A baby ultrasound is a painless and non-invasive test that uses sound waves to produce pictures of your unborn child. It can give your health care provider information about the size, position and sex of your baby.
The sound waves bounce off of your baby and send signals back to a special machine that converts these reflections into images on the screen. An ultrasound can be done in a variety of ways, from an exam through the vagina to a scan of your abdomen.
In early pregnancy, a transvaginal ultrasound is the best way to see your baby and the shape of your uterus. A thin wand-like probe transmits high-frequency sound waves through the vagina into your uterus. The echos from the fetus's heart bounce off of your uterus and the transducer picks up these reflections and creates an image on the screen.
Later in pregnancy, a fetal anomaly scan is often used to check your baby's development and growth. During this ultrasound, your health care provider can also estimate your baby's gestational age and placenta location.
Hamilton ultrasound clinic also looks for a fluid sack at the back of your baby's neck, called nuchal translucency, that is filled with lymphatic fluid and may indicate whether there's a risk for certain birth defects, such as Down's syndrome. It is part of the combined screening for Down's and other chromosomal conditions that you can choose to have at this time.
A pelvic ultrasound, also known as a transvaginal ultrasonography, can be done through your vagina (birth canal). It's usually done in the second trimester to confirm that you are in the proper position for delivery.
During pregnancy ultrasound 3d, your health care provider moves a transducer (a special kind of wand) into your uterus and the ultrasound gel is put on your belly to help the sound waves move more easily. When you're comfortable, the ultrasound wand is passed over your tummy and a picture of your baby appears on the screen.
If your health care provider feels there's a problem with your baby, she will tell you and ask you to discuss it. She will also offer tests to diagnose fetal abnormalities, such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. These tests can be helpful, but they also have risks, such as miscarriage.
You should talk about your options with your doctor or midwife before you have an ultrasound. You should also think about who you want to talk to if the results of your scan suggest that your baby has a problem, like a genetic condition.
Your obstetrician or gynecologist can provide you with additional information to help you make an informed decision about your ultrasound, such as the benefits, risks and complications of other tests, such as chorionic villus sample (CVS) and amniocentesis.
Most women will have at least one ultrasound in each trimester of their pregnancy, though the exact schedule depends on your medical conditions and insurance plan. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends getting a full scan in the second trimester between weeks 18 and 22. Knowledge is power and so you would like to top up what you have learned in this article at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_ultrasound.