Here are the most common types of ultrasounds for pregnancy:

Standard Ultrasound

A standard ultrasound is the most common type performed during pregnancy. The technician holds a wand shaped transducer and rubs it over the stomach to produce two-dimensional pictures of the baby. If the doctor has any reason to suspect problems with the fetus, he may ask the technician to perform an advanced ultrasound. In an advanced ultrasound, the doctor points out areas of concern and the technician pays particular attention to those area.

Transvaginal Scan

In the case of a high risk pregnancy or if the mother is experiencing health issues, the obstetrician may want to perform an ultrasound earlier than a standard ultrasound. In these cases, a transvaginal ultrasound is used. The technician inserts the transducer into the vagina to perform the scan. Once the pregnancy reaches ten weeks, the obstetrician will typically choose a standard ultrasound.

Fetal Echocardiography

This ultrasound assesses potential problems with the development and anatomy of the baby’s heart and diagnoses any suspected heart defects. The obstetrician may recommend a fetal echocardiograph if he sees something suspicious on the standard ultrasound. He may also recommend a fetal echocardiograph if the patient or her partner has a history of cardiac abnormalities or the doctor notices irregularity in the fetal heartbeat. The technician can perform fetal echocardiographs either vaginally or through the abdomen.

3-D Ultrasound

A 3-D ultrasound uses computer software along with a specially designed transducer to generate a more complete picture of the baby. The transducer takes images in a series of slices which, when transmitted to the computer, form a three dimensional picture.

Dynamic 3-D Ultrasound

Often called a 4-D ultrasound, this ultrasound uses specially designed transducers to give a more realistic view of the baby. Parents enjoy seeing the dynamic 3-D ultrasounds because they can see their baby in action. The doctor and parents can watch the baby move in the uterus. While 3-D and dynamic 3-D ultrasounds are fun for the parent, they offer no diagnostic advantage over standard ultrasounds.

Info from LiveStrong

Image from UNC Healthcare

The first ultrasound is exciting, and each one, where the baby is a little more identifiably human, is anticipated more and more with each visit. By eight weeks the image resembles a lima bean with a pulse; by fifteen weeks the ultrasound image can show baby’s major organs; by the 20th week, the ultrasound pictures can often confirm the sex of your baby.

Twenty-year follow-up studies of thousands of mothers and babies who received diagnostic ultrasound have shown no apparent harmful effects. It is certainly safer than x-rays. There is a theoretical concern about whether the sound waves striking growing fetal tissues can cause any damage the cell. The National Institutes of Health Task Force on Diagnostic Ultrasound concludes: “We could find no evidence to justify the recommendation that every pregnancy be screened by ultrasound. In the face of even theoretical risks, where there is no benefit, then the theoretical risks cannot be justified.”

This means that, as fun as it is to see your growing baby on screen, the use of ultrasounds is really to check the baby’s progress and make sure he is developing properly. Dr. Sears lists 12 benefits of ultrasound:

1. Verify whether or not the mother is pregnant, when pregnancy tests and the usual signs of pregnancy are unclear.

2. Detect a possible ectopic pregnancy .

3. Obtain a more precise determination of baby’s gestational age when there is a discrepancy between uterine size and estimated due date. In the first half of pregnancy ultrasound can accurately date baby’s gestation within 7 to 10 days. In later months it is not as accurate and is useless for dating the pregnancy.

4. Evaluate baby’s growth if other signs, such as uterine size, suggest a problem.

5. Determine the cause of unexplained bleeding.

6. Confirm how baby lies in the uterus (breech, transverse, vertex) if the clinical signs are unclear late in pregnancy.

7. Detect suspected multiple pregnancies if mother’s uterus is growing faster than expected.

8. Detect problems with the placenta, such as placenta previa (the placenta being positioned too low or over the cervix) and abruptio placentae (the placenta is separating prematurely, causing bleeding).

9. Measure the amount of amniotic fluid if mother is losing amniotic fluid or not replenishing it at a normal rate.

10. Detect abnormalities of the uterus, especially in women with a history of previous miscarriages or problem pregnancies.

11. Detect developmental abnormalities in the growing baby that would influence where baby should be delivered and what preparations need to be made beforehand. Abnormalities of heart, lung, and intestinal development can, if detected early, alert parents and healthcare providers to deliver the baby in facilities equipped to begin management immediately after birth. Oftentimes, early recognition and early treatment can be lifesaving.

12. Assist in medical or surgical procedures: amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, trying to turn a breech baby, fetoscopy, or intrauterine transfusion.

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A baby memory album will help you collect and save memories of your pregnancy – the moment you found out you were pregnant, the first time you heard your baby’s heartbeat, that mysterious ultrasound photo. You’ll be able to cherish it forever and share it with your child. The best part about making a digital book is that you don’t have to be artistic. Anyone can create a beautiful baby memory book these days! Choose your preferred book-making application; below are some options to look into:

Free Systems that allow large quantities of text and many pages

• iMemoryBook Baby Memory Books – Online bookmaking that lets your collaborate with family and friends to create your baby memory book.

• SharedBook Collaborative online memory book system.

Photo Books – (photos with captions)

• PhotoWorks – Online Photo Book application.

• SnapJot Online Collaborative Photo book making application.

• MyPublisher Download photo book software.

• Shutterfly Create Photo Gifts online

Professional Software ($600+)

• Adobe inDesign Page layout and design software for creative professionals

• Quark Makers of design, page layout, publishing, enterprise workflow, personalization, and content management software.

Now it’s time to get started! Here are some tips on how to go about it:

1. Keep a camera and film on hand at all times.
2. Put together your baby memory book as the pregnancy progresses, or assemble your different stories in a notebook and make it all at once.
3. Collect memorabilia. Include things like photos of mom taken every two weeks (stand next to the same object for comparison). Save tags from maternity clothes and pressed flowers from the night baby was conceived and scan them into your book.
4. Don’t forget to include an account of how mom told dad she was pregnant, a photo of parents assembling the crib, and photos of when you were decorating the nursery.
5. Document food cravings. Tell funny stories about midnight runs for those cravings.
6. Document expanding sizes, new developments and changing name choices.
7. Make a family tree.
8. Tape interviews with family members for ideas about what will change, what the baby will be like and what their hopes are for the future. If you are using a collaborative memory book system (e.g. iMemoryBook, Snapjot), invite them by email to come and add their insights (If your system of choice doesn’t have collaboration, just have them each write on a page).
9. Be sure that both mom and dad write a special section full of their individual hopes and dreams for the new baby.
10. Don’t forget to include space for sonogram photos, hospital photos and items, and birth pictures.