2-D Ultrasound
This is the most traditional form of prenatal ultrasound. Two-dimensional black and white images are obtained.
Our screening techniques can provide you with peace of mind earlier in your pregnancy, with more accurate results.
About halfway through your pregnancy (18-20 weeks of gestation), you will most likely have an anatomy ultrasound of your baby. This ultrasound is used to determine if there are any fetal anomalies and the baby’s size and weight, and to measure the overall growth.
While an ultrasound examination will not improve your pregnancy’s outcome, it can aid in providing you and your family with information to be better prepared for your baby’s arrival.
Our Services
Dating Ultrasound
These examinations are ideally performed between six and 12 weeks of gestation to confirm or change your due date. If you are identified as having a high-risk pregnancy, you and your baby may require extra testing.
Nuchal Translucency
Is an ultrasound screening examination that can be performed between 11 and 13-6/7 weeks of gestation. This screening test measures the collection of fluid under the baby’s skin at the back of the neck. An abnormal finding during this test can help to detect chromosomal abnormalities, heart defects and a number of other genetic syndromes. All OSU sonographers are certified to perform this test and our team will review your results with you.
Anatomy Ultrasound Examination
For low-risk patients. This screening examination is performed at 18 – 20 weeks of gestation provides a basic assessment of your baby’s anatomy, evaluates the amount of amniotic fluid and the placenta and can identify major birth defects.
Cervical Length Measurement
This is a way to screen and detect pregnant women for the risks of delivering prematurely. This ultrasound measures the length of your cervix. It is usually performed during your anatomy/detailed ultrasound, but may be done even sooner if you have had a premature baby in the past.
Women who are identified as having a short cervix during their pregnancy or have had a premature delivery in the past are at a higher risk for delivering a premature baby. The Ohio State Maternal Fetal Medicine department offers cervical length ultrasound to all pregnant women as part of their prematurity risk assessment and to identify if further high-risk treatment is needed. If you are found to have a short cervical length, you may be a candidate for starting a medication that has been shown to decrease premature delivery.
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Detailed Ultrasound Examination
For high-risk patients. This screening examination is performed at 18 – 20 weeks of gestation for women with high-risk pregnancy conditions. All components of the basic ultrasound examination are obtained in addition to looking at more of the baby’s anatomy.
Growth ultrasounds
These are routinely performed in some high-risk pregnancies. During a growth ultrasound, the sonographer will take measurements of you baby’s size and weight. This ultrasound is used to follow your baby’s growth over certain periods of time.
Multiple Gestations
For high-risk patients. Women with twins or more babies will always have a detailed ultrasound examination. Additionally, these babies will have many growth ultrasound examinations throughout the pregnancy to look at the babies estimated weight to see how they are growing.
Doppler Ultrasound Examination
Doppler ultrasound techniques can be used to evaluate blood flow within the mother’s pelvic vessels and the baby’s blood vessels including the umbilical cord.
3-D Ultrasound Examination
With a 3-D ultrasound, multiple two-dimensional images are taken at various angles and then pieced together to form a three-dimensional image. This technique may be performed on any baby suspected of having a birth defect.
4-D Ultrasound Examination
4-D ultrasound is similar to 3-D ultrasound, except the images are in real-time and the motion of your unborn baby can be seen. This is another way to check on a potential health problem.
Fetal Echocardiogram
This ultrasound examination is provided in partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital. It is performed here at Ohio State and read by a pediatric cardiologist (baby heart doctor). A fetal echocardiogram may be ordered for different reasons which can include a previous child born with a congenital heart disease, a family history of congenital heart disease, an irregular heart rhythm, pregestational diabetes mellitus, an abnormal appearing heart on your second trimester ultrasound examination and a chromosomal or genetic abnormality in your baby. Fetal echocardiograms are routinely performed from 21 – 24 weeks of gestation.
If a heart defect is found, the pediatric cardiologist will determine its significance and whether the defect will affect your baby prior to birth, will require immediate transfer after birth to Nationwide Children’s Hospital or will require heart surgery after birth.
Early Fetal Echocardiogram
If first trimester screening results suggest a problem, we have the scanning skills and pediatric cardiologist expertise to perform a fetal echocardiogram from 14 – 18 weeks of gestation. If scanning is done before 18 weeks, you will likely be asked to return for more definitive images to confirm the findings on the early study after 20 weeks.
Why Choose Ohio State?
Why Choose Ohio State
- Our MFM physician expertise is unmatched in central Ohio. All of our sonographers are certified to ensure the best images of your baby.
- We have specialized maternal fetal medicine physicians, a dedicated nurse and multiple genetic counselors who care for mothers and babies identified as high-risk. Our program takes care of pregnancies with red blood cell antibodies where possible fetal transfusions are needed for fetal anemia. We also provide prenatal care and delivery planning for babies identified to have fetal anomalies.
- Our team collaborates closely with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to ensure the best care and delivery planning for high risk babies.
- We are the only group in central Ohio that can perform early fetal echocardiograms, with more than 5+ years’ experience.
- Our licensed and board-certified team of genetic counselors will review your family history, assess your risks, explain your testing options, help you understand your test results and support you through your pregnancy whenever you have questions or concerns.
Our Patients
Our Patients
Your pregnancy might be considered high-risk for a number of reasons, including:
- You are younger than 17 years old or more than 35 years old.
- You are pregnant with more than one baby.
- You have had three or more miscarriages.
- Your pregnancy has been found to have an increased risk for a genetic condition or birth defect, such as Down syndrome, a heart defect or spina bifida.
- You had a problem in a past pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, seizures or clotting disorders.
- History of having a premature baby or found to have a short cervical length measurement