The health and safety of both your baby and you are of supreme importance during pregnancy. Thanks to advancement in medical science, you can take a few extra steps for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. From the time your pregnancy is confirmed you will be asked to take a series of tests and scans to ensure that your baby is growing normal and your pregnancy is progressing without complications. Ultrasound scans are one such method to assess the growth and health of your baby. What is an ultrasound scan? Ultrasound scans utilize sound waves to create a picture of your baby while she is still inside your womb.
Nowadays it has become an important procedure which should be undertaken at least twice during the pregnancy. Your doctor will give you a report of your ultrasound scan, which will contain images of your baby. 3D and 4D color scans are gaining popularity these days since they give a more life-like image of your baby. Is it safe? Ultrasound scans are completely harmless in nature and involve no radiation whatsoever. They do not adversely affect your baby or you in any way and are very useful to find out abnormalities and complications at an early stage of your pregnancy.
How does it work? High frequency sound waves are sent through your tummy into your uterus during an ultrasound scan. These sound waves bounce off the baby and the returning echoes are translated into images with the help of computers. The hard tissues of your baby (for example bones) will be seen as white areas in the image while the soft tissues are seen speckled and grey. Fluids don’t reflect any echoes and as a result, they appear black. The contrast between these different shades of grey, black and white helps your doctor interpret the images.
When should it be taken? As mentioned before, ultrasound scans must be taken at least two to three times during a pregnancy. Usually doctors conduct scans in all three trimesters of pregnancy. The first trimester scan: The first one is usually done between 5 to 13 weeks of pregnancy to check your baby’s growth rate and to calculate your due date. Your doctor will decide when to do the first trimester scan based on how your pregnancy is progressing and whether you have a history of miscarriage or if you experience bleeding or spotting.
The first trimester scan is also known by other names such as the dating scan, early pregnancy scan and fetal viability scan. It can be done in two ways, namely the transvaginal scan and the abdnominal scan. If your doctor chooses to do it before 10 weeks, she may do it as a transvaginal scan by introducing a probe into your vagina. First trimester scans done after 10 weeks are usually performed as abdominal scans. The second trimester scan: The second trimester scan, which is known as the anomaly scan, should ideally be done between 18 and 22 weeks of your pregnancy.
This scan is a more detailed one and helps to find out more about your baby. It checks for any major abnormalities in the fetus, usually structural anomalies or flaws. It also checks for the position of the placenta and ensures that the internal organs of your baby are developing properly. The third trimester scan: The ultrasound scan of the third trimester is usually done between 32 and 36 weeks of your pregnancy. The main objective of the third trimester ultrasound scan is to ensure your baby’s normal growth rate and general well-being.
In addition to these, the head circumference and abdomen circumference of your baby can be detected through the third trimester scan. Sometimes your doctor may ask for extra ultrasound scans if you are pregnant with twins or have problems such as low lying placenta, vaginal bleeding, gestational hypertension or gestational diabetes. What are the aims of an ultrasound scan? Depending on which stage of pregnancy they are performed at, ultrasound scans can reveal the following information: The size of your baby is obviously the first thing the scan reveals.
The size of the baby in turn lets the doctor calculate your estimated due date. The scans also reveal if you are carrying more than one baby. It helps in monitoring the growth of your baby. Thanks to this, your doctor can keep track whether she is growing at the normal rate or not. This is especially useful if you are pregnant with twin or multiples, or if you had problems in your previous pregnancies. Some of the fetal abnormalities, usually structural defects, can be detected through it. Proper growth of the organs of your baby can also be kept track of.
The relative position of the placenta and baby is detectable by the ultrasound scans done during pregnancy. This helps the doctor to find out if a Caesarean Section is required or not. It detects ectopic pregnancy, the condition where the embryo implants outside the womb. It is also useful in finding out the causes of bleeding or spotting if you are having any. In addition to diagnosing certain abnormalities in your baby such as spina bifida, it helps to measure the amount of amniotic fluid inside your uterus. How is it done? The process of an ultrasound scan is extremely simple and absolutely painless.
You may experience slight discomfort when the transducer presses on your tummy if you have a very full bladder. The process of an ultrasound scan is as follows: You are made to lie on a bed and a lubricating gel is applied on your tummy area. The gel helps the probe to make better contact with your skin and the images tend to be better. Then the probe, which looks like a fat blunt cigar or pen, is put in contact with the skin. This probe is connected to a wire which is in turn connected to the ultrasound machine. The machine sends out sound waves via the probe and the probe transfers the echoes back to the machine.
The machine converts the sound waves into images which are then displayed on a monitor. The operator or the doctor will keep scanning for around 15 to 45 minutes after which you can leave. You will be given a report with images of your baby. No, those images are not like photographs. You need your doctor’s helps to understand the ultrasound images. Does it need any preparation? Your doctor may tell you not to perform ablutions before a scan. This helps in getting clearer pictures as the full bladder pushes up the womb closer to the skin.
You might need to spend some time in the hospital before, during and after the scan, so it is better you take your husband or a family member with you. Usually your partner or other family members are allowed to view the scans with you. If you are particular about not drinking water from outside, carry a big bottle of water with you. Can ultrasound scans detect the sex of the baby? Yes they can, but you are not entitled to that information. Though, the gender of your baby is detectable by the scan, it is illegal to do so due to the rise in female feticides.
The doctors are banned from giving out this information to expectant parents. Before the scan takes place, you are required to sign a form stating that you will not ask for the sex of the baby. Remember that sex-determination through any test is banned in India and is punishable by law. An ultrasound scan may reveal unpleasant facts about your baby such as abnormalities and defects. In such cases, you are always within your rights to ask for a second opinion and it is advisable to do so.