Do pregnant women need to remove all their clothing for a cardiac ultrasound?

Pregnant women undergoing echocardiography do not necessarily need to remove all their clothing.

Echocardiography is an imaging technique that dynamically visualizes cardiac anatomy, heart valves, intracardiac blood flow, and cardiac motion. As the examination targets specific surface landmarks over the heart, a conductive gel is applied to the skin, and an ultrasound transducer is used for scanning. Therefore, during the procedure, the chest area must be fully exposed. Depending on personal preference and comfort, the patient may either remove her top or lift her bra upward—exposing only the chest area is generally sufficient.

Fetal echocardiography in pregnant women provides a comprehensive assessment of the fetal heart, enabling early detection of structural abnormalities. When either parent has a known congenital heart defect, fetal echocardiography can help determine whether the fetus is similarly affected.

Pregnant women scheduled for echocardiography are advised to wear loose-fitting clothing, maintain clean and dry skin, remain relaxed, and adopt a positive, calm mindset—avoiding anxiety or tension, which could potentially interfere with the accuracy of the examination.