What is fetal ultrasound?

fetal ultrasound is a test used during pregnancy to check the health of the unborn baby. With the help of this test, the pregnancy care provider can form an image of the baby in the mother's womb. These images can provide essential information for diagnosing various diseases and conditions, and the pregnancy care provider can evaluate the baby's heart, head, spine, and other body parts during this test. The ultrasound test can be done on the mother's abdomen or vagina. There are two types of fetal ultrasounds.

Abdominal ultrasound: A transducer is placed directly on your skin, and then moved around the belly to capture images of the unborn baby. The pregnancy care provider might apply slight pressure to get the best photos. An abdominal ultrasound happens after about 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Transvaginal ultrasound: The pregnancy care provider places the transducer device inside your vaginal canal during a transvaginal ultrasound. Transvaginal ultrasound helps to detect the fetal heartbeat and determine how far the pregnancy has progressed.

What is the need for fetal ultrasound?

Fetal ultrasound is a routine part of prenatal care. This test is a low-risk procedure that provides essential information. It is one of the few ways your pregnancy care provider can see your baby. It is necessary during pregnancy:

To monitor the uterus and ovaries during pregnancy
To check the health of the developing baby
Evaluate metabolic bone disease
Detect genital and prostate problems.
If the mother is pregnant with multiple babies
The gestational age of a baby
To check if the foetus is growing properly,

Risks involved in it

Fetal ultrasound is a low-risk and safe procedure. Ultrasound is a valuable procedure, but it has its limitations. Since it uses low-power sound waves, the sound waves don't travel well through air or bone. mild discomfort in the abdomen or the vagina. If your pregnancy is low-risk, then it is recommended that there should not be many ultrasounds.

Preparation for this test

Suppose you have allergies or sensitivity to latex or anaesthetic medicines. For some scans, you may be asked not to eat or drink for a certain amount of time for more explicit images. Wear loose clothes and remove any jewellery. The sonographer applies a water-soluble gel that is not harmful to the skin. This gel may feel cold, but it makes the sound waves travel correctly. You can bring a support person if you need them, but bringing children is discouraged as this test requires proper focus.

What happens during a fetal ultrasound?

Usually, a fetal ultrasound may last for about 30 minutes to an hour. In the case of an ultrasound performed on the abdomen, a gel is to be applied to the skin of the belly, and then the transducer will be moved over the skin. If you have an ultrasound of your vagina, the transducer probe has a sterile cover and a lubricant. The transducer probe is in the vagina, which will be in different places to capture images.

Can a fetal ultrasound determine the sex of the unborn baby?

The sex of your baby can only be seen on the fetal ultrasound after 18 to 20 weeks. Make sure that your pregnancy care provider is aware of whether or not you want to know the sex of your baby before the ultrasound.

Conclusion

fetal ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the developing foetus in the uterus. It is a valuable tool for monitoring fetal growth and development, identifying potential abnormalities, and guiding medical interventions when necessary. fetal ultrasound is generally considered safe and is routinely used in prenatal care to provide important information to expectant parents and healthcare providers.

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1. How soon can you see a baby in an ultrasound?

Usually, after six weeks of pregnancy, a baby is visible as an embryo. An embryo develops into a fetus around the eighth week of pregnancy.

2. What can you expect from a fetal ultrasound?

Fetal ultrasound during pregnancy can be both exciting and terrifying. Your pregnancy care provider uses it to understand better how your baby is growing and developing. Most pregnant people have two ultrasounds. The first occurs in the first trimester, and the other in the second trimester. If there is a potential complication in your pregnancy or a medical reason, then your pregnancy provider will ask for more ultrasounds as a precaution.

3. What results do you get from a fetal ultrasound?

Your pregnancy care provider may or may not ask for additional ultrasound tests, depending on your results. If it is a typical result, your baby is growing and developing typically. However, an abnormal development means there is something irregular. If that is the case, further ultrasounds and diagnostic tests are required to determine the problems.