What do I need to prepare for my visit?

Please bring your insurance card, photo identification, and if possible a copy of your referral form. If you have the opportunity to download forms from our website, including a demographics form and the HIPAA form, you can have these completed before your visit. Please go to our First Visit link for more information.

I am scheduled for an ultrasound.  Do I need a full bladder?

No. In most cases we will even give you the opportunity to use the bathroom before your examination.

Who will perform my ultrasound examination?

Your ultrasound will be performed by our Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (RDMS) and will be personally reviewed by the Perinatologist. The Perinatologist will personally perform an ultrasound and review the findings with you. Any questions or concerns you have will by immediately addressed and recommendations will be discussed with you.

What should I expect from the person performing the ultrasound for my First Trimester Fetal Nuchal Translucency and Nasal Bone evaluation?

The person performing this examination should have Obstetric ultrasound experience and should have completed a course in Nuchal Translucency screening and Nasal Bone evaluation. The sonographer should have a quality assurance evaluation of their images annually. If the person performing the ultrasound is an ultrasound technician, then you should expect that the physician supervising is also certified to perform the procedure, maintains active certification, and can provide you with counseling about the limitations of the procedure.

Who will perform my First Trimester Nuchal Translucency and Nasal Bone evaluation sonogram?

Unlike many institutions that have this important ultrasound performed by an ultrasound technician, at Maternal Fetal Associates of the Mid-Atlantic (MFAMA), this important ultrasound will personally be performed with the Perinatologist. All of our Perinatologists are certified by the Fetal Medicine Foundation (UK) and the Maternal Fetal Medicine Foundation (US) to perform this evaluation and each of our Maternal Fetal Medicine doctors is audited annually on the quality of the sonogram that is performed and will provide thorough counseling before the ultrasound.

Are you certified to perform Obstetric Ultrasound?

Yes. In fact we voluntarily go through a certification process for our sonographers, physicians, equipment, and quality of our ultrasound evaluations through the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). We are certified in Maryland and we are the only group at this time specifically certified by the AIUM in Northern Virginia for Obstetrical Ultrasound only as our specialty.  In addition, our Perinatologists are all double board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as in Maternal Fetal Medicine. 

Will I see a doctor at every visit?

Unless the doctor is unavailable because of an emergency, you will meet with the doctor at every visit. If they are not available due to an emergency, they will personally contact you and answer any of your questions.