If you ask mother’s what made their hearts leap is when they first saw their little one in an ultrasound. An ultrasound is usually a test carried out using high-frequency sound waves to develop an image of the baby in the mother’s womb. It is truly a sight to behold when you see a little person moving and stretching inside you. Considering that hospital visits can be nerve-wracking, having an idea of what happens when you are getting an ultrasound can help you ease your anxiety levels. Before you go for an ultrasound, here are some of the things that you must know.
Understand Its Use
To get rid of any anxiety it is important for you to understand what an ultrasound is used for. During the first trimester of pregnancy, your first ultrasound will be carried out to confirm a few things. One of the things that an ultrasound confirms is that the fetal heartbeat is in perfect shape. Additionally, it can also tell you if you are carrying more than one baby. At this point, it basically confirms a few things that you need to know as you move on to the second and third trimesters.
It Must be Done by an Expert
There are ultrasound technicians who are trained in using ultrasound. For you to get the right information you must get the readings from a professional. It is not everyone working in the hospital who has the expertise to do an ultrasound test. So every time you walk into a hospital for an ultrasound, make sure that it is a trained professional who is carrying out the test.
Prepare Adequately
Just like how you prepare for a dental appointment, preparing for an ultrasound works the same way. You need to make sure that you are well prepared by following a few simple instructions. One of them is that your bladder needs to be full before the technician can clearly see the image of your fetus and your other reproductive organs. You will always get instructions from your technician to drink a lot of water before you walk into the ultrasound room. The water must be drunk one hour before the test is done.
The Test is Not Invasive
In case you are scared about the test being invasive then there’s no need for you to do that. Ultrasound tests are non-invasive and so you do not have to fear that someone is going to inject you or is going to cut you up. It is just like a normal X-ray only that it is done on your uterus.
Get the Whole Procedure
Finally, when you know what the procedure is like it can help you to be calmer even as you wait for the scheduled appointment. The minute you go online and you carry out a quick search, you will always find the entire ultrasound procedure written down for you. Reading it before the schedule the appointment date is important because it helps you put your mind at ease.