Maternal - Fetal Medicine

What You Should Know About Fetal Ultrasounds

By Richard L. Fischer, M.D.

Your physician has ordered a fetal (obstetrical) ultrasound examination. The purpose of a fetal ultrasound is to determine the approximate age of the fetus, to assess its growth, attempt to detect fetal birth defects, and to assess the fluid around the baby (amniotic fluid) and the position of the afterbirth (placenta).

The ultrasound examination will be performed by a certified ultrasound technologist. A Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician may also repeat parts of the examination and speak to you about your pregnancy.

If you are in your first trimester, you may have been asked to have a full bladder, which will make it easier to visualize the fetus. Depending on the age of your baby, it may be necessary to perform a vaginal ultrasound to better see the pregnancy. After the first trimester, you will no longer need to have a full bladder for your ultrasound examination.

A fetal ultrasound is more than just an opportunity to see your baby; it is a medical test that is used to obtain important information. Like any medical test, it is not 100% accurate. Ultrasounds cannot detect all birth defects. Medical studies have shown that ultrasounds can pick up birth defects only 15 - 65% of the time. Many of the "missed abnormalities" may be minor, but major abnormalities, such as heart defects, can be missed as well.

Conversely, in about 25% of the time, structural or growth variations may be seen in the baby that will require you to return for one or more follow-up ultrasound examinations. Most of the time these are not serious problems, but additional tests may be ordered to further assess the well being of your baby. You may also be offered a chance to speak with our Board Certified Genetic Counselor about other diagnostic tests that can be performed if more information is wanted.

Unlike many Radiology units, your ultrasound will be interpreted by a Board Certified Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist, who is an Obstetrician with extra training and expertise in high-risk pregnancies. If any problems are seen with the pregnancy, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine doctor will speak with you directly and notify your Obstetrician as well.

In keeping with the hospital's family-centered philosophy, family members and friends are welcome to observe the ultrasound with you, within reason. If there is personal information that you would not like disclosed, please ask your family or friends to remain in the waiting room.

Our hospital policy prohibits keepsake videos. However, we would be happy to give you a still picture of your baby.

Because Cooper Hospital/University Medical Cener is a teaching institution, you may be asked if a resident and/or medical student can observe your ultrasound examination. We encourage their participation, but if their presence makes you feel uncomfortable, please notify the ultrasound technologist.

On those rare occassions when a fetal abnormality is identified, you may be asked if we can include your baby in a registry of fetal abnormalities being collected in New Jersey, or included anonymously in an observational study that is being performed by Cooper Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

We hope your ultrasound experience with Cooper Maternal-Fetal Medicine is a pleasant one. If you have any complaints or complements, please let us know.

To make an appointment with a Cooper University Hospital physician at an office near you, please call 1-800-8-COOPER (800-826-6737) to speak with a member of our physician referral and information service.