Obstetric Ultrasound
Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning, is a method of obtaining pictures from inside the human body through the use of high frequency sound waves.
Obstetric ultrasound refers to the specialised use of this technique to produce a picture of your unborn baby while it is inside your uterus (womb). The sound waves are emitted from a hand-held nozzle, which is placed on your stomach, and reflection of these sound waves is displayed as a picture of the moving fetus (unborn baby) on a monitor screen. No x-rays are involved in ultrasound imaging.
Measurements of the image of the fetus help in the assessment of its size and growth as well as confirming the due date of delivery. If there are any concerns about the health of the fetus, ultrasound can provide more information before the birth.