Abdominal Ultrasound Scan

What is this?
Abdominal  - cos it is non-invasive and the scan is just over the area just above your bush.
Ultrasound - The machine uses sound waves to form images.

Why do this?
You definitely do it when you are pregnant.
But for people like us who are waiting for the stork to drop, ultrasound is done for a number of reasons:
1) to check on your uterus lining, number of follicles.
2) Checking on the development and when is the best time to do IUI/IVF
3) For me, it was also done in addition to the transvaginal ultrasound - to give the sonographer and doctor the best picture of your reproductive organs.

How is this done?
1) You need to drink up. Yes, drink till your bladder feels really full and you need to go to the toilet. When you lightly press just above your bush and you can feel that urge to pee. That should be just about right. Do note....everyone is different. I have done this through trial and error. I start drinking 2 hours in advance of my appointment. In this way, I can take my time and not have to gulp down too much in a short space of time. Water becomes yucky when you have too much and too fast, even ribena!
2) In case your bladder is too full and you cannot wait for your turn, just go ahead to pee. But you will need to start drinking again. So give it another 20 - 30 mins to build up again.
3) Okay, if I am not clear about this. You need a full bladder to perform this scan. Without a full bladder, the sonographer cannot see anything.
4) You will lie down, there is no need for any special actions. You just lie there! Easy!
5) The sonographer will squeeze this gel thingy on your belly. Most times it is warm and a hand-held probe (something like your computer mouse) and she will just move around the top and try to get some images on her screen. The sound waves will create the image.

How long?
About 5-10 mins? Depending on the needs for the scan.

Any pain?
This really should not have any pain at all. I am super sensitive to pain and it is not even pain for me. There might be a slight discomfort when she presses the probe down harder, but that's it.

Who is a sonographer?
This is the professional name for the person who does the ultrasound for you. In hospitals, it is mainly done by a sonographer. In a private practice, the doctor does it for you.
The only difference is that when done by a sonographer, you clean up the gel on your own!
With a private doctor, his/her nurse will clean up for you! :)

Cost in 2013:
1) Gynae at Raffles Hospital (Fertility clinic) - $96.30 (just abdominal scan)
2) Sonographer at KKH  - $127.33 (please note that this is for abdominal and transvaginal scan)