Ultrasound
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Gallatin Women's Center
OB/GYNs located in Gallatin, TN
When you’re having a baby, you want the highest-quality medical care available. The experienced team at Gallatin Women’s Center rely on the most advanced diagnostic tools to assist in your prenatal care, including both 2D and 3D/4D ultrasound technology. See the difference for yourself, call or schedule a prenatal exam online today at the center’s Gallatin, Tennessee, location.
Ultrasound Q & A
Why is an ultrasound done?
Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of your body. When you’re pregnant, they’re performed regularly to take pictures of your baby and placenta for various reasons, including:
- Viability of your pregnancy
- Assess abnormal gestation
- Identify fetal malformations
- Monitor fetal development
- Look for structural abnormalities
- Evaluate your uterine and pelvic health
While 98% of ultrasounds are done with conventional 2D scanning, Gallatin Women’s Center also offers the advanced imaging capabilities of 3D/4D ultrasounds at its Gallatin location. Your physician may recommend a 3D/4D ultrasound if it is beneficial in diagnosing or monitoring your condition.
What is a 3D/4D ultrasound?
A 3D/4D ultrasound takes a series of two-dimensional images to construct a more life-like image that appears to be moving. The high-frequency sound wave technology used in 3D/4D ultrasounds is the same as 2D, but the difference in their images comes from additional image processing.
In rare cases, your provider might recommend a 3D/4D ultrasound to identify potential risks associated with your pregnancy. The higher quality, real-time images created using 3D/4D ultrasounds allow your doctor to identify abnormalities in your uterus or developing baby easier, making it a highly valuable diagnostic tool.
Your provider might also recommend a 3D/4D ultrasound to diagnose other pelvic conditions, such as:
- Congenital uterine abnormalities
- Endometrial polyps or submucous fibroids
- Determine the location of an intrauterine device
- Investigate recurrent preterm deliveries or miscarriages
At Gallatin Women’s Center, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist reads all 3D/4D scans. This specialist has advanced training in the care of mothers and fetuses at high-risk for complications.
What can I expect during an ultrasound?
When your practitioner at Gallatin Women’s Center determines you need an ultrasound, a trained ultrasound stenographer performs your scan in-office.
To capture your ultrasound images, the stenographer places gel on your belly that acts as the sound wave conductor and presses a transducer against the area. This transmits the sound waves and generates the ultrasound images on the monitor.
Neither 2D or 3D/4D ultrasounds are harmful to you or a developing baby.
For more information on ultrasound technology and prenatal care offered at Gallatin Women’s Center, call or schedule an appointment online today.
