There is a specific ultrasound for pregnancy, known as pregnancy ultrasound. It is a test that utilizes the high-frequency sound wave to craft the image of the developing baby. Besides, it also creates images of the reproductive organs of the mother. The average number of ultrasound differs from each pregnancy.
It is also known as a sonogram. It plays a significant role in monitoring normal fetal development. Besides, it has a vital role to play when it comes to determining any problem during the development of the fetus. Apart from the standard ultrasound, there are other advanced ultrasounds as well. Some of those advanced ultrasounds are 3-D ultrasound, fetal echocardiography, and 4-D ultrasound. Well, fetal echocardiography acknowledges the heart condition of the fetus.
What are the reasons for pregnancy ultrasounds?
Well, there are numerous reasons for which the doctors use ultrasound during the time of pregnancy. In case if your doctor finds out that there are some issues with your previous ultrasound, he or she may advise you to do it again. Besides, there are numerous non-medical reasons why people go through ultrasound. Some of those non-medical reasons are producing the images of the fetus or determining the sex of the fetus. The best part is, ultrasound technology is safe for both mother and child.
Purpose of ultrasound in different trimesters
First trimester
In the first trimester, the reasons behind the ultrasound are:
- Confirm pregnancy
- Check the heartbeat of the fetus.
- Determining the baby’s gestational age and estimating a due date.
- Looking for multiple pregnancies.
- Examining the uterus, placenta, cervix, and ovary.
- Checking any abnormal growth in the fetus.
During the second as well as third trimester of the pregnancy
The purposes of ultrasound during the second and third trimester are:
- Monitoring the growth as well as the position of the fetus (breech, cephalic, transverse, or optimal).
- Determining the sex of the baby.
- To confirm if there are any multiple pregnancies.
- Checking the placenta to find out if there are any problems like placenta previa and placental abruption.
- Checking if there are any characteristics of Down syndrome.
- Determining if there are any birth defects or congenital abnormalities.
- Probing the fetus to find out if there is structural abnormality or problems regarding blood flow.
- Tracking the amniotic fluid’s level.
- Determining if the fetus is getting sufficient oxygen.
- Diagnosing the issues that are related to ovaries or uterus like pregnancy tumors.
- Measuring the cervix’s length.
- Delivering guidance for other tastes like amniocentesis.
- Confirming the death of intrauterine.
Process of preparing for the ultrasound
During an ultrasound in pregnancy, you have to visit the place with a full bladder. The entire bladder will help the technician to get the clear image of the reproductive organs as well as the fetus. It preferable that you must drink two to three glasses of water before you go to the ultrasound test. So, you must not urinate before you go to the ultrasound test.
So, these are the purposes of ultrasound during the time of the pregnancy. And if you need to go through ultrasound, you can visit the Radiology Centre at Harding, Morristown, New Jersey.
