3 Ways That Ultrasounds Can Help Solve Health Issues During Pregnancy

Ultrasound services are commonly used for women during pregnancy to make sure that the babies are growing healthy and strong. Even though women commonly get ultrasounds to see their babies, ultrasounds also serve other purposes. Here are three ways that ultrasounds can help you during pregnancy if health issues arise.

Blood Clots

Blood clots can form after surgery, from playing sports, and they can also form during pregnancy. Blood clots are dangerous because, even if they form in the leg, they can kill you if they move to your brain, lungs, or heart. If you are pregnancy and start to feel pain in one or both of your legs that is persistent, then go to your OB/GYN immediately.

When you visit your doctor, he or she will use the ultrasound machine on your leg where the pain exists, or they will send you to a specialist. The wand will be able to detect any lumps or clots that are in your veins, which can help the doctor to determine if you have blood clots.

If you have clots, then you may have to wear compression socks for several weeks or until the end of your pregnancy. The compression socks will help to constrict your veins and to get rid of the existing clot so that it does not lead to a medical emergency. 

Intrauterine Problems

If you start to experience sharp pain around your ovaries before, during or after pregnancy, this may be cause for concern. Getting an ultrasound on your feminine organs can help the doctor to find the true source of the problem.

This type of ultrasound is not performed the same way as a basic pregnancy ultrasound though. Instead, an ultrasound device has to be inserted into your vaginal region, and then the probe creates the sound waves that are normally formed for any ultrasound test.

When these waves reach your ovaries, uterus, and other feminine organs, they will reflect the results on a screen that the doctor can see. Your doctor can then see if you have cysts, polyps, or possibly cancer. If further tests are needed, your doctor can take tissue samples and find out if there are any major concerns.

Kidney Stones

Lastly, you can also get an ultrasound on your kidneys if you think you have kidney stones. These stones are painful when you are not pregnant, but they can be even more excruciating when you are trying to grow a baby and pass stones.

Whether you are pregnant or not, getting an ultrasound on hurting kidneys is important. The doctor will do a normal ultrasound with the wand, and the sound waves will show if there are kidney stones present and if they are moving. If they are, then your doctor may want you to go to the hospital to be watched if you are pregnant.

Your doctor will not want you to be at risk for more complications, so seeking the appropriate medical help is necessary.

Ultrasounds can save your life, so be sure to tell your doctor if you are experiencing any of the problems. Your doctor, like those at Central Iowa OB/Gyn Specialists, PLC, can then perform the proper ultrasound to find out if there is anything to be concerned about.