While most of us know that ultrasound is often used as a diagnostic tool during pregnancy, we may not know exactly what doctors hope to find out when they look at an ultrasound picture of our child. Here are six things ultrasound can tell your doctor (and you) about your baby.

1. Gender – Ultrasounds can, in many cases, let parents know the gender of their baby, though they are not performed for this reason. An ultrasound performed between weeks 18 and 26 are the most accurate for predicting gender, though no ultrasound should be said to be 100% accurate.
2. Multiples- Ultrasounds are commonly used to determine if you’re carrying multiples. The tiny heartbeats are actually visible through the sound waves and can help doctors see how many babies you’re carrying. An ultrasound is typically only ordered to check for multiples if the doctor has reason to believe you’re carrying more than one fetus.
3. Due date – Another common use of ultrasounds is to correctly date your pregnancy. Doctors can use the ultrasound images to predict the due date based on the size and development of the fetus. Ultrasound tests for dating pregnancies are usually performed very early in the pregnancy.
4. Fetal abnormalities – Doctors can detect many abnormalities, such as congenital birth defects and structural abnormalities. It can also find signs of
Down ’s syndrome, but should not be used to diagnose Down’s Syndrome. Some of the problems routinely detected via ultrasound include Spina Bifida, anencephaly (meaning that the baby’s brain hasn’t formed properly), and heart problems.
5. Correct amniotic fluid levels – Either too much or too little amniotic fluid can cause serious problems. Ultrasounds are used to measure amniotic fluid levels
6. Baby’s position – Near the end of your pregnancy, an ultrasound may be used to determine baby’s position. When a baby is not in the correct position for delivery, a C-section may be recommended. These checks also help ensure that the placenta is in the correct position.

Though we have come to think of ultrasound tests as routine, keep in mind that not all doctors will order them for all pregnancies. In situations where the pregnancy is very low risk, some women may go through an entire pregnancy without any ultrasounds. It’s important to discuss your doctor’s policy with him to be certain that you understand the circumstances under which he’ll want to perform ultrasounds during your pregnancy. Though it’s normal to be anxious to see those early pictures of your baby, you’ll want to follow your doctor’s recommendation on how often ultrasound is needed in your pregnancy.

Phyllis Zerkle writes about how get a degree from one of the accredited online ultrasound tech schools.