When you find out you are pregnant the first initial appointment will be to ‘book on.’ They will also estimate how far along you may be according to your menstrual cycle dates. It is during this appointment that they will offer you the choice to have a scan. If you have had previous issues such as unexplained bleeding while pregnant you may be offered an internal scan. But can an internal ultrasound be wrong? Keep reading to find out how common it is.
How Can an Internal Ultrasound be Wrong?
The truth is that it is highly unlikely that an internal ultrasound is wrong but it is possible. In fact, having a scan transvaginally can give the Sonographer a better idea of what is going on inside. However, there can be times when ultrasound results can provide medical staff with misleading or even inaccurate information. This can happen due to obesity, or technician error.
Types of Ultrasound Available
Scans are known as Ultrasonography (Ultrasound), high-frequency sound waves are sent through your belly and changed into images of your unborn baby.
Typically there are two types of ultrasound. One is trans-vaginal, otherwise known as an internal scan. During an internal scan, a probe is inserted into the vagina and it gives the clearest and most accurate picture. Internal scans are usually offered in the very early days of pregnancy (before 11-12 weeks).
The other type of scan offered is the one that is included in the booking-in appointment and this is usually a trans-abdominal scan. This is where they apply jelly to your belly and scan across your stomach giving a clear picture on the screen. Many moms cannot be sure of their dates so if an external scan is offered and the picture is not clear then you can be offered an internal appointment, having this can be more accurate for dates and when trying to get a clear picture.
You can opt for a trans-abdominal scan over an internal scan but when you are early in pregnancy it can give an unclear picture. It is also more difficult for the sonographer to diagnose any risks or rule out any issues.
Can An Internal Ultrasound be Wrong and Harm My Baby?
The American Pregnancy Association imply that there is no evidence to support that any harm to moms or their babies is caused during an internal scan.
Many moms feel so precious and fragile during the early stages of their pregnancy (quite rightly so, they are growing another human after all,) but just the thought of an internal scan can make them feel anxious. If this sounds like something you are going through then I am here to settle your nerves and reassure you that internal scans are used in normal practice. These types of scans do not use radiation like in x-rays and will not harm you or your baby.
During your scan, you can expect to feel slight discomfort but this is only from the wand known as the probe. This probe will be highly lubricated and inserted into your vagina to give you the best and clearest picture. From getting a transvaginal scan the sonographer will have a better understanding of the gestational age of your baby and check their overall health.
Many moms have reported slight bleeding after having an internal scan. Please if this happens to you then don’t panic. It is highly likely that there was a pool of blood inside the vagina and the probe has dislodged it.
If you experience any pain or a lot of discomfort then you can ask the sonographer for a break at any time.
Why Should I Get an Ultrasound?
Having scans during pregnancy is something many moms look forward to, getting the first glimpse of their tiny bub and being reassured that all is ok can give you a sense of relief and lessen stress.
On the other hand, moms have the right to decline a scan. Scans are recommended to ensure a healthy pregnancy but if an abnormality is discovered then it could also confirm a mom’s worst fears.
Here are some reasons why scans are performed:
- Check Viability – A viability scan can be either trans vaginally or transabdominal. The scan itself is to ensure that there is a baby with a heartbeat. These are performed around 7 weeks although if a heartbeat isn’t detected then you may be asked to return. This does not mean that your pregnancy is not viable! It is purely down to your little bub not being big enough to show all his/her bits to the camera.
- Problems in pregnancy – You will be offered an internal scan in early pregnancy if you are experiencing any issues. The common problem in the first 12 weeks is bleeding. If you are experiencing bleeding then an internal scan can detect any issues.
- Unknown location – If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort on one side then you may be at risk of an ectopic pregnancy. Internal scans are used to detect where the baby could be and if it is developing in the fallopian tubes. The earlier this is detected the better it is for mom.
- Nonviable Pregnancy – A nonviable result from an ultrasound means that you were once pregnant and unfortunately there is no heartbeat. Many moms find this an excruciatingly painful time as they won’t have had any bleeding.
- Miscarriage – If you are experiencing bleeding then having an internal scan can determine what is happening from the inside. This is heartbreaking but having answers can help moms understand what is happening.
- Birth defects – This is controversial at its best. Many moms feel that no matter what, they are already invested in this little bean so even if a birth defect was to show up on ultrasound it wouldn’t make a difference to their choice of whether to continue their pregnancy. On the other hand, having time to grasp the fact you could have a baby with a birth abnormality can help you prepare for what their life will be like and you could source support.
Is It Possible For An Ultrasound To Be Wrong?
We know that having an ultrasound is common practice for pregnancies. It is highly unlikely that an internal scan can be wrong, however, it is the results that you are given that could determine how you feel after the scan.
The technician is a highly skilled sonographer and has completed extensive training so they know what they are looking for. If you are experiencing any issues then sometimes the sonographer will ask for quiet and examine your scan themselves before explaining to you what they can see.
With this being said there have been instances where mistakes have been made. If you believe to be further than you actually are then this can alter the scan completely. You may expect to see a fetal heartbeat but internal scans can only detect the little flicker from 6 weeks and in some this cannot be determined until 7-8 weeks. Known as the viability scan, moms shouldn’t lose hope at this stage but they will be offered a return date for another scan to check if the baby is growing as expected.
Other mistakes can be made from the transabdominal scans. They include:
- Gender inaccuracies.
- Due date confusion.
Reasons For Mistakes
There are reasons that mistakes can be made during an ultrasound such as
- Obesity – Weight has a part to play here, if the mom is considered obese then a transabdominal scan may not give a clear picture, this is where a transvaginal scan is offered.
- Technician Error – Even though technicians are extremely well trained, some are just simply better at their job than others or are more experienced.
It is important to understand that whatever you are told during your scan you take it literally. I cannot stress enough that the sonographer will give you all the insight. If you have any questions make sure you ask them.
Can An Internal Ultrasound Be Wrong – FAQs
How common is it for an ultrasound to be wrong?
It is unlikely for an Ultrasound to be wrong but mistakes do happen. By the midpoint of pregnancy, it is sometimes able to detect the gender of your baby. This is however never 100% accurate.
How common are fetal abnormalities?
Birth defects can be detected from ultrasounds and can affect 1 in every 33 babies born in the United States each year.
Can you see a miscarriage on an ultrasound?
Ultrasounds are the most common way for medical professionals to diagnose a miscarriage. It is important for the mom that all parts of the pregnancy are expelled if the result is determined as nonviable.
While being pregnant, the changes women go through trigger many hormonal responses. One of these best-known hormonal responses is cravings.
Ask any pregnant lady, and the first thing they will tell you about being pregnant is their cravings for random foods at random times. However, doctors have always suggested ensuring these cravings are handled with caution and the diet is well balanced.
One trendy craving women face while being pregnant is craving desserts. It can be ice cream, chocolate mousse, or chocolate, but most of the time, it’s Flan. Flans are sweet treats that originated in Rome, Italy, and Spain.
While craving Flan, pregnant women often wonder if they can eat Flan. This question arose because pregnancy is a fragile time in a woman’s life, so they have to be careful about their diets and habits. Today we are going to find out if it is safe to eat Flan while you are pregnant.
Conclusion
So, ‘Can an internal ultrasound be wrong?’ My research has found that it is unlikely for an internal ultrasound to be wrong but it is important that you have every aspect of the information you need to digest what has been found/detected.
Going through an internal ultrasound myself I completely understand that you may feel invaded and want to protect yourself and your little bub but I can assure you that if you have any issues in early pregnancy then an internal examination is probably the best option for you to get answers.
Do not suffer in silence, if you have any bleeding, pain, or feel as if something isn’t going well then contact your Obstetrician. Sadly for me, my outcome wasn’t what I had hoped but in hindsight knowing what was happening from my internal scan allowed me to come to terms with my loss.
On the other hand, I know of one person who has had extreme bleeding and felt like they were going through a loss. After their internal scan, they got to see the tiny little flicker of the heartbeat and went on to have a very healthy and successful pregnancy.
The fact is internal scans can educate the professionals around you and provide an accurate diagnosis of what is happening and how best to care for you during your pregnancy.
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