Your Baby Today

OB/GYN: Roy Pitkin, M.D.

Is ultrasound recommended in pregnancy? At what stages of pregnancy? What can I expect to learn from it?

By Roy Pitkin, M.D.

Ultrasound is done very commonly during pregnancy; in fact, it is nearly universal in the United States and other developed countries. The stage at which it is done depends on the question being asked. It can indicate the number of fetuses, fetal size, how the fetus is presenting, amount of amniotic fluid, and location of the placenta.

In addition, ultrasound can identify some congenital malformations. At or after the mid-point of pregnancy, half or more of serious malformations can be recognized by expert ultrasonographers.

Roy Pitkin, M.D.

OB/GYN

Roy Pitkin, M.D., is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and is the former chair of the ob/gyn department at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor to national health agencies on women's health issues and has received numerous international honors for this work.

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The content on these pages is provided as general information only and should not be substituted for the advice of your physician.


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