pregnant woman

How to Prepare For Your HD Ultrasound in Seattle

It’s So Exciting!

Congratulations! You just found out that you’re pregnant and are bringing a new life into the world! What an extraordinary moment! This is wonderful news! Now thanks to modern HD ultrasound technology, you can watch your baby progress throughout your pregnancy with incredible accuracy. At Hey Baby Ultrasound, we offer the best HD ultrasound in Seattle.

Remember those old staticky-looking black-and-white ultrasound images that give some suggestions as to what’s happening in there — but not much more? It kind of looked like a baby, but it kind of looked like something else, too! Fortunately high definition technology has made it possible for us to see inside of the uterus with much greater clarity.

How To Prepare

It’s important to prepare properly, though, so that your HD ultrasound goes smoothly and so that you can see as much detail as possible. Here are some pro tips:

  • Wear clothing that is loose and comfortable. Your pants will have to come down slightly below your hips during the ultrasound, so make sure that you’ve got some comfy ones on. These kinds of ultrasounds usually take about 15-30 minutes, so you definitely don’t want to be in any kind of pants that are bunching or binding in any way. And hey, who needs that when they’re pregnant, anyway?

  • Drink plenty of fluids in the days leading up to your ultrasound. This will make a big difference in the quality of the images! Water increases not only the quantity, but also the quality of your amniotic fluid. This fluid is like a window that you see the baby through, and if it’s cloudy, you won’t see the baby very well! Because this is not a medical scan you don’t need a full bladder. Go to the bathroom frequently and drink lots of water, please!

  • It’s a good idea to know who is performing your ultrasound. Sonographers are not required to be licensed by the state of Washington, and at some places they aren’t even medical professionals. At Hey Baby Ultrasound, our sonographer has been trained by the oldest and longest-standing ultrasound licensing body in the United States.

    Sonography is an art form of its own and requires special training; the best results are achieved by having your HD ultrasound performed by someone who does them as their profession, instead of another medical professional who only does them occasionally or <gasp!> someone with no medical training whatsoever. Any sonographer worth going to will be happy to share their credentials with you. If you’d like to learn more about our credentials, contact us today.

  • Go at the right time. Gender can be accurately determined at as little as 14 weeks through sonography. The longer you are willing to wait, though, the more features you will see as your baby continues to grow and develop! Sonography is a wonderful way to bond with your baby throughout the process as he or she grows inside you. The baby’s features keep becoming more and more defined as you progress through your pregnancy. By the time they are born you may already be familiar with your baby’s face!

  • Have something to eat before your appointment. A sandwich, a salad, or a small bowl of pasta are all good ideas. Try to eat about 45 minutes before your appointment. This will help the baby be a little more active.

  • Even better, try to consume a glass of fruit juice before your appointment as well. We don’t recommend soda, because while the caffeine will make your baby more active, its diuretic (dehydrating) effect can be detrimental to the scan. (You know how hard you’ve worked to hydrate? Don’t put all that hard word to waste by drinking a soda before your appointment!) The baby will react to the natural sugars in juice better, and they will remain active longer.

As always, if you have any questions, let your sonographer or the staff know what your concerns may be. An HD is an elective procedure, however, so a sonographer will not be able to give any medical or diagnostic advice at all.

Hey Baby Ultrasound

Having an HD ultrasound is a wonderful way to bond with your growing baby and watch them change and mature as they grow inside you. By the time you give birth, you might feel like you’re meeting a friend! It’s a joyous and special time and we feel privileged to be a part of it for so many families. Feel free to give us a shout anytime at Hey Baby Ultrasound for any and all of your elective prenatal imaging needs.