If you are pregnant ultrasound scans are considered to be the most cost effective, accurate and safe methods of determining important information about the foetus. It is certainly one of the most widely used tools in the care of pregnant women and each pregnant ultrasound scan is excitedly anticipated by many mothers to be. It is often possible to have photographs of your foetus to take away with you, which brings a whole new dimension to your pregnancy and makes it seem more real.

Before your pregnant ultrasound appointment you will be told to drink an amount of water and not go to the toilet, as a full bladder is often necessary for a clear picture. This can be extremely uncomfortable, especially in the latter stages of pregnancy, but is absolutely necessary so you just have to do your best; its worth it in the end. Sometimes, if your baby is not in the best position for the pregnant ultrasound, you may be asked to empty a part of your bladder, a near impossible task but sometimes necessary just the same. Your stomach will be smeared with a cold wet gel, which also feels uncomfortable at first but soon warms up, and you dont feel any sensation from the actual ultrasound at all. You can just lie there, looking at your baby on the monitor, a truly heart warming experience.

An ultrasound is a very useful and accurate method of determining the gestational age of your foetus, and also it is possible to make certain measurements to confirm that the foetus is growing adequately and there are no potential problems. At the beginning of your pregnancy (between 7 and 13 weeks) it is usual to measure the crown rump length of your baby, which will give an accurate assessment of the gestational age. The measurement of the diameter between the two sides of the babies head can be done after 13 weeks and is also useful for measuring the gestational age. By measuring the longest bone in the body, (the femur), it is possible to keep a track on the longitudinal growth of the foetus, and this should also be done as early as possible. Later in the pregnancy, the most important measurement is the abdominal circumference, which gives an indication into computer monitor arm the actual size of the foetus rather than the age, and it is a useful way to monitor the growth.

It can also be a very important method of determining that the pregnancy is correctly sited in the uterus cavity, especially for women who have previously suffered from ectopic pregnancies, as signs can be visualized as early as four and a half weeks. If you are having trouble in your pregnancy with vaginal bleeding early on, it can determine the health of the foetus, as a heartbeat can be detected between only 6 and 7 weeks, and if a strong heartbeat is present there is a good chance of a continued pregnancy.

It is also an extremely useful method in detecting any abnormalities or malformation in the foetus.