What is an ultrasound in pregnancy?
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 occasionally to make sure your baby is developing normally. Other times, your obstetrician requests an ultrasound after spotting a concern.
One of the few ways your maternity care provider can see and hear your baby is using an ultrasound. They can use it to gauge how far along you are in the pregnancy, whether your child is developing normally, and whether there are any potential complications. Depending on what your clinician wants to see during the ultrasound, it may be done at any point during the pregnancy.
Why is it crucial to have a foetal ultrasound during pregnancy?
What can be detected in a pregnancy ultrasound?
Prenatal ultrasounds accomplish two tasks:
Evaluates the fetus's general health, development, and growth.
Detects certain medical conditions and pregnancyrelated complications.
Reasons why your provider may performs a prenatal ultrasound are
to:
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.
How many ultrasounds do you have during your pregnancy?
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 suspects you or your baby has a medical problem.