If you’ve never had an ultrasound exam, you would possibly feel anxious about it, but the procedure doesn’t need to be stressful. The key to feeling confident is preparation: learning about the aim of ultrasound scans, the essential procedures of an ultrasound exam, and issues you’ll want to debate together with your ultrasound technologist or another healthcare provider. By gaining a basic understanding of those topics, you’ll know what to expect and find out areas where you would possibly want to try to do additional research.
Ask your healthcare provider
Although the specified preparation for ultrasound exams is usually not extensive, one pre-exam rule should be addressed carefully: follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding the consumption of food and water.
Get an inventory of questions pre- ready
Sonographers and therefore the doctors and medical specialists they work with should communicate necessary information before, during, and after the exam, but questions should arise. During prenatal exams, for instance, parents may have specific questions on the event of a baby’s organs or the mother’s health.
Focus on pre-preparation
Patients could also be asked to refrain from eating for several hours before a scan is performed. This is often because undigested food can block sound waves. For other scans, a patient could also be instructed to drink large amounts of water and hold their urine, because a full bladder makes it easier to see pelvic organs.
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