Table of contents:
- Why do pregnant women need an ultrasound?
- Ultrasound during the first trimester
- Ultrasound during the second and third trimesters
- Is ultrasound during pregnancy safe?
- Various types of ultrasound during pregnancy
- Transvaginal ultrasound
- 3D ultrasound
- 4D ultrasound
- Echocardiography
Ultrasound is usually done when you visit the doctor to check the condition of your pregnancy. Ultrasound examination during pregnancy is not only done to find out the gender of your baby, but also to see the condition of the baby in the womb as a whole. Yes, through ultrasound, you can receive a lot of information regarding the growth, development and health of your baby in the womb. Through ultrasound too, your doctor can determine what you should do while pregnant to support your baby's health.
Why do pregnant women need an ultrasound?
Pregnancy ultrasound is a test that uses high-frequency sound waves to describe the development of the fetus as well as the reproductive organs of the pregnant woman. When you do an ultrasound, gel will be applied to your stomach, and the doctor will then move the transducer over your stomach. This transducer will send high frequency sound waves to your uterus, then these sound waves will send a signal back to the machine which will convert it into an image. You can see a picture of the fetus in your womb on the monitor screen.
You can do the first ultrasound when you reach 6-8 weeks of gestation, but the picture you get may not be clear. You will probably get a clearer picture at 13 weeks pregnant.
According to gestational age, you can use ultrasound for various purposes, for both medical and non-medical purposes, such as to see the gender of the baby in the womb.
Ultrasound during the first trimester
You can do ultrasound examinations during the first trimester of pregnancy for the following purposes:
- Make sure that you are pregnant
- Check fetal heart rate
- Determine the gestational age of the baby and estimate when the baby will be born
- Check if you have multiple pregnancies
- Check the condition of the placenta, uterus, ovaries, and cervix (cervix)
- Diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg does not attach to the uterine wall)
- Diagnosing early miscarriage
- Monitor whether the fetus has abnormal growth
Ultrasound during the second and third trimesters
When gestational age has entered the second and third trimesters, you can do an ultrasound for more purposes, such as:
- Monitor fetal growth
- Knowing the position of the fetus, whether the fetus is in a breech, transverse, head down (cephalic), or normal position
- Determine the gender of the baby
- Determine whether you have multiple pregnancies
- Check the placenta for problems, such as placenta previa and placental abruption
- Check if your baby has the potential for Down syndrome (usually done at 13 and 14 weeks of gestation)
- Checking whether the baby has the potential to have congenital abnormalities or birth defects
- Check if the baby in the womb has structural abnormalities or problems with blood flow
- Monitor the condition of amniotic fluid
- Monitor whether the baby is receiving enough oxygen and nutrients
- Diagnosing problems with the ovaries or uterus, such as tumors
- Measure the length of the cervix
- Find out if you need other tests, such as amniocentesis
- Make sure your baby is healthy and does not die in the womb
Is ultrasound during pregnancy safe?
Yes, ultrasound is safe to do during pregnancy as long as it is done properly. Ultrasound does not involve radiation, like X-rays. However, it's best to do ultrasound only with a doctor or health professional who is guaranteed quality. In fact, many experts recommend that ultrasound is done only for obvious medical reasons, such as to monitor the growth and development of your baby in the womb.
The ultrasound is painless for you. If you feel uncomfortable doing an ultrasound, it's best to tell your doctor. Your doctor may ask you to empty your bladder (urinate) first. A full bladder usually makes you feel uncomfortable when a transducer (a device used for ultrasound) presses on your stomach.
When you had your first ultrasound early in your pregnancy, you may need to fill your bladder. The fluid becomes a medium for sound waves to propagate, so a full bladder during an ultrasound in early pregnancy can improve the quality of your ultrasound. Meanwhile, when you are old in pregnancy, you don't need to fill your bladder before doing an ultrasound. When your pregnancy is big, the amniotic fluid around your baby is enough to help make echoes (sounds) to produce an image when you do the ultrasound.
Various types of ultrasound during pregnancy
There are various types of ultrasound that you can choose from to see a picture of your baby in the womb, including:
Transvaginal ultrasound
A transvaginal ultrasound can be done in early pregnancy when your uterus is still small and when clear images may be difficult to produce. This type of ultrasound can produce a clearer image than other ultrasounds when you are a child. This ultrasound is done by inserting an ultrasound probe into the vagina. Therefore, this ultrasound may make you a little uncomfortable when done.
3D ultrasound
The 3D ultrasound allows the doctor and you to see wider, taller and deeper images of the fetus and the organs in your body. Because it produces a clearer picture, this ultrasound is very helpful for diagnosing problems during pregnancy.
4D ultrasound
USD 4D can produce a moving video of the fetus. So, through 4D ultrasound, you can see various fetal activities in the womb. 4D ultrasound is also more capable of producing clearer images of the face and other limbs of the fetus. This ultrasound is performed just like any other ultrasound, but with special equipment.
Echocardiography
Echocardiography is usually done if the doctor suspects your baby may have a congenital heart defect. This test takes a long time to do. However, this test is able to show a deeper picture of your fetal heart, including the size, shape, and structure of the heart.
