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OB Ultrasound Specialist

Valentine Ugwu, MD, FACOG, MBA -  - OBGYN

VNC RealHealth PLLC

Valentine Ugwu, MD, FACOG, MBA

OBGYN & Family Medicine located in Pearsall, TX

If you’re expecting, you know that one of the most vital and exciting parts of prenatal care is the OB ultrasound or sonogram. For the kindest, most comprehensive care, schedule your OB ultrasound with Valentine C. Ugwu, MD, FACOG, MBA, at VNC RealHealth PLLC. At his practice, located in Pearsall, Texas, Dr. Ugwu is committed to your health and wellness and the health and wellness of your expanding family. To reach Dr. Ugwu, call or use the online booking tool today.

OB Ultrasound Q & A

What is an OB ultrasound?

An OB ultrasound, also known as an obstetric ultrasound or sonogram, is a procedure that uses sound waves to monitor the progression of a child’s or children’s growth in-utero. It does so by creating pictures of the embryo or fetus inside a pregnant woman. 

The OB ultrasound can also generate images of a woman’s uterus and ovaries, and Dr. Ugwu can use the procedure to evaluate blood flow in the placenta, fetus, or umbilical cord.

Unlike X-rays, OB ultrasounds use no radiation of any kind and are completely safe for mother and baby.

What happens during an OB ultrasound?

To begin an OB ultrasound, Dr. Ugwu asks you to lean back on the examination table. Once you’re comfortable, he applies a gel to your abdomen. This gel makes it possible for sound waves to travel back and forth between the handheld transducer and your body.

Next, he presses the transducer against your abdomen. Like the sonar of bats or submarines, the transducer emits high-frequency, inaudible sound waves into your body and picks up the echoes that return.

But unlike bats and submarines, which use sonar to measure distance, the transducer detects the shape, size, and consistency of your organs, including the fetus inside your uterus. 

As the sound waves bounce back, a computer measures and immediately displays corresponding images on a nearby monitor. The images on-screen may be videos, while Dr. Ugwu typically captures photographs for you to take home.

Typically, an OB ultrasound visit takes about 30 minutes.

How early in pregnancy can you go in for an OB ultrasound?

Ultrasounds are an important element of prenatal care, as they offer Dr. Ugwu the opportunity to make sure that your baby is growing on track and to capture any problems early.

You can schedule your first OB ultrasound between the first six and nine weeks of pregnancy. During this first visit, you can:

  • Confirm the fetal heartbeat
  • Confirm your due date
  • Count how many fetuses you’re carrying
  • Make sure the pregnancy is taking place inside the uterus

You should have another ultrasound during the 18th to 22nd week of pregnancy. At this time, you can:

  • Determine the sex of the baby
  • See details like the head, feet, toes, fingers, and organs
  • Measure the baby and check its amniotic fluid

If your pregnancy is considered high-risk, Dr. Ugwu may have you come in for ultrasounds more frequently.

Pregnancy is a special time for a growing family. To make sure yours is as smooth as possible, and to enjoy images of your child in-utero, book an OB ultrasound with Dr. Ugwu today. To get started, call his office or use the online booking tool.