A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to see how a baby is developing in the womb. It is also used to check the female pelvic organs during pregnancy.
Ultrasound examination is often performed using a wand or transducer over the abdomen (transabdominal). A (chilly) gel is rubbed onto your belly and then a wand called a transducer, which emits sound waves, is rubbed over the area. These sound waves bounce off structures (otherwise known as your baby) to produce an image you can view on a video screen. Note: The same technology is used in a handheld Doppler, only it's not as sophisticated (which means no pictures to share).
During the first trimester (or for cervical checks), your practitioner may instead perform a transvaginal, or internal, ultrasound, especially early on. The same principle is at work, but a small, long transducer wand, which is first covered with a condom and sterile lubricant, is inserted directly into the vagina. The practitioner will move the wand within the vaginal cavity to scan your uterus. This allows your practitioner to see the fetus even before it's detectable on a transabdominal ultrasound.
The procedures can last from five to 30 minutes and are painless, except for the discomfort of the full bladder necessary for the first-trimester transabdominal exam. They can be somewhat uncomfortable if the sonographer needs to press hard on your abdomen to see a particular part of your baby more clearly.
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