Table of contents:
- What causes multiple pregnancies to go undetected?
- Inadequate facilities and medical personnel
- Pregnant women are reluctant to check themselves
- How can you detect multiple pregnancies?
- Ultrasound at the right time
- Using the more obscure type of ultrasound test
- Be diligent in checking the womb to the doctor
Waiting for the birth of a baby will certainly be an unforgettable experience for every expectant mother. However, when it was time for the baby to be born, the mother was surprised to find that she had given birth to twins. In fact, all this time the mother believed that she only had one child. How can a multiple pregnancy go undetected? Check out the following explanation.
What causes multiple pregnancies to go undetected?
Even though today we live in an era with the latest technology, it turns out that there are still some rare cases where multiple pregnancies are not detected, both by the mother and the doctor.
This is likely to happen to pregnant women who live in remote areas, lack of education about the importance of pregnancy checks, or other health factors.
Inadequate facilities and medical personnel
In this world, not everyone has access to proper medical facilities and personnel. A pregnant woman may not know if she is pregnant with two babies, even after checking with a health worker.
According to the World Health Organization website, about 4 out of 10 pregnant women in the world do not get treatment and checkups during pregnancy. This certainly increases the risk of errors in detecting pregnancy.
Apart from the absence of a nearby health center that can be visited by pregnant women, there are certain things that cause multiple pregnancies to go undetected. It could be the result of incomplete health center facilities, or medical personnel may not accurately read the results of the ultrasound test.
Pregnant women are reluctant to check themselves
Apart from the lack of available health facilities, there are still many pregnant women who feel that they do not need to carry out any health checks during pregnancy.
In developing countries, such as Indonesia, there are still quite a number of mothers living in the regions who prefer to go to traditional birth attendants rather than midwives or obstetricians.
Even though routine checks during pregnancy are not only able to detect twins or not. However, it is also important to monitor the health of the mother and fetus.
According to data from the World Health Organization, routine check-ups during pregnancy can prevent problems during childbirth and even pregnancy at birth.
How can you detect multiple pregnancies?
Multiple pregnancies that are not detected have the potential to result in inaccurate handling. This of course risks endangering the safety of both mother and baby.
So, make sure you choose a standard examination procedure and consult your doctor regularly, so that multiple pregnancies can be detected accurately.
Here are some tips that need to be done:
Ultrasound at the right time
Most people probably think that ultrasound or ultrasound tests always show results that are 100% accurate. However, few know that ultrasound performed in the early days of pregnancy (first trimester) has not been able to provide accurate information.
Especially if in the case of this twin pregnancy. If you do an ultrasound early in the first trimester, the fetus is still very small in size and the heartbeat cannot be heard.
Therefore, you should do an ultrasound when your pregnancy enters the second trimester or after 8 weeks of gestation. Usually, when the fetus's heart rate is faster and can be detected by ultrasound waves.
Using the more obscure type of ultrasound test
There are several types of ultrasound tests, depending on the appearance they produce. Errors in detecting the number of babies usually occur on 2-dimensional ultrasound tests, where doctors can usually only see the uterus from one side.
To get more accurate results, we recommend trying a 3D or 4D ultrasound test. Because this type of ultrasound can capture images with clearer and more realistic results, the possibility of multiple pregnancies going undetected is very small.
Be diligent in checking the womb to the doctor
If you may feel that you are carrying twins, or maybe you already know the results from an ultrasound, make sure you do it regularly check up to a gynecologist.
According to the World Health Organization, health checks during pregnancy are carried out at least 8 times, with the following schedule:
- 1st visit: at 12 weeks of gestation
- 2nd visit: at 20 weeks of gestation
- 3rd visit: at 26 weeks of gestation
- 4th visit: at 30 weeks of gestation
- 5th visit: 34 weeks of gestation
- 6th visit: 36 weeks of gestation
- 7th visit: 38 weeks of gestation
- 8th visit: at 40 weeks of gestation
If you enter the 40th week but the mother has not shown any signs of labor as well, it is better if at the 41st week you should check with your doctor again.
Multiple pregnancies have a higher risk than regular pregnancies. It is possible that pregnant with twins can lead to some complications, such as preterm birth.
But, you dont have to worry. As long as you don't miss the scheduled vaginal check-up to the doctor and always consult about symptoms or problems during pregnancy, the twins in your stomach will be fine.
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