Ultrasound Equipment and Prenatal Care

Using “cyclic sound pressure”, ultrasound equipment operates on a frequency of about 20 kilohertz, which is greater than what the human ear can hear. Most often used to produce pictures of a fetus in the womb, ultrasound machines work by measuring energy and sound waves that bounce off of the inner structures of the body.

Diagnostic imaging has dramatically improved over the past several years, and ultrasound machines are the most commonly used form of medical diagnostic imaging. This non-invasive technique is used to visualize internal organs to assess their size and structure, while locating any abnormalities within them. A sonographer, or ultrasound technician, usually administers these tests in a medical office or hospital, and most prenatal facilities have an ultrasound machine on the premises.

Because ultrasound is relatively inexpensive compared to other forms of diagnostic testing, it has become one of the most commonly used tools in modern medicine. It is a safe test because it relies on sound waves instead of radiation, which has been known to cause cancer.

How do obstetricians use ultrasound equipment?

Ultrasound equipment is used during pregnancy to produce 3-D images of the fetus, and help obstetricians to:
Confirm the viability of a fetus
Determine the fetus’ gestational age and size
Locate the fetus, and determine whether the pregnancy is uterine or ectopic
Check for multiple fetuses
Determine the sex of the baby
Assess the growth of the fetus
Check for the heartbeat and fetal movements

While ultrasound machines are typically used to produce a keepsake of the child, the American Medical Association strongly discourages the use of excessive “vanity” ultrasounds during pregnancy. Compared to the ultrasound images of the past, today’s ultrasound machines can produce 3-D images that are very lifelike, which has created a demand for more ultrasound testing, but it is ill-advised for a pregnant woman to undergo more ultrasound testing than what her doctor determines as medically necessary.