Ultrasounds help expecting partners and their families bond with their developing baby while providing imaging that allows Dr. Christine Brass-Jones and her associates at the Center for True Harmony Wellness & Medicine to evaluate the baby’s health, growth, and development. You can obtain ultrasounds, including 3D and 4D imaging, right at their office, receiving the same quality as a specialty imaging center, but without the higher prices. To schedule prenatal ultrasounds, call the office in Mesa, Arizona, or book an appointment online.
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images of organs and structures inside your body. A trained sonographer uses a device called a transducer that sends sound waves safely through your skin.
As the sound waves bounce off structures in your body, the waves return to the transducer, which transmits them to a computer. The computer then analyzes the patterns to produce an image.
There are two primary types of ultrasound:
The sonographer places the transducer against your abdomen then moves it across your skin, sending sound waves toward your uterus.
The sonographer places a narrow transducer inside your vagina. From this position, sound waves can obtain a more precise image of pelvic organs because they don’t have to pass through your skin.
The Center for True Harmony Wellness & Medicine offers ultrasounds on site, including high-quality three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound.
With 3D imaging, you can clearly see your baby’s facial features. Four-dimensional ultrasound produces live streaming video, giving you the opportunity to see and record your baby’s movements.
The superior clarity of 3D and 4D ultrasound also makes it easier for Dr. Brass-Jones to assess your baby’s growth and well-being. Four-dimensional imaging often allows the doctor to see the fetal heartbeat and blood flow.
Dr. Brass-Jones may perform an ultrasound any time during your pregnancy if a health concern arises.
She typically does it in the first trimester to confirm the due date, and again during the second trimester -- around 18-20 weeks -- to evaluate the baby’s growth and anatomy, the position of the placenta, and the amount of amniotic fluid.
A third-trimester ultrasound may be done to confirm the baby’s position, estimate fetal weight, or check if there are any concerns about you or the baby. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, Dr. Brass-Jones may schedule a series of ultrasounds to monitor the health of your baby.
Many gynecologic health problems can be identified using ultrasound imaging. Transvaginal ultrasound is often the best method for determining the underlying cause of pelvic pain and abnormal menstrual bleeding.
Ultrasound is commonly used to screen for:
