Ultrasounds in Colorado Springs
Pregnancy Ultrasounds:
A 2D obstetric ultrasound is a fetal ultrasound that provides you, your family, and your doctor with the first glimpse of your developing baby. This prenatal ultrasound is a safe, painless and non-invasive test used to:
- Confirm a pregnancy and its location
- Determine how a pregnancy is progressing, the baby’s growth rate, age, and gender
- Determine location and development of the placenta
- Identify possible fetal abnormalities
- Survey the fetus with a biophysical profile and fetal heart monitor
- Monitor cervical length for preterm labor
- Blood flow doppler studies
Ultrasounds at our Colorado Springs clinic are typically performed:
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Dating Ultrasound – 6-9 weeks of pregnancy. Your first glimpse of the baby.
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First Trimester Screening (optional) – 12 weeks of pregnancy
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Second Trimester Detailed Anatomic Screening – 18-20 weeks of pregnancy. This is where you and your family can find out the gender of the baby.
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Third Trimester evaluation for growth, anatomy, amniotic fluid level or cervical length, which is used to monitor for preterm labor
Types of Pregnancy Ultrasounds:
- Standard 2D Ultrasounds direct high-pitched sound waves toward the baby which bounces off tissues, organs, and bones in the mother’s body, including those of the baby in the uterus. This 2D ultrasound creates black and white images on a monitor.
- 3D / 4D Ultrasounds are done between 28 – 30 weeks of pregnancy and use of sound waves to create an image of the baby in your womb. A great way to be introduced to your baby’s face.
- Advanced or Targeted Ultrasounds are used to further investigate a suspected abnormality identified by a standard ultrasound.
- Doppler Ultrasounds measure slight changes in the frequency of the ultrasound waves as they bounce off moving objects, such as blood cells.
Gynecological Ultrasounds:
- A Transvaginal Ultrasound is a type of pelvic ultrasound used to examine female reproductive organs. This includes the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, and the vagina.
- An Abdominal Ultrasound is used to help your doctor visualize the organs and structures inside the abdomen. It is used to help diagnose pain or distention and evaluate the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and abdominal aorta.
Pelvic Ultrasounds:
If you are not pregnant but need an ultrasound because of pain, or because the doctor felt a cyst or other mass, we call that a pelvic ultrasound. Usually, our gynecologist wants to scan you through the abdomen and also through the vagina. For most women, a vaginal transducer is used.
The transducer is designed to be used by gynecologists with a vaginal ultrasound. However, with teenagers or women who can’t have a vaginal exam, the abdominal exam will be completed. At times, a full bladder may be required for an abdominal ultrasound. Consequently, the patient may need to drink fluid to have a full bladder prior to the exam.