In 1996, the American College of Nurse Midwives published guidelines for mi
dwives who wish to incorporate limited third trimester sonography into thei
r practices. First, however, certain didactic and clinical content needs to
be disseminated through basic and continuing midwifery education. To assis
t the busy practitioner, information is offered related to recommended meth
ods of obtaining learning validation and continuing competency in limited s
onography.
This article discusses various clinical situations in which the assessment
and management of a patient's condition might be improved by having ultraso
nographic information immediately available. In addition, selected data obt
ained by limited sonography that may necessitate physician collaboration ar
e described through clinical case presentations.
The pitfalls of limited sonography are also discussed by use of case descri
ptions detailing some of the risks inherent in performing a limited ultraso
nogram. The recommendation of performing a complete uterine survey with eac
h limited ultrasonogram is emphasized.
Finally, some of the controversies surrounding routine sonography in pregna
ncy and sonograms fur entertainment are addressed. (C) 2000 by the American
College of Nurse-Midwives.