Pediatric Imaging

Ultrasound Procedure

What is an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound is an examination that takes pictures of the organs and soft tissues inside your body. The ultrasound uses sound waves that echo from your body to create a picture in the computer. The human ear cannot hear these echoes, so you need a special wand called a transducer to create the photos. Do you have a younger brother or sister? Pregnant moms usually have an ultrasound to make sure their baby is healthy. Sometimes the ultrasound can show if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl. Can you see the baby in the ultrasound on the right? Can you see the baby’s nose, mouth and eyes?

Do I have to do anything special before I get my Ultrasound?

Usually there is nothing you will need to do to prepare for your ultrasound. Depending on the part of your body that is having the ultrasound, you might not be able to eat or drink for a few hours before the exam. Your doctor’s office will let you if this is what you need to do.

What happens during my Ultrasound?

When you come to the hospital for the ultrasound you and your parents will check in at the Pediatric Waiting Area and Playroom. There are many toys and books for you to play with in the Pediatric Waiting Area or you can bring your own toys and books with you from home. The person who will be doing the ultrasound is called the technologist. When it is your turn, he or she will take you and your family into an examination room. This room has what looks like a large computer on wheels and a bed. This computer has a special microphone called a transducer that helps the technologist and the doctor take the pictures.

The technologist will ask you to lie on the bed and may ask you to change into special hospital pajamas or simply roll up your shirt. He or she will give you a towel or blanket to keep your warm. Then the technologist will turn off the lights in the room. This will make the pictures on the computer screen easier to see. The technologist will then put a warm lotion on the transducer and also on the part of your body that is going to have the ultrasound. The lotion is clear but it is just like the lotion your mom puts on you after your bath. The technologist will glide the special microphone over the parts of your body the doctor wants to see. If you want to have special "see-through" vision of your body, you can look at the images on the computer. Do you know any super-heroes who can do this?

What will I feel during my Ultrasound?

The ultrasound is painless. The special microphone with the lotion slides on your body. The lotion used is like a "tickle jelly" that might make you laugh a little. Are you ticklish???

Can I bring anything special for my Ultrasound?

You will be lying down on a bed while you have your ultrasound. If you want to bring a stuffed animal or special blanket you should bring them with you.