A pregnancy ultrasound, also called a sonogram, is a common part of any pregnancy. It’s used to confirm pregnancy, check the fetal heartbeat, screen for any potential problems and even gain a view of the growing baby itself.
There are 2 types of ultrasounds which can be conducted during pregnancy, an internal scan and an external, belly scan.
Knowing what to wear to an ultrasound will ensure you are as comfortable as possible.
Pregnancy ultrasound – Internal Scan
An internal ultrasound may be done to produce a clearer image. This is more likely to be used during the early stages of pregnancy, when capturing a clear image may be more difficult.
Pregnancy ultrasound – Belly Scan
To perform a pregnancy ultrasound, you will be instructed to lie down on your back on a chair or bed. A sonographer will apply a special water-based gel to your abdomen and pelvic area to help the sound waves to travel properly. The technician will place a small wand, called a transducer, onto your belly. They then move the wand around to capture black and white images onto the ultrasound screen.
What to wear to an ultrasound appointment when pregnant
If you are having an internal scan, you may be asked to go into a toilet/cubicle where you remove all bottom half clothing and put a hospital gown on top of your other clothes. Alternatively you could wear a skirt (no tights) and then it is really easy. Just remove your underwear and then climb back onto the scan table and put a towel over yourself before calling the sonographer back through. With a skirt you have that extra layer of dignity.
If you are having an abdominal scan, you just need to lift up your top, but be prepared to move any clothing from your waist/hip area down to your bikini line. In this instance, wearing a skirt, trousers or pants is a most appropriate option. A skirt with an elastic waist is the very best because it’s easier to pull down for abdominal scans – a particularly tight, fixed waist skirt could be more fiddly.
Most women choose not to wear a dress because you need to lift all the way up leaving you feeling exposed. You could however wear a dress with tights, allowing you to pull your dress up under your bust area and tights down to bikini line.
The most important thing to remember is that you are not the first woman to have these scans and you won’t be the last. And these technicians have seen it all so be as comfortable as possible.
