What to expect when your child needs an ultrasound
Your child’s doctor has ordered an ultrasound examination to help with your child’s diagnosis. An ultrasound sends out very high frequency sound waves that pass through the body and sends back “echoes” as they bounce off organs, vessels and tissues. These echoes are used to create pictures of the body that are displayed on a computer screen. Ultrasound examinations can be done on any soft tissue, such as the liver, gallbladder, kidneys or spleen. In infants, the brain, spine and hips can also be examined with ultrasound.
You and your child are welcome to ask questions at any time before or after the ultrasound. A child life specialist, trained to explain the scan and reduce anxiety or discomfort, can also be scheduled to be with you and your child the day of the scan to help make the appointment go smoothly. Please call our Imaging/Radiology child life specialist at 253-403-2260 to assist you.
Before the exam
Any instructions for preparing your child for the ultrasound will be given to you when scheduling the exam. If your child needs accommodations, such as an interpreter, please inform the scheduler at that time so we may be ready to accommodate them.
Your child should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to the exam. Feel free to bring a favorite toy, blanket, pacifier or a bottle. You will be able to stay with your child throughout the exam, but we recommend against having siblings or extra family members accompany you to the exam.
During the exam
Most ultrasound examinations take 30-60 minutes. The ultrasound test does not hurt, and the sound waves will not harm your child. The sonographer will prepare your child’s skin by applying warm gel over the area that will be examined. The exam room will have low lighting so the sonographer can see the computer screen clearly.
During an ultrasound examination, a small handheld wand, called a transducer, is placed over the part of your child’s body being examined. There may be a feeling of some pressure as the transducer wand is held against your child’s skin.
Your child will lie comfortably on a bed. If they are very young, you may assist with the exam by lying on the bed with your child and helping them relax by using soothing sounds, facial expressions and lullabies.
When the exam is complete, the gel is wiped off, and you and your child may need to wait for a few minutes while the ultrasound images are reviewed.
After the exam
After the ultrasound exam is finished, your child may return to regular daily activities and meals. The images from the exam will be reviewed by a radiologist, and the results will be sent to your child’s doctor. Please contact your child’s doctor for follow-up information and to discuss any questions you may have.