of multiples may not come until a later ultrasound.
• To confirm the pregnancy is viable: A viable intrauterine pregnancy is safely implanted inside the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy (planted outside the uterus) or molar pregnancy (fertilized egg develops into a cyst-like mass) is, unfortunately, not viable.
• To detect the embryo’s heartbeat: The fetal heart rate will also be determined.
• To locate any sources of vaginal bleeding: If the patient shows potential complications, like bleeding or abdominal pain, an ultrasound can help determine the cause.
• To proactively monitor for potential complications: This is more applicable for those with underlying health conditions or a family history of such.
• To examine the cervix, ovaries and uterus: This examination can confirm if there’s an empty gestational sac or other signs of miscarriage or pregnancy loss. It also evaluates that these organs are reacting as expected during early pregnancy.

What to expect at an early pregnancy ultrasound?

Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to create images of the patient’s organs and other internal structures. As these waves bounce off these areas, they help form images, which are then captured by a computer for measurement and evaluation.

During an ultrasound, the sonographer runs a transducer wand over conductive gel to send high-frequency sound waves into the body. The echoes created by the sound waves are processed into images. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, ultrasounds are very safe, low-risk scans.

Types of pregnancy ultrasounds

There are two types of pregnancy ultrasounds:

• Transvaginal ultrasound: Transvaginal ultrasounds scan a smaller area more effectively to capture images by inserting a lubricated transducer wand into the vagina. Early in your pregnancy, you’re likely to receive a transvaginal ultrasound since the embryo is still very small at this point and an internal scan provides better visibility.
  
• Transabdominal ultrasound: Abdominal ultrasounds scan a wider area of your belly to capture images through the abdominal wall. The technician covers the area with a lubricating conductive gel to run the transducer through. This type of ultrasound is typically used when the fetus is more developed, starting around 10 or 11 weeks.

What can an early ultrasound pregnancy show?

What you can see in an early pregnancy ultrasound will depend on when you have it. Development is rapid in these early stages, so even half a week will make a difference in what the ultrasound can capture.

• 4 weeks: This early, it’s possible to see endometrial thickening, but it’s also possible to find no evidence of pregnancy yet.
• 5 weeks: The gestational sac, which surrounds the embryo in the early stages of pregnancy, becomes apparent.
• 5.5 to 6 weeks: The yolk sac is visible. Located inside the gestational sac, the yolk sac nourishes the embryo and is absorbed by the end of the first trimester.
• 5.5 to 6.5 weeks: At this stage, an ultrasound will distinguish the embryo, which is also sometimes called the fetal pole.
• 7 weeks: Though it might be possible earlier, at 7 weeks you’re likely to be able to make out the fetal heartbeat.
• 8 weeks: You can see the umbilical cord by 8 weeks, which passes nutrients and oxygen to the embryo.
• 9 weeks: Limbs are becoming distinct, so you should see defined arms and legs.
• 10 weeks: Developing hands and feet become more recognizable.

What the ultrasound will show depends entirely on the gestational age being accurate. Being off even by a few days can make a difference in whether or not the ultrasound can detect a heartbeat.

In early pregnancy you won’t see much detail. At 6 weeks, the embryo is only the size of a pea. From 8–11 weeks, you’ll be able to distinguish many more features, and in the 18-22 week anatomy scan, you’ll likely find out the sex of the baby.

How to prepare for an early ultrasound appointment

If this is your first prenatal ultrasound, it can help to know what to expect. Here are some tips for both before the scan and on the day of the procedure.

Before your scan

• Ask about any possible ultrasound fees: Depending on your insurance coverage, you may have some financial responsibility for the scans. It can help to call your doctor’s billing department before the appointment to make any necessary financial arrangements, such as payment plans, if applicable.
• Ask if you’ll need a full bladder: Many prenatal ultrasounds require one, but with early ones that use transvaginal methods, you may not. It helps to ask in advance so you know what preparations to make.
• Ask about morning sickness aids: If you have significant nausea (common in early pregnancy), consider asking your doctor about possible medications or recommendations. If you need a full bladder for your ultrasound, nausea may make drinking the required amount of water uncomfortable.
• Ask if you can bring someone with you: If you want someone present during the ultrasound, it helps to know the imaging clinic’s policies first. Many have restrictions on bringing small children or limiting the number of people allowed in the room.

The day of your scan

A pregnancy ultrasound isn’t a complex scan, but there are some things you can do to prepare, including:

• Bring a copy of your requisition with you: Your requisition specifies exactly which type of ultrasound exam you need. Having a copy with you will simplify the check-in process if your practitioner didn’t send it to the imaging clinic in advance. Also bring your health card and I.D.
• Drink plenty of water in the week before your appointment: Good hydration keeps your amniotic fluid clear, which means the ultrasound images are sharper.
• Book your appointment when your baby is most active: Movement will help the technician capture more images. Another suggestion is to have a cold and sugary drink just before your appointment.
• Arrive with a full bladder (if applicable): Sound waves and their echoes travel freely through liquid, so the sonographer can more easily capture images.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing: Wear clothing you can easily take on and off.

An ultrasound technician is not legally allowed to discuss your scan results. But you can ask questions about the procedure itself, like:

• How long will this appointment last?
• Can I have someone with me during the ultrasound?
• Can I take my own photos or videos during my appointment?
• How can I access and share my images and results?
• When will my practitioner receive the results from you?

Getting your results

Patients experiencing their first pregnancy ultrasound are often excited about the results. Here is a quick overview of what to expect.

Who interprets my results?

Medical imaging is usually interpreted by a specialist called a radiologist, who reviews various scans to help evaluate and diagnose injuries and conditions. This information is then passed to your referring provider, who will incorporate their own assessment. For instance, if you have a history of certain conditions, they may use that data alongside the imaging for a more detailed analysis.

When will I get my results?

Pregnancy ultrasound turnaround times depend on the radiologist’s and your referring doctor’s schedules. It can sometimes take a week or more, especially if you receive them at your follow-up appointment.

With PocketHealth, you can get your results much faster. You’ll have secure access as soon as they’re uploaded, meaning you’ll likely see them before your upcoming appointment. This gives you time to review the findings and prepare for your next medical visit. MyCare Navigator is especially helpful for offering personalized insights and identifying any recommended follow-up steps within your report. It helps you formulate relevant questions to ask your doctor so you can make the most of your consultation.

Understanding my results

Although your doctor will explain your results to you, accessing your report before your appointment can give you an early preview. When reviewing your report, it’s common to find the medical terminology complex and confusing. PocketHealth Report Reader simplifies this by offering clear, straightforward definitions for medical terms—simply tap or click on any underlined words to reveal their meaning. Though your doctor will be the one to interpret your personal results, this guide will briefly discuss some common findings in pregnancy ultrasound reports.

Common findings in early ultrasound results

• Fetal biometry measurements: Fetal biometry involves measuring specific parts of the fetus, such as the crown-rump length (from the head to the bottom), femur length, etc. At this early stage, there will be fewer measurements, as the baby hasn’t developed enough yet, but the fetal pole and crown-rump length are visible.
• Gestational sac: Measurements of the sac help to determine possible due dates and gestational age.
• Heartbeat: The ultrasound may be able to pick up the fetal heartbeat, but it depends on how far along the pregnancy is.
• Location: This will confirm whether the embryo is implanted in the uterus, which is the only viable location.
• Number of embryos: There is no guarantee that this assessment will be accurate if the ultrasound is very early (around six weeks). Sometimes, one embryo may be hidden behind the other or just out of sight in the scan images. However, twins and multiples are usually detectable at this appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Here is an overview of commonly asked questions about early pregnancy ultrasounds.

How early can a pregnancy be seen on an ultrasound?

An ultrasound can determine a pregnancy as early as 4.5 weeks after your last period. Gestational age is calculated based on the first day of your last menstrual period and assumes a 28-day cycle.

How many more ultrasounds will I have in my pregnancy?

Ultrasounds are safe, trusted exams that give your practitioner the best information with which to monitor the progress of your pregnancy. Most practitioners will send you for an ultrasound at least twice:

• Weeks 6 to 8: A dating scan during your first trimester.
• Weeks 11-13: This is an optional third ultrasound that typically happens between weeks 11–13, to measure nuchal translucency and assess risk for any chromosomal abnormalities.
• Weeks 18 to 22: An anatomy scan to measure fetal growth and development.

If your pregnancy is deemed high-risk you might have more ultrasounds so your practitioner can continually monitor your progress. High-risk indicators include:

• Your age, if you are under 17 or over 35
• Experiencing ongoing health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a mental health condition
• Carrying twins or multiples
• Having had complications with a previous pregnancy

Which pregnancy ultrasound is most important?

All pregnancy ultrasounds are important, so it’s not entirely accurate to say that one is more important than the other. However, the two most standard ultrasounds are the viability/ dating scan, which determines the gestational age and due date, and the anatomy scan. This evaluates physical development, growth rates, organ development and other key baselines. Many patients only receive these two ultrasounds, though there are several reasons why patients would have additional ones.

Does everyone need an early pregnancy ultrasound?

Most doctors recommend an initial ultrasound within the first 6 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. It’s common for patients to have an “early ultrasound” between six to nine weeks to confirm gestational dates. However, many patients won’t have their first ultrasound until later in the first trimester, especially if they have known conception dates or if their doctor doesn’t think an earlier scan is necessary. It all depends on factors like patient preference, uncertain conception dates, complex medical history, etc.

When will an ultrasound show my baby’s sex?

Technically, an ultrasound as early as 11 weeks may reveal your baby’s sex. It’s not 100% accurate, but there’s a concept called the “nub theory” that plays a part. Babies have a “nub,” which is actually a genital tubercle. The theory suggests that if the nub is below 10 degrees from or parallel to the spine, the fetus is female. If the nub is angled more than 30 degrees from the spine, it’s thought to be male. Accuracy starts at around 70% at 11 weeks gestation and increases to nearly 100% by week 13.

That said, the ultrasound images and the fetus must be precisely positioned to make these determinations. At earlier scans, it can be challenging to obtain these precise angles as the baby is smaller and may be turned away or in the wrong position. Additionally, the results can occasionally be inaccurate. The most reliable ultrasound to determine the baby’s sex is the anatomy scan, which takes place between 18 and 22 weeks. By then, the baby is large enough for all anatomy to be clearly visible.

What if you can’t see the baby or hear a heartbeat?

Not hearing a fetal heartbeat at an early ultrasound can sometimes indicate a miscarriage. Additional testing will be performed to determine if this is the case. However, if the patient’s conception dates are inaccurate, the fetus may not be as far along and developed as originally thought. In this case, it may simply be too early to detect a heartbeat. This is a common occurrence, and in such cases, the doctor may recommend a follow-up viability ultrasound in seven to ten days to give the fetus time to grow and reassess.

Stay on top of your health with PocketHealth

Pregnant patient checking results on PocketHealth

An early pregnancy ultrasound can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Being prepared for your scan and follow-up appointment can help you feel more empowered from the very beginning. The more knowledge you have, the more empowered you’ll be at every step of your pregnancy journey, especially as you navigate those early days of pregnancy.

PocketHealth makes it simple to keep track of your medical reports and prenatal scans. All of your vital imaging is in one protected location and can be accessed anytime. When used in conjunction with your medical provider’s professional advice, it is a powerful tool for organizing and understanding your health’s progress. You can even use this platform to share your ultrasounds with family and friends throughout your pregnancy.

The post Suspect You Might Be Pregnant? What to Know About an Early Pregnancy Ultrasound appeared first on PocketHealth.

This article will cover how to prepare for your ultrasound appointment, what to expect, the differences between a normal vs abnormal 8-week ultrasound and what additional imaging may be necessary. It will also discuss what you may see on your 8-week ultrasound pictures.

Is 8 weeks too early for an ultrasound?

Is a dating scan at 8-weeks too early? Not every patient gets these early ultrasounds, especially if they don’t realize they are pregnant yet or if the doctor determines them unnecessary. However, it is common for patients to get their scan around this time so the doctor can confirm due dates and the viability of the pregnancy. Other details like gender and anatomy won’t be visible yet, so it won’t be the most comprehensive scan, but it serves as a good baseline for development and other data.

Why get an 8-weeks pregnant ultrasound?

This prenatal ultrasound is often the first chance to visually confirm your pregnancy. The results of this early pregnancy ultrasound give you and your doctor the most accurate estimated due date to refer to going forward. Your practitioner will likely order an 8-week sonogram to:

• Determine an accurate gestational age: Giving you an estimate of your due date.
• Measure the size of your embryo: Measuring the crown-rump length helps narrow down your due date.
• Check for multiples: More than one embryo means multiple fetuses. This is more common if twins or triplets run in the family.
• Ensure your pregnancy is intrauterine: This is to see if the embryo is implanted in your uterus. When it implants elsewhere, it is called an ectopic pregnancy, which is unfortunately not viable.
• Scan for sources of vaginal bleeding (if applicable): Light bleeding isn’t always cause for concern but it is advised to let your doctor know.
• Examine your reproductive organs: Examples include the cervix, ovaries and uterus.
• Detect the embryo’s heartbeat: This is another way to determine viability, as it is common to be able to detect the baby’s heartbeat at 8 weeks.

What you may see during your 8-week ultrasound

If you’re unfamiliar with what an 8-week ultrasound looks like, it can be challenging to make sense of the images. Your embryo will be roughly the size of a bean, around 1.5-2.5 cm or 0.5-1 inch long. During your ultrasound, you may be able to see the following:

• Gestational sac: A black circle-like shape around the embryo, the fluid-filled gestational sac is often the first visible sign of pregnancy. You should be able to see the gestational sac at 8 weeks.
• Yolk sac: A smaller bubble that provides the embryo with nutrients, the yolk sac is absorbed by the end of the first trimester.
• Embryo: You should be able to make out the shape of its small body distinct from its comparatively large head.
• Amniotic sac: Full of fluid with thin walls, the amniotic sac protects the embryo while allowing for movement. It may be visible as a separate thin wall until it fuses to the outer thick white wall around 14 weeks.
• Umbilical cord: Can you see an umbilical cord on 8-week ultrasounds? Yes! The cord carries oxygen and nutrients between the placenta and the developing embryo.

You won’t see too much fine detail in your 8-week ultrasound pictures. For instance, you’re not likely to see limbs, nor will you be able to discern the sex of your baby. Those opportunities will come with further ultrasounds later on in your pregnancy or if you’ve opted for additional screening.

Can you hear a heartbeat at an 8-week ultrasound?

There is a good chance you’ll hear your baby’s heartbeat at 8 weeks. However, there are also occasional reasons you might not. One reason why there may be no heartbeat at 8 weeks is that the embryo’s heart may still be too small to see during a transabdominal scan. Another possibility is if you incorrectly estimated the date of conception, it may still be too early to detect a heartbeat.

Similarly, if you can’t see the baby on an ultrasound at 8 weeks, it could be that your conception date is off and the baby is too small to see. This kind of dating error can cause various abnormal ultrasound results. If your doctor doesn’t see everything they expect to, they will likely have you return in a few weeks so the fetus can be large enough to evaluate. They may also have you do additional testing, such as lab work. Try not to panic; it is common for early ultrasounds to have incomplete visuals.

What to expect during your 8-weeks ultrasound

During your ultrasound appointment, a trained technician called a sonographer will use a hand-held device called a transducer to create and capture sound waves. Ultrasounds are very safe, and the sound waves are painless and don’t produce ionizing radiation (like X-rays or CT scans). Too high-pitched for human ears to hear, those sound waves travel through your body and bounce off different structures differently. The ultrasound machine detects and uses these signals to create an image of the position and shape of your growing pregnancy.

What kind of ultrasound is done at 8 weeks?

There are two main types of pregnancy ultrasound. With a transabdominal ultrasound, the sonographer will squeeze gel onto your belly and then run the transducer over the surface of your skin. In a transvaginal ultrasound, the lubricated wand is inserted into your vagina, which is closer to your uterus and ovaries and allows for a closer look at your pregnancy.

So, do you get a transabdominal ultrasound at 8 weeks, or a transvaginal one? The answer, at this stage of gestation is both. In the early stages of pregnancy, the embryo is so small that the transducer successfully captures more details inside the vaginal canal than it can outside the abdomen. As your pregnancy progresses and the fetus becomes easier to see, you will usually have just abdominal ultrasounds.

How to prepare for your 8-week ultrasound appointment

Ultrasounds aren’t complicated scans, but there are some things you can do to help prepare, such as:

• Bring a copy of your requisition: This documentation may not be necessary, but if the imaging facility doesn’t have it, it saves you time. Also, bring your ID and health card.
• Arrive with a full bladder: Sound travels well through liquid so having a full bladder will help get the best images on the transabdominal part of the test. You will empty your bladder before the transvaginal portion of the scan. That said, do you need a full bladder for an 8-week ultrasound? Often yes, but some clinics don’t require it this early in the pregnancy. Consider asking their preference in advance.
• Choose comfortable, loose clothing: Wear something easy to get in and out of.
• Have someone with you (if preferred): If you want to bring along a support person, check in advance if the imaging clinic has restrictions.

Questions to ask during and after your 8-week scan

The ultrasound tech can’t legally answer questions about the ultrasound results, but they can discuss the ultrasound procedure itself. Some helpful questions to consider:

• Can I have someone in the room with me?
• How long will the appointment last?
• How will you share the images and results?
• Can I take photos or videos of my own?
• Do you get ultrasound pictures at your first appointment?
• Any advice on how to read an 8-week ultrasound?

When the scan is finished, the sonographer prepares the image report, which is reviewed by a radiologist or certain obstetricians (OBs). The radiologist then produces a report for your referring physician, OB or midwife, who will go over the results with you in a follow-up appointment.

Some questions you can ask at your follow-up appointment include:

• What are the signs of a healthy pregnancy at 8 weeks? Am I demonstrating those signs?
• What is my estimated due date?
• What is the 8 week baby’s size? What is the crown-rump length?
• Did we detect a heartbeat? If so, what is the fetal heart rate? If not, why?
• Are there any nutritional and lifestyle adjustments I should start making if I am pregnant?
• What does a twin ultrasound at 8 weeks look like?

Getting your results

Pregnant person getting their ultrasound report from PocketHealth

Many patients want to see the results of their 8 weeks ultrasound as fast as possible. With PocketHealth, you can securely access and share your pregnancy ultrasound images and report, as soon as the imaging facility releases the report and images. That means you typically have access before your follow-up appointment with your practitioner. Plus, you can easily share ultrasound images with friends and family, so they can see how your pregnancy develops.

Need help understanding the medical terms in your ultrasound report? PocketHealth Report Reader breaks down complex terminology so you can feel confident and informed when speaking with your healthcare provider. MyCare Navigator enhances this experience by helping you plan for follow-up appointments, offering personalized questions based on your results and highlighting key topics to discuss with your doctor.

Looking ahead to your next ultrasound appointment

An early ultrasound will confirm your pregnancy, measure the size of your embryo and give you an estimated due date. And you’ll get 8-week ultrasound pictures!

You and your doctor can now make confident decisions about your pregnancy with accurate knowledge of dates. You’ll also be able to look ahead to the next scans in your pregnancy journey, including the:

• First-trimester screening is around 11 weeks, during which you can see limbs and determine nuchal translucency, which screens for chromosomal abnormalities.
• Anatomy screening around 18 weeks, where you can also find out your baby’s sex.

Frequently asked questions

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding ultrasounds and 8-week pregnancy scans.

Can you see the placenta at 8-weeks?

Yes, you can usually see the placenta during your 8-week pregnancy scan. At this stage, it is beginning to attach to the wall of the uterus in preparation to provide nutrients to the developing fetus. However, the embryo is still primarily receiving its nutrients from the yolk sac.

How do I read an ultrasound report of pregnancy at 8 weeks?

At 8-weeks pregnant, you will likely be able to see the uterus, embryo, yolk sac, gestational sac and amniotic sac on an ultrasound. Since black typically represents fluid on an ultrasound, it can help in identifying the uterus, gestational sac and other similar areas. In general when reading an ultrasound, black areas indicate fluid, gray areas represent soft tissues and white areas correspond to bone or other dense structures.

How long does an 8-week ultrasound take?

Most early pregnancy scans tend to be 20 to 30 minutes, but there may be variations based on other factors such as .

What is the 8-weeks pregnant baby’s size?

By now, the 8-week-old fetus is roughly the size of a raspberry, measuring about half an inch long. Week by week, it will continue to grow steadily, developing increasingly recognizable anatomy. By week 9, it is the size of one grape, by week 10 it is the size of a kumquat and by week 11 it is already the size of a fig.

At around 18 to 20 weeks, there is typically enough development for an anatomy scan—a more detailed ultrasound that assesses the baby’s growth and anatomy. It is also when the baby’s sex can be revealed, if it hasn’t already been determined.

Stay on top of your pregnancy journey with PocketHealth

Knowing what to expect at your 8-week ultrasound and beyond can provide peace of mind, allowing you to embrace your pregnancy journey with confidence. With PocketHealth, you can securely store all your ultrasound records in one convenient place—no more worrying about misplaced reports.

PocketHealth simplifies access to your pregnancy imaging, making it easy to share with your healthcare provider and loved ones. By keeping all your essential records at your fingertips, it empowers you to stay organized and informed throughout your pregnancy, giving you greater control over your health. Your ultrasound pictures at 8 weeks are also available to print and store, anytime you like.

The post 8 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound: What to Know Before Your Appointment appeared first on PocketHealth.

Ultrasounds play a vital role in helping you and your healthcare team determine pregnancy viability and how far along you really are. This overview will explain what fetal anatomy a 7 week ultrasound may show, what to expect during the appointment and offer tips for preparation.

Get fast access to your ultrasound results

• Online Access
• Easy Sharing
• Permanent Storage

7 reasons to get an ultrasound at 7 weeks

At 7 weeks, an ultrasound can tell your practitioner key information about how your baby is growing and how your body is responding. This is also the first chance you’ll have to see an image of the tiny embryo growing inside you. The embryo will not be classified as a fetus until after week 8, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Your practitioner will send you for an early pregnancy ultrasound to:

1. Verify a heartbeat for the first time
2. Confirm gestational age or weeks of gestation to determine due date
3. Measure the size (i.e., crown rump length) of the embryo
4. Check if more than one embryo is present
5. Identify the cause of any vaginal bleeding
6. Examine your ovaries, cervix and uterus
7. Ensure your pregnancy is intrauterine, meaning embedded in the uterus

This ultrasound will also provide your practitioner with important information about pregnancy complications like ectopic or molar pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the embryo develops outside the uterus and in the case of a molar pregnancy, groups of cells form but do not develop into a fetus.

What to expect at a 7 weeks ultrasound

During an ultrasound, a sonographer or trained technician uses a hand-held device called a transducer. The transducer creates sound waves (too quiet for human ears to hear) that travel painlessly through your body to your baby. An ultrasound machine then detects the sound waves and uses them to create an image of your baby’s exact position and shape.

Ultrasounds are safe when performed by a trained sonographer, specialized practitioner, or ultrasound technician, according to Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Unlike X-rays, ultrasounds don’t use radiation to capture images.

Is a 7 week scan internal or external?

There are two types of prenatal ultrasounds: transabdominal (external) and transvaginal (internal). At a 7 weeks ultrasound, you will most likely receive a transvaginal ultrasound.

During a transvaginal ultrasound, a sonographer will place a wand-shaped transducer inside your vagina to capture more detailed images of different parts of your baby and your womb and cervix. Transvaginal ultrasounds are more effective at the early stages of pregnancy because the embryo is so small that the transducer can capture more details inside the vaginal canal than outside the abdomen.

Around weeks 11 to 12, when the fetus is larger, it’s more common to have external abdominal ultrasounds. During this procedure, gel is applied to the abdomen, and the transducer is moved across the area to capture images.

How to prepare for your appointment

Pregnancy ultrasounds require some preparation. You can make sure you’re ready for your early pregnancy transvaginal ultrasound by:

• Bringing a copy of your requisition: The imaging facility may already have your ultrasound orders, but if not, having them on hand may save you time during check-in. Be sure to also bring your health or insurance card and photo ID.
• Booking your appointment when your baby is more active: This allows the ultrasound to capture as many images as possible. Drinking a cold sugary beverage right before your appointment can also help make your baby more active.
• Arriving with a full bladder: Soundwaves travel more easily through liquid, so a full bladder helps your sonographer capture the best image possible of your baby.
• Drinking lots of water in the week leading up to your ultrasound: Staying well hydrated helps keep amniotic fluid clear, allowing for better images.
• Wearing loose and comfortable clothing: Make sure that whatever you wear is easy to take off and put on.
• Having someone who can support you during the appointment: For patients who want a support person, checking in advance with the imaging clinic can be helpful. While many facilities allow someone to be with you during the scan, policies may vary.

What can you see on an ultrasound at 7 weeks?

Your 7 weeks ultrasound will give your practitioner a lot of information about how your embryo is developing and how your body is adjusting to pregnancy. At this stage, the embryo is roughly one third of an inch (10 mm) long. During your ultrasound, you’ll be able to see:

• Gestational sac: Appearing as a dark circle surrounding the embryo, the gestational sac contains fluid and is first visible between 4.5 and 5 weeks.
• Yolk sac: A nutritional sac that gives the embryo the nutrition it needs to keep growing. The yolk sac is visible starting around 5.5 weeks but is then absorbed by the fetus by the end of the first trimester.
• Embryo: Also called a fetal pole, this is the first stage of your baby’s growth visible on an ultrasound.
• Amniotic sac: A thin-walled sac of fluid surrounding the embryo, protecting it and allowing movement.

Ultrasound image at 7 weeks pregnant

Since your baby is still in the embryo stage, you won’t be able to see facial features, arms and legs or fingers and toes just yet. Your sonographer also won’t be able to discern the sex of your baby until your 18-20 week anatomy scan or later in your first trimester if you’ve opted for additional screening.

Can you see a heartbeat at 7 weeks on an ultrasound?

If your baby is in a good position for viewing, you may be able to catch a glimpse of your baby’s tiny heart beating. You may even hear a sound you’ve been waiting for: your baby’s heartbeat.

Between 6 and 7 weeks, it’s possible to hear the early electronic flutters of your baby’s heart, which beats at a rate of 90-110 beats per minute—much faster than an adult heart rate! Your ultrasound technician will be able to measure these beats on the monitor at your appointment.

Questions to ask during and after your ultrasound appointment

If you’re worried about your ultrasound appointment, asking your practitioner or sonographer questions in advance can help you feel more prepared. Keep in mind that you can discuss your early pregnancy ultrasound results with your practitioner, but your sonographer cannot legally answer questions about your baby or your health during the appointment.

Questions to ask during your ultrasound appointment:

• Can I take my own photos and videos during the appointment?
• How do you share my images/results?
• How long is the appointment?
• How many people can join me?

Questions to ask at your follow up appointment

Your 7 week ultrasound gives your practitioner important information about how your new baby is growing and how your body is responding to pregnancy. Some possible questions you may find helpful include:

• What is the estimated date of conception and due date?
• What is the fetal heart rate and what is considered a strong heartbeat at 7 weeks?
• What is the size or crown rump length of the embryo?
• Did the ultrasound show anything I should be aware of?
• What are the signs of a healthy pregnancy at 7 weeks?
• When is my next ultrasound? Is there any additional testing to consider, like nuchal translucency screening or chorionic villus sampling?
• Are there any additional follow-ups you would recommend based on this ultrasound?

How quickly can you get your 7 week ultrasound pictures and report?

We’ve heard that many patients want to see their ultrasound results as quickly as possible. With PocketHealth, you can quickly and easily access and share your pregnancy ultrasound images and report—often before seeing your practitioner for a follow-up.

PocketHealth also enables you to securely access, share and store your imaging and other health information all in one place. And it’s easy to share images with family and friends, so they can see how your baby grows over time.

If you need clarity on the terms in your ultrasound report, Report Reader is there to help. Report Reader simplifies complex medical terms by providing easy-to-understand definitions, helping you feel more prepared when speaking with your pregnancy care practitioner.

Get fast access to your ultrasound results

• Online Access
• Easy Sharing
• Permanent Storage

Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions patients have regarding 7 week ultrasounds.

Is 7 weeks too early for an ultrasound?

While not all patients will receive an ultrasound at seven weeks, it is common for physicians to schedule one at this stage, especially when determining viability and gestational age. That said, it’s not uncommon for patients to have their first ultrasound a bit later in the first trimester. The timing depends on the patient, their medical history and their doctor’s recommendations.

What does no activity mean on an ultrasound?

No activity on an ultrasound at seven weeks can be due to several factors. While it can sometimes indicate a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, try not to panic. Often, it’s simply a result of inaccurate conception dates. In such cases, patients may be earlier in their pregnancy than they realized. It’s normal for nothing to show up on the ultrasound in the early stages. Doctors may recommend blood tests and a follow-up ultrasound in a week or two to reassess.

What are the signs of twins at a 7 week ultrasound?

Early ultrasounds can sometimes detect multiples, such as twins or triplets. Some signs of multiple pregnancies include:

• Multiple fetal heartbeats
• Multiple gestational sacs
• Multiple yolk sacs

Identical twins occur when a single egg is fertilized and then divides into two embryos. In this case, there will typically be one gestational sac, but it will contain two yolk sacs. At this early stage, it can be difficult to identify both yolk sacs if they are positioned at an angle or if there are other visibility issues. This means the presence of identical twins may sometimes be missed on the initial ultrasound. However, as the fetuses develop, they become easier to detect, and follow-up ultrasounds often reveal the second twin. In contrast, fraternal twins each have their own gestational sacs, making them easier to identify.

When will I have my next ultrasound?

The timing of your next ultrasound after the initial 7-week scan will depend on your doctor’s recommendations, whether additional imaging is needed for clarification or if you choose to undergo genetic screening. Genetic screening typically occurs between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation and is done through an optional nuchal translucency ultrasound.

During this ultrasound, the fluid behind the fetal neck is measured. If extra fluid is detected, it could indicate a higher risk for congenital conditions such as Down Syndrome. It’s important to remember that this is just an indicator of higher risk, not a definitive diagnosis. If necessary, further genetic testing may be recommended as the next step.

If you choose not to have the nuchal screening, your next ultrasound may be the anatomy scan, typically performed around 18 to 20 weeks.

Feel confident throughout your pregnancy journey

Your first ultrasound is a major milestone in confirming your pregnancy! The more knowledge you can gain ahead of each ultrasound appointment, the more empowered you’ll feel to ask questions that can help you better understand your ultrasound results.

PocketHealth makes it simple to keep track of your ultrasound reports and other medical results. All of your vital imaging is in one secure location and can be accessed online anytime. If needed, reports can also be easily shared with other physicians in your care team. When used in conjunction with your medical provider’s professional advice, it is a powerful tool for organizing and understanding your prenatal progression.

Another tool for your health is MyCare Navigator, which provides personalized insights to your health and identifies any recommended follow-up steps. This feature can also generate individualized questions to ask your doctor based on the findings in your report, ensuring you make the most of your consultation.

The post 7 Weeks Pregnant: What to Know Before Your Ultrasound appeared first on PocketHealth.

When you’re expecting, ultrasounds are a big part of your pregnancy journey. Not only do pregnancy ultrasounds help you and your healthcare team learn about your baby’s health and development, but they’re an excellent way to share your experience with family and friends.

It’s normal to experience a range of emotions around ultrasound appointments. Whether you’re nervously awaiting results or excitedly anticipating your next scan, the more you know about prenatal ultrasounds and why they’re performed, the more prepared you’ll feel at your appointments. In this article, you’ll learn the ins and outs of your upcoming ultrasounds, including:

• How pregnancy ultrasounds work
• When to get a pregnancy ultrasound
• Tips to prepare for your appointment
• How to understand the results

What is a pregnancy ultrasound?

First things first! Ultrasounds use sound waves to capture live images of your baby—pictures you can see right away on the ultrasound monitor. A pregnancy ultrasound is sometimes called a sonogram.

Your practitioner will send you for an ultrasound at least twice during your pregnancy. They’ll want to confirm the pregnancy by observing a heartbeat, determine gestational age and sex of your baby, as well as monitor growth and development. If you have a complicated or high-risk pregnancy, you might be sent for ultrasounds more frequently. This lets your practitioner check for development issues or screen for complications. A pregnancy may be classified as high risk if there is any reason to believe the baby may not be carried to full term or if health concerns are likely to arise.

A pregnancy might be considered high risk if a woman:

• Is under 17 or over 35 years old
• Has high blood pressure
• Has diabetes
• Has a mental health condition
• Has had complications with an earlier pregnancy
• Is carrying twins or more than two fetuses

Are ultrasounds safe?

Yes, when performed by a trained sonographer, ultrasound technician, or radiologist according to Health Canada and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. 2D, 3D, 4D and Doppler ultrasounds use the same sound-wave technology to safely capture images inside your body. Unlike X-rays, ultrasounds don’t use radiation to capture images. Only practitioners trained to perform fetal ultrasounds can give you a pregnancy ultrasound.

How does a pregnancy ultrasound work?

During an ultrasound, a physician, ultrasound technician, or trained sonographer uses a hand-held device called a transducer. The transducer creates sound waves (too quiet for human ears to hear) that travel painlessly through your body to your baby. An ultrasound machine then detects the sound waves and uses them to create an image of the exact position and shape of your baby. Ultrasounds typically produce a flat, 2D image of your baby, but 3D ultrasounds can give you a more detailed view.

3D and 4D ultrasounds can be very exciting for expectant parents because they can show facial expressions and allow you to see what your baby looks like. These types of ultrasounds can also be used in conjunction with 2D diagnostic ultrasounds to showcase certain facial abnormalities, like a cleft palate.

There are five types of pregnancy ultrasounds:

• Transabdominal: During a transabdominal ultrasound, a sonographer will move the transducer over your belly to capture images of your baby.
• Transvaginal: During a transvaginal ultrasound, a sonographer will place a wand-shaped transducer inside your vagina to capture more detailed images of different parts of your baby, as well as your womb and cervix.
• Doppler: This specialized ultrasound helps your practitioner monitor the blood vessels and blood flow inside your uterus, cervix and the baby’s umbilical cord.
• 3D: A 3D ultrasound is a collection of images captured from a 2D ultrasound into one three-dimensional image, that lets you see more angles of your baby and lets your practitioner better visualize your baby’s internal organs.
• 4D: A 4D ultrasound goes one step further and creates a video of the images to show the movement of the baby’s body parts.

Why get a pregnancy ultrasound?

A pregnancy ultrasound is the best way for your practitioner to monitor your health and the development of your baby. Some common reasons your practitioner may send you for an ultrasound include:

• Confirming pregnancy
• Examining your ovaries and uterus
• Measuring baby’s crown rump length (CRL) to check growth and determine gestational age/due date
• Checking baby’s heartbeat, movement and muscle tone
• Checking baby’s position before delivery

Practitioners also use ultrasounds to help screen for specific health conditions or in response to certain events, like vaginal bleeding. Your practitioner may send you for an ultrasound to check for:

• Congenital disabilities: Structural or functional abnormalities can occur when a baby is still developing. A nuchal translucency scan, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) are additional tests your doctor can recommend if there is any concern for congenital disabilities.
• Ectopic pregnancy: A condition that occurs when the embryo develops outside the uterus, often in a fallopian tube, as opposed to developing inside the uterus. A pregnancy where the embryo develops inside the uterus is known as an intrauterine pregnancy and is considered a viable pregnancy.
• Molar pregnancy: A complication indicated by the development of unusual cells that do not develop into a fetus.
• Miscarriage: An unexpected loss of a fetus before 20 weeks. Symptoms may include cramping and vaginal bleeding.

How many times during pregnancy do you get an ultrasound?

Your practitioner may send you for an ultrasound at any time during your pregnancy. Pregnancy ultrasounds typically happen only during the first and second trimesters unless the pregnancy is considered high-risk or complications develop.

How soon can you have a pregnancy ultrasound?

Your healthcare practitioner will likely send you for your first pregnancy ultrasound no earlier than 6 weeks since a heartbeat can’t be easily detected before then.

An early pregnancy ultrasound can show your doctor how the embryo is developing and how your body is responding. By 5 weeks it’s possible to view the gestational and yolk sacs, and by 7 weeks, you’ll be able to see the embryo inside the amniotic sac.

The yolk sac nourishes your baby and can be an important indicator of fetal health early in pregnancy. However, it can only be seen in early pregnancy ultrasounds, since it gets absorbed into your body after the development of your placenta by the end of the first trimester.

Ultrasound image at 7 weeks pregnant

During what weeks of pregnancy are ultrasounds done?

If your pregnancy is low risk, your practitioner will likely send you for two ultrasounds: One during the first trimester and one during the second trimester. If your pregnancy is high-risk or complicated, your practitioner may send you for further ultrasounds. Here’s a general guide about what to expect.

• Weeks 6-14 (Early first trimester): Your practitioner will send you for a routine 2D ultrasound to confirm pregnancy, estimate weeks of gestation, calculate the due date and determine the number of fetuses. If you’re carrying multiples (i.e., more than one embryo), this ultrasound will determine whether they share a placenta and amniotic sac.
• Weeks 10-13 (Late first trimester): Your practitioner may send you for an optional nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound. An NT scan can determine your baby’s risk for Down Syndrome and other congenital heart, abdomen or skeletal abnormalities.
• Weeks 18-22 (Second trimester): Your practitioner will send you for an anatomy scan to check your baby’s growth, determine the sex of the baby, and for scan for any congenital disabilities. Your practitioner may also suggest you get an optional 3D ultrasound to check more closely for physical abnormalities.
• Weeks 27-40 (Third trimester): Your practitioner may not send you for an ultrasound during these weeks except, unless there are concerns about:
  • Your baby’s growth or position
  • The location of the placenta
  • The length of your cervix

Your practitioner may also recommend further ultrasounds if you carry your baby longer than 40 weeks or as part of diagnostic tests for specific pregnancy concerns, such as CVS and amniocentesis.

Your practitioner may also suggest you go for an elective 3D ultrasound to check on any physical abnormalities already detected in a routine 2D ultrasound.

How to prepare for a pregnancy ultrasound appointment

Pregnancy ultrasounds require some preparation, and you may feel more comfortable attending your appointment if you know in advance what type of ultrasound you’ll be having. Transvaginal ultrasounds are typically done early in pregnancy because the embryo is so small, and this ultrasound can capture a better image from the vaginal canal.

You can prepare for your pregnancy ultrasound by:

• Arriving with a full bladder. Sound waves travel more easily through liquid, so a full bladder helps your sonographer capture the best image possible of your baby.
• Booking your appointment when your baby is more active. This allows the ultrasound to capture as many angles of your baby as possible. Drinking a cold sugary beverage right before your appointment can also help make your baby more active.
• Bringing someone who can support you during the appointment. Be sure to check ahead with the imaging clinic or hospital for guidance because not all facilities allow support persons to attend.
• Drinking lots of water in the week leading up to your ultrasound. Staying well hydrated helps keep amniotic fluid clear, allowing for better images.
• Wearing loose and comfortable clothing. Make sure that whatever you wear is easy to take off and put on, and that you don’t mind if it gets stained from the ultrasound gel.

If you’re worried about your ultrasound appointment, asking your practitioner or sonographer questions in advance can help you feel more prepared. Write down your questions ahead of time, including:

• Can I take my own photos and videos during the appointment?
• How do you share my images/results?
• How long is the appointment?
• How many people can join me?

Every ultrasound you attend gives your practitioner important information about your pregnancy, so remember to ask questions at your follow-up appointment, too.

Questions to ask during your ultrasound follow-up appointment

You can discuss your ultrasounds with your practitioner, but your sonographer cannot answer questions during your ultrasound. You may want to ask your practitioner these important questions at your follow-up appointment:

• Questions to ask about your first-trimester ultrasound(s): You can ask your practitioner about fetal heart rate, estimated date of conception, due date, and general health of the baby and placenta. If you’ve had an additional NT scan, you could ask about any risk factors detected.
• Questions to ask about your second-trimester ultrasound(s): You can ask your practitioner about the approximate size and weight of your growing baby or about any new physical differences that may have been detected during the scan. If you’d like to know the sex of your baby, you can ask at this time!
• Questions to ask about your third-trimester ultrasound(s): You can ask your practitioner about the size and weight of your baby and the position your baby is in. Ultrasounds done toward the end of the third trimester can indicate if your baby is moving into a safe delivery position.

How quickly can you get your ultrasound images and report?

We’ve heard that many patients want to see their ultrasound images and reports as quickly as possible. With PocketHealth, you can quickly and easily access and share your pregnancy ultrasound images and review your reports—often before seeing your practitioner for a follow-up. Access your records here.

The PocketHealth platform enables you to securely access, share and store your imaging and other health information all in one place. It also enables you to share images with family and friends, so they can see firsthand how your baby develops and changes throughout your pregnancy journey.

Because pregnancy ultrasound terminology can be confusing, PocketHealth’s Report Reader is there to help. Report Reader makes it easier to understand terms in your ultrasound report and feel more prepared when speaking to your pregnancy care practitioner.

Take control of your pregnancy journey

Pregnancy ultrasounds are a valuable medical tool that gives your practitioner important information about the growth of your baby, so understanding your pregnancy ultrasounds can reduce any stress around the unknowns that come with preparing for these appointments.

It’s also important to be informed when reviewing your results and speaking to your practitioner. Knowing which questions to ask helps you become a more active participant in your pregnancy care, no matter what trimester you’re in. Understanding why your practitioner has requested a pregnancy ultrasound can help you happily anticipate your next appointment and give you peace of mind throughout every step of your pregnancy.

How PocketHealth works

Learn more about how to use PocketHealth to access and share your pregnancy ultrasound records.

The post Pregnancy Ultrasound 101: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on PocketHealth.

While this guide provides helpful information about prenatal scans, your doctor will officially interpret your results during a follow-up appointment or phone call. If you’d like early access to your results, PocketHealth offers secure, instant access to your report when it is available. This allows you to review the findings in advance and prepare any questions for your follow-up.

Get fast access to your ultrasound results

• Online Access
• Easy Sharing
• Permanent Storage

What is a pregnancy ultrasound?

Ultrasounds are used for a variety of purposes, not just prenatal care. However, the method is generally the same. High-frequency sound waves are produced by a wand-like device called a transducer. As the technician moves the hand held transducer across the area being scanned, these sound waves bounce off organs and other internal structures, echoing back to create images that are captured and saved for later analysis. In prenatal ultrasounds, these echoes reveal the embryo or fetus, allowing for the evaluation of development, growth and other health functions.

Categories of pregnancy ultrasounds

Typically, healthy pregnant patients receive two ultrasound exams: one during the first trimester and one during the second. Early pregnancy ultrasounds are used to determine viability, gestational age and embryo implantation. If an embryo implants outside of the uterus, it is considered an ectopic pregnancy. The second trimester scan is to evaluate fetal anatomy and development factors.

Additional scans may also be performed when the clinician feels they are necessary, and a third, optional type of ultrasound is commonly performed between weeks 11 and 13 in order to screen for chromosomal conditions. This is called a nuchal translucency screening and will be detailed later in this guide.

As for general categories of prenatal scans, the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) categorizes ultrasounds during pregnancy as standard, limited and specialized.

Standard fetal ultrasound

The standard fetal ultrasound checks fetal physical development, with the clinician looking for major developmental issues, while also estimating the fetus’s gestational age. During the first trimester, the ultrasound is the most accurate way to confirm the age, by measuring the fetus’s crown-to-rump length. The predictions are generally accurate to within five days of the expected due date. The second scan is usually performed between 18-22 weeks, and is used to:

• Identify the number of fetuses
• Determine placental location
• Measure the amount of amniotic fluid present
• Estimate fetal weight and size
• Assess fetal anatomy and development
• Identify fetal position, heart rate, presence of movement and breathing

Limited fetal ultrasound

A limited fetal ultrasound is performed to help the clinician answer a question, like confirming the fetal heartbeat or checking fetal positioning. An optional nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound would be done around 10-13 weeks, to measure the fluid-filled space behind the fetus’s neck. An abnormal measurement could indicate chromosomal issues like Down syndrome, and the clinician may also order a blood test to measure hormones and proteins. A clinician may recommend limited ultrasounds for other medical concerns, such as hypertension, maternal diabetes, bleeding, low amniotic fluid or advanced maternal age.

Specialized fetal ultrasound

Specialized fetal ultrasound examinations may be recommended if the clinician wants to monitor something like fetal growth. This exam may use a special ultrasound technique like 3-D ultrasound or Doppler ultrasound, which will be further detailed in an upcoming section.

Types of fetal ultrasounds

While ultrasounds in general involve using sound waves to create a picture of what is inside the body, there are different techniques.

Transabdominal ultrasound

A transabdominal ultrasound is the traditional version those who are pregnant may envision. The patient lies on their back and the technician moves a transducer over the abdomen after applying a thick gel. This technique works best when the patient drinks water before the exam, as a full bladder makes the sound waves travel better. After around 24 weeks of gestation, many patients no longer need a full bladder for ultrasounds, as the baby is large enough to be seen clearly on the scan without it.

Transvaginal ultrasound

While the sound waves work the same way, the transducer is a wand inserted into the vagina. The patient does not need a full bladder for this exam—an empty or partially full bladder is fine. For prenatal scans, transvaginal ultrasounds are typically only needed during the first trimester, though exceptions may apply depending on the patient.

Doppler ultrasound

While a standard ultrasound shows pictures, a Doppler shows blood flow. Doppler ultrasound is used to hear the fetal heartbeat and see how well the blood is circulating through the vessels or umbilical cord. It may be used for patients who have complications like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or kidney problems, placental development issues or potential fetal growth issues. It’s more typically done during the third trimester.

Guiding ultrasound

Ultrasounds may be used to guide procedures, like chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis, when a needle is inserted into the womb to biopsy the placental tissue or the amniotic fluid. These tests look for abnormalities. The ultrasound ensures that the needle is in the right location.

3-D ultrasound

This more advanced ultrasound takes thousands of pictures at a time, producing a photo-quality image. It may be used to monitor the baby’s organ development, and to look for potential facial abnormalities. It can also be used to visualize problems with the uterus.

4-D ultrasound

4-D ultrasound is similar to 3-D ultrasound but it is a video. It shows the baby’s movement. It may also show potential fetal abnormalities. Both 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds are sometimes referred to as “keepsake ultrasounds,” as they provide more realistic views of the baby and people like to frame or share the images. Medical associations and government health organizations do not recommend getting these ultrasounds unless there is a medical necessity.

Get fast access to your ultrasound results

• Online Access
• Easy Sharing
• Permanent Storage

Understanding your ultrasound results

While the ultrasound technician can answer questions about the scanning process, they cannot provide diagnoses or explanations. A radiologist will interpret your report, along with your obstetrician, who may offer additional insights. These results will usually be communicated to you at a follow up appointment.

If you’d like to view your report before your appointment, PocketHealth provides faster access, allowing you to see the results as soon as they are officially uploaded. This gives you time to review the findings and prepare for your next medical visit.

Although your doctor will provide an official explanation of your results, accessing your report before your appointment can give you an early glimpse. It’s common to find the medical terminology complex and confusing, but Report Reader makes it easier by offering clear, straightforward definitions for medical terms—simply tap or click on any underlined words to reveal their meaning.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions regarding prenatal ultrasounds.

How do I prepare for my pregnancy ultrasound?

Your obstetrician or the imaging facility should give you instructions, but here are some helpful tips for ultrasound preparation:

• If required, arrive with a full bladder: This improves visibility and pushes the uterus in a better angle for imaging.
• Review any previous instructions: This ensures no preparations slip through the cracks.
• Bring your requisition form: While the imaging clinic may already have your ultrasound orders, bringing them may save time during check-in if they don’t have them on hand. Also bring your health or insurance card and photo ID.
• Wear comfortable clothes: Transvaginal scans usually require you to wear a hospital gown, though abdominal ultrasounds often do not. Regardless, wearing something easy to get in and out of or that provides access to your abdomen can be helpful.
• If desired, ask about bringing a support person: Some patients prefer to have someone with them during the scan. Most imaging facilities allow this, but policies may vary so it can be helpful to ask in advance.

Are there any risks to prenatal ultrasounds?

Prenatal scans are considered safe and effective. However, some patients may have allergies to latex or other medical substances, such as the gel used during the procedure. It’s helpful to communicate any known allergies in advance so that accommodations can be made. Additionally, some patients may experience mild discomfort during a transvaginal ultrasound. If this happens, it may be a good idea to inform the technician so they can make adjustments to improve comfort.

How soon can pregnancy be detected by ultrasound?

Pregnancy can typically be detected by ultrasound as early as six weeks gestation. However, it’s not uncommon for patients to have a scan at this early stage and find no visible activity. If conception dates are incorrect, it may be too early for the pregnancy to be detected, meaning the gestation is actually earlier than expected. In such cases, repeat imaging is often scheduled in one to two weeks to try again.

How soon can they tell my baby’s sex on ultrasound?

Fetal anatomy takes time to fully develop. One of the first indicators of sex anatomy is the genital tubercle, often referred to as the “nub.” The angle of this tubercle is thought to be a predictor of the baby’s sex. If the nub is less than 10 degrees from the spine, the “nub theory” suggests a female fetus. If the tubercle is over 30 degrees from the fetal spine, it is more likely to indicate a male.

The accuracy of this theory is about 70 percent at 11 weeks gestation, meaning an ultrasound performed around this time may give an indication of sex. By 13 weeks, the accuracy increases to nearly 100 percent. However, this requires clear images or specific fetal positioning for an accurate evaluation, which is not always possible. The standard ultrasound for determining fetal sex is the 18 to 20 week anatomy scan, as by this time the baby is large enough for clearer visualization.

Feel confident throughout your pregnancy journey

PocketHealth makes it simple to keep track of your prenatal reports and ultrasounds. All of your vital imaging is in one secure location and can be accessed online anytime or even shared with family and friends. If needed, reports can also be easily shared with other physicians in your care team. When used in conjunction with your medical provider’s professional advice, it is a powerful tool for organizing and understanding your imaging results and pregnancy health. With such easy access to all of your ultrasounds, you can also print them from home or even share them with friends and family.

Another tool for your health is MyCare Navigator, which provides personalized insights to your health and identifies any recommended follow-up steps. This feature can also generate individualized questions to ask your doctor based on the findings in your report, ensuring you make the most of your consultation.

The post Pregnancy Ultrasounds – An Overview appeared first on PocketHealth.

While pregnancy ultrasounds are a reliable way to track and measure your baby’s progress, reviewing your ultrasound report can be daunting. Pregnancy ultrasound reports often include acronyms and medical terminology that the average person may not recognize and knowing how to read ultrasound numbers and measurements can be intimidating.

If you’re experiencing anxiety waiting to review your ultrasound imaging test results with your OBGYN, family doctor or midwife, this article can help you decode the abbreviated medical language and terms in your report.

By understanding the terms in your ultrasound, you can stress less before your appointment and have confident, informed conversations with your healthcare team.

How does a pregnancy ultrasound work?

During your fetal ultrasound examination, a trained technician called a sonographer will use a hand-held device called a transducer to create and capture sound waves. Too high pitched for human ears to hear, those sound waves travel through your body and bounce off different structures in different ways. The ultrasound machine detects and uses these signals to create an image of the position and shape of your growing pregnancy. These captured images are then interpreted by a radiologist.

There are two main types of ultrasound procedures done during pregnancy:

• Transabdominal scan (TAS): A sonographer will squeeze gel onto your belly and then run the transducer over the surface of your skin to capture the fetal anatomy of your growing baby.
• Transvaginal scan (TVS): A sonographer will insert a lubricated wand into your vagina to capture more detailed images of your uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes, allowing for a closer look at your pregnancy and determining any early pregnancy complications.

Early in your pregnancy, you’ll likely have both an abdominal ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound, since the embryo is so small that the transducer successfully captures more details inside the vaginal canal than it can outside the abdomen. From the second trimester onwards, you’ll likely only have abdominal ultrasounds.

How to read a fetal ultrasound report

What does BPD mean on an ultrasound? What about CRL? Here’s an alphabetical list of the most common medical acronyms you’ll encounter when reviewing your pregnancy ultrasound results, with an explanation of each.

AC (Abdominal circumference):

The measurement of the fetus’s abdomen used to assess fetal growth and development.

AF (Amniotic fluid):

A clear liquid that surrounds the fetus during pregnancy. Contained in the amniotic sac, AF helps cushion the fetus, allowing for safe movement and regulating environmental temperature. AF can be measured using the Amniotic Fluid Index at any time after the 24-week mark of a pregnancy.

BPD (Biparietal diameter):

A standard used to assess fetal growth and development by measuring the distance between two sides of a fetus’ head. What does BPD mean for your ultrasound? BPD can help your practitioner determine gestational age when measured between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

CPR (Cerebroplacental ratio):

An obstetric tool used to measure fetal growth and adverse pregnancy outcomes by assessing cardiac output. CPR is typically measured within 2 weeks of delivery to determine placental sufficiency before delivery.

CRL (Crown-rump length):

A measurement of the embryo or fetus from the top of its head to the bottom of its torso used to estimate gestational age. CRL is used to assess age between weeks 6 and 13 of pregnancy, after which other measurements like BPD and head circumference (HC) may be more accurate.

EDD (Estimated date of delivery):

A calculation to determine the most likely date of spontaneous natural birth. EDD can be determined by reviewing ovulation and menstruation dates prior to conception or by examining the size of the uterus through a pelvic exam.

EFW (Estimated fetal weight):

EFW is a measurement determined by assessing the size and measurements of various parts of a fetus, including the head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL). EFW can be determined at any point after the 10-week mark of a pregnancy.

FGR (Fetal growth restriction):

Is defined as a low fetal weight less than the 10th percentile in weight for gestational age, taking into consideration the growth potential of the fetus. Depending on the fundal height—the distance between the pubic bone and the top of the uterus—FGR may be assessed throughout the pregnancy.

FHM (Fetal heart rate monitoring):

Monitoring fetal heart rate movements allows your healthcare provider to assess the health of the fetus. The fetus’ FHM can be assessed internally using a transvaginal ultrasound in early pregnancy or externally using a Doppler ultrasound during later stages of pregnancy or labor.

FL (Femur length):

A measurement of the length of the fetus’ thighbone used to help estimate fetal growth and assess development. FL is measured during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

GA (Gestation age):

This measurement determines the age of the pregnancy and helps assess the health of the mother and fetus. GA can be determined by reviewing the LMP date, fundal height and ultrasound images.

GS (Gestational sac):

The gestational sac is a fluid-filled structure that surrounds and protects the embryo during the first weeks of pregnancy. Measuring the diameter of the GS during an ultrasound can help determine gestational and fetal age and assess the health of the pregnancy. This measurement is called the mean gestational sac diameter (MSD) and may be taken in the first trimester.

HC (Head circumference):

A measurement of the circumference of the fetus’ head used to determine fetal growth and development in combination with BPD, FL and AC measurements. HC is measured during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

LGA (Large gestational age):

LGA is a descriptor indicating that a newborn baby weighs more than usual for the length of pregnancy. LGA indicators can be assessed after the 20th week of pregnancy and may be determined by ultrasound or monitoring the mother’s weight gain during pregnancy.

LMP (Last menstrual period):

Date of the mother’s last menstrual period is used to determine the date of delivery and may be requested at the beginning of pregnancy to determine the length of gestation and approximate delivery date.

MSD (Mean gestational sac diameter):

The measurement of the GS using an ultrasound. This measurement determines the gestational age and expected due date of a pregnancy.

NT (Nuchal translucency):

The measurement of the amount of fluid behind the neck of a developing fetus. NT can be assessed by ultrasound between the 11th and 13th week of pregnancy and helps determine the risk of Down Syndrome and other genetic conditions in the developing fetus.

OFD (Occipital-frontal diameter):

Used to assess the growth and development of the fetus, the OFD is the measurement between the back of the head and the forehead of the fetus. This measurement is taken during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and can be used in combination with BPD to determine the shape of the head.

SGA (Small for gestational age):

SGA is a descriptor indicating that a newborn baby weighs less than usual for the length of pregnancy. SGA indicators can be assessed after the 20th week of pregnancy and may be determined by ultrasound, checking placental blood flow or monitoring the mother’s weight gain during pregnancy.

How PocketHealth can help you access and understand your fetal ultrasound report

You’ll likely be eager to review your prenatal ultrasound images and results. PocketHealth gives you quick access to your pregnancy ultrasound images and reports, as soon as they’re released by the hospital imaging department or imaging clinic—often before your scheduled appointment with your OBGYN, referring family doctor or midwife. You can also securely store your results to any device and share the high-quality images with friends and family during all stages of your pregnancy.

The medical terms, acronyms and assessments found in your ultrasound report won’t be light reading, but Report Reader can help. Report Reader provides definitions for the medical terminology in your report, making it easier for you to understand your results and feel informed and confident at your follow-up appointments.

You can also get personalized insights based on your report. MyCare Navigator spotlights follow-up suggestions and can help you determine the best questions to ask at your next appointment using the Ask My Doctor feature. You’ll always arrive ready to participate in your care at your next prenatal appointment.

Feel confident and in control of your pregnancy

Pregnancy is often an exciting time but can feel nerve-wracking because many of the changes happening to your body are outside of your control. What you do have control over is understanding how your pregnancy progresses, including a better understanding of the medical acronyms and terminology in your ultrasound report.

Gaining knowledge of the medical terms in your report and understanding what your ultrasound images are capturing can ease any anxieties you might have about your baby’s growth, their health and your own wellbeing. More importantly, the knowledge you acquire also allows you to feel more informed and confident throughout your pregnancy when speaking with any member of your healthcare team.

How PocketHealth works

Learn more about how you can use PocketHealth to access and share your pregnancy ultrasound images and results.

The post How to Read a Pregnancy Ultrasound Report: Decoding Common Terminology appeared first on PocketHealth.