During a prenatal or pregnancy ultrasound, sound waves are used to produce an image of your unborn child on a screen. It helps prenatal care workers monitor your baby’s health and spot some pregnancy issues. Most women get two ultrasounds during pregnancy, but you could need more if your doctor thinks it’s important for your health.
In case you are unsure whether you should get an ultrasound, it is best to consult with a specialist. In a country like India, it is a good idea to look for the best gynecology hospital in Bangalore, Mumbai, or Hyderabad, as these cities are well known for their treatment centers.
What does a pregnancy ultrasound entail?
A prenatal ultrasound (sometimes known as a sonogram) is a pregnancy test that evaluates your unborn child’s wellbeing and growth. An ultrasound during pregnancy is performed by an obstetrician, nurse midwife, or ultrasound technician (sonographer) for a variety of reasons. An ultrasound may be performed sometimes to make sure your baby is developing normally. Other times, your obstetrician requests an ultrasound after seeing a concern.
A device called a transducer sends sound waves into your vagina or abdomen during an ultrasound. Your baby and your reproductive organs, as well as other inside organs and systems, reflect the sound waves. The graphics that your provider may see on a screen are then created from the sound waves. To view your baby, it doesn’t utilize radiation like X-rays.
Prenatal ultrasounds are safe, but you should only get them if they are absolutely essential for medical reasons. Your insurance provider could refuse to cover the cost of an ultrasound if there is no medical necessity (for example, if you simply wish to view your baby).
Fetal ultrasounds and pregnancy ultrasounds are two more names for prenatal imaging. Based on your medical history, your gynecologist will discuss with you when you may anticipate having ultrasounds during your pregnancy.
Why is fetal ultrasound during pregnancy important?
One of the few ways your maternity care provider may see and hear your baby is using an ultrasound. They can use it to gauge how far along you are in the pregnancy, if your child is developing normally, and whether there are any possible complications. Depending on what your clinician wants to see during the ultrasound, it may be done at any point throughout the pregnancy.
This process is important as it accomplish two tasks:
- It evaluates the fetus’s general health, development, and growth.
- It detects certain medical disorders and pregnancy-related problems.
Pregnancy care professionals often have excellent experiences with ultrasounds and identify no issues. Sometimes, though, this isn’t the case, and your doctor finds birth defects or other issues with the pregnancy.
Your doctor may do a prenatal ultrasound for the following reasons:
- Verify your pregnancy.
- Verify for issues related to early pregnancy such as ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, miscarriage, and others.
- Find out the gestational age and due date of your baby.
- Examine the development, motion, and heart rate of your child.
- Look for several newborns (twins, triplets or more).
- Examine the uterus, ovaries, and cervix in your pelvis.
- Check your amniotic fluid levels.
- Verify the placenta’s position.
- Verify where your child is located in your uterus.
- Find any issues with the bones, muscles, or organs of your infant.
Another reason why an ultrasound is important
In order to test for congenital disorders, healthcare professionals often use ultrasound (conditions your baby is born with). A screening test ascertains whether your unborn child has a higher risk of developing a certain medical problem. Additionally, during some prenatal diagnostic procedures like amniocentesis or CVS, your practitioner will utilise ultrasonography to guide the needle (chorionic villus sampling).
In order to determine if your baby is receiving adequate oxygen, a biophysical profile (BPP), which combines an ultrasound and a nonstress test, is a test that also includes an ultrasound.
Throughout your pregnancy, how many ultrasounds do you have?
Most women who are expecting get one or two ultrasounds. However, the quantity and time varies according on your pregnancy care provider and any underlying medical issues you may have. More frequent ultrasounds could be advised if your pregnancy is high risk or if your doctor believes you or your baby has a medical problem.
Conclusion
Pregnancy ultrasounds may be both thrilling and worrisome. Ultrasound helps your prenatal care provider understand how your baby is growing and developing. There are several kinds of ultrasounds, and your provider will choose the precise timing.
The majority of expectant mothers undergo two ultrasounds—one in the first and one in the second trimesters. However, as a safety measure, your doctor may request more ultrasounds if there is a chance of complications or if there is a medical need for them. Discuss the ultrasound schedule and what to anticipate with your healthcare practitioner.