Role of Ultrasound Scan in Pregnancy

During a pregnancy ultrasound, sound waves are used to produce an image of your unborn child on a screen. It is used by maternity care specialists to assess your baby’s health and identify specific pregnancy issues. Most people prefer using a Doppler ultrasound technology because of its safety for mother and child as it causes no harm during pregnancy. In this article, we are going to discuss more about ultrasound during pregnancy.

Uses of Ultrasound during Pregnancy

There are several times throughout pregnancy when ultrasound may be utilized, including:

• Confirm Your Pregnancy:

The ultrasound is among the first steps after a chemical confirmation of pregnancy. Typically conducted after 6 to 9 weeks of fertilization, it helps establish the due date and gestational age.

• Detect Multiple Pregnancies:

The ultrasound helps identify whether you are pregnant with twins or triplets and determines the fetus’s health throughout the gestational period.

• Identify Birth Defects and Chromosomal Conditions: 

Specific markers can be identified in the first trimester to detect Down’s Syndrome. Continuous monitoring also helps monitor organ growth and development.

• Evaluating Amniotic Fluid Levels: 

The ultrasound monitors amniotic fluid levels in the sac. Higher or lower levels than normal can result in complications and affect the baby’s kidney and heart development.

• Assessing Fetal Position Before Delivery: 

Knowing the baby’s position just before the delivery is a major determinant of the type of birth. When in a head-down position without an umbilical cord compression, a vaginal delivery is encouraged.

Pregnancy Tip: To get the clearest image of your baby, ensure to keep your bladder full during the first trimester.

What are the Types of Ultrasound?

Abdominal and transvaginal ultrasounds are the two primary forms of prenatal ultrasounds. Both create pictures of your fetus using the same technology.

• Abdominal Ultrasound

Sound waves from abdominal ultrasonography travel through water rather easily. You must drink a lot of water prior to the test because the sonographer utilizes your full bladder as a “porthole” to your uterus. On a bed or examining table, you lie down. The sonographer applies gel to your belly to improve skin-scan contact and then adjusts the scanner in different locations. Instantaneous images are sent to a neighboring display. To view the deeper structures, the sonographer may occasionally need to push quite hard. Typically, the scan takes half an hour.

• Transvaginal Ultrasound

When an abdominal ultrasound is unable to provide sufficiently good images, a vaginal ultrasound may be necessary. For example, your colon may contain too much air, and air is a poor conductor of sound waves. A thin scanner is inserted into your vagina in these situations. Typically, the scan takes around thirty minutes.

Final Thoughts

Ultrasound is highly safe for the mother and the baby if executed by an adequately trained medical professional. As it is based on sound waves rather than radiation, there is no known risk that would impair the baby’s development. Ultrasound is highly advantageous during prenatal check-ups, especially for determining conditions that would allow such planning for safe and healthy delivery. Routine ultrasounds based on medical necessities can be beneficial in helping one acquire the knowledge and information needed to ensure an uneventful and healthy pregnancy.

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