It’s one of the most beautiful moments of life when you see those 2 pink lines staring back at you. This is one piece of news that either you were planning to get or it came as a surprise. In both situations, you know your life is about to change forever. And gradually when the news syncs in, you realize that there is a life growing within you for over 1 or1.5 months. Isn’t it amazing!  Nature has protected this life very well within the womb but medical advancement has given us tools to see this life growing within way before they are actually born after 9 months. And Ultrasound is the technology that helps us see the growing life way early in life. Pregnancy and ultrasound have a very strong connection and, in these posts, we have listed why you need it.

Pregnancy and ultrasound and its need through 9 months.

What is pregnancy ultrasound actually?

The pregnancy ultrasound which is also called sonogram is a non-invasive diagnostic test that employs sound waves for creating a visual image of the placenta, baby, as well as the uterus and the other pelvic parts. It helps the health care practitioner in gathering valuable info about the progress of the pregnancy as well as the health of the baby.

While the test is conducted, the ultrasound technician or the sonographer transmits very high-frequency sound waves across the uterus which bounces off the baby. Then the computer translates the eco sounds into video images that reveal the position, shape as well as movements of the baby. The ultrasound waves are even employed in the handheld instrument which is known as Doppler which the practitioner employs during the prenatal visits for listening to the heartbeat of the baby.

When do you get an ultrasound done?

You might have to get an early ultrasound done by the practitioner about 6-10 weeks for confirming the date of pregnancy. Or you might not have to get it done till the standard mid-pregnancy ultrasound between 16-20 weeks. This is when you would learn about the sex of the baby if you want. The technicians would probably present in front of you the grainy printout of the sonogram as the keepsake.

You might also have to go for a sonogram for getting the genetic test done like chorionic villus sample test, nuchal translucency sampling, amniocentesis, or just in case if there are any signs of an issue with the baby. You would have to go for more frequent ultrasound tests in case you have diabetes, hypertension, or any other kind of medical complications.

What important information would the mid-pregnancy ultrasound offer?

During the typical mid-pregnancy sonogram, along with a sonographer, the practitioner would:

1} Check the heartbeat of the baby

For ensuring the heartbeat of the baby is normal, the health care provider would measure the number of heartbeats per minute.

2} Measure the size of the baby

The sonographer would also measure the size of the baby through the skill along with the thighbone and around the abdomen for ensuring that he is about the size that he needs to be for his age. In case this is the first time you are getting the ultrasound test done and the baby is 2 weeks plus smaller or bugger than he needs to be, it is quite likely that your due date is off and you would be provided with a new one. In case the practitioner has any kind of concerns about the growth of the baby, she would ask for one or more than one follow-up ultrasound test for checking the progress.

3} Check if there are one or more babies

By now you would probably also know if you are carrying 1 or more babies. Most of the pregnant women with multiple measures the large in their very first trimester and get the ultrasound test done at that time for confirming the number of kids.

4} Check the location of the placenta

In case the placentas are seen covering the placenta Previa or the cervix, it might cause bleeding later during pregnancy. In case the practitioner detects this kind of a condition, she would order a follow-up ultrasound test in the 3^rd trimester to check if the placenta is covering the Placenta Previa. Meanwhile, there is absolutely no need to panic. Just a small percentage of the cervix detected on the ultrasound test before twenty weeks would still pose an issue when the child is due.

5} Assess the amount of the amniotic fluids in your uterus

In case the sonogram shows that you are having too much or too little amniotic fluid, there can be an issue. You would have a full workup for seeing if the reason may be identified and the practitioner might wish to scrutinize through regular ultrasounds.

6} Check the child for any kind of physical abnormalities

The practitioner would closely look at the basic anatomy of the baby including his neck, head, spine, heart, chest, kidneys, stomach, arms, bladder, legs, and umbilical cord for ensuring that they are properly developing. In case you get any kind of suspicious results from the multiple markers or the 1st-trimester screen test or if there is some other cause for the issue, the practitioner would do a thorough scan for checking for the signs of birth defects or Down syndrome.

7} Try to state the sex of the baby

In case you would like to know if you are carrying a girl or a boy, then you can generally know at the mid-pregnancy ultrasound test until and unless for instance, the hand of your child is covering his or her genitals during the test. In some cases, it is very important for the practitioner to be aware of the sex of the baby. Let your practitioner know in case you do not want to check the sex of the baby so that your surprise isn’t spoiled.

Pregnancy and ultrasound go hand in hand. During your pregnancy period, no ultrasound should be missed as it’s extremely critical to know if both the mother and the baby are doing fine. Additionally, it also gives you the joy of seeing your little one before he/she arrives in this new world.

Read more about pregnancy here 

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