EARLY PREGNANCY ULTRASOUND

Here at Amabella Birth Center we offer gentle and respectful care while providing your first trimester ultrasound.

We offer a first trimester in-office dating pregnancy ultrasound. The procedure is used to confirm or adjust the estimated due date (EDD) of a pregnancy. It is typically performed between 6 and 14 weeks of pregnancy, when your baby is still small enough to be easily visualized with an ultrasound.

Your health care provider will measure the crown-rump length (CRL) of the baby, which is the distance from the top of the head to the bottom of the rump. The CRL is the most accurate way to determine gestational age in the first trimester.

First trimester in-office dating pregnancy ultrasounds are usually performed transvaginally, which means that the ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina. This allows your provider to get a closer look at your baby and to get more accurate measurements. However, if the fetus is large enough, the ultrasound may be able to be performed transabdominally, which means that the probe is placed on the abdomen.

First trimester in-office dating pregnancy ultrasounds are a safe and painless procedure. There is no risk of miscarriage or other complications. However, some women may experience mild cramping or discomfort during the procedure.

The results of the first trimester in-office dating pregnancy ultrasound will be provided to you by your health care. They will use the results to confirm or adjust your EDD and to discuss any other findings from the ultrasound.

Here are some of the benefits of first trimester in-office dating pregnancy ultrasounds:

● They can help to confirm or adjust the EDD.

Here are some of the limitations of first trimester in-office dating pregnancy ultrasounds:

● They cannot be used to diagnose all problems with the pregnancy.

● They may not be accurate if the fetus is too small or if the mother has an increased BMI.

If you are pregnant, talk to your midwife about whether or not a first trimester in-office dating pregnancy ultrasound is right for you.