How and when is the research conducted?
Most often in such cases, ultrasound is transabdominal, i.e. the sensor is placed on the anterior abdominal wall. A prerequisite is a filled bladder. Therefore, before the procedure begins, a woman, more precisely for 1-1,5 hours before it, you need to drink 500-700 ml of still water. If the study is done in the morning, the woman is advised not to urinate for 3-4 hours.
According to the norms, ultrasound at the first screening is carried out at 12 weeks of pregnancy. At the same time, a similar procedure is allowed in the interval of 11-13 weeks of gestation.
What does ultrasound show at 12 weeks of pregnancy?
The study of the pace of development is carried out simultaneously on several parameters. The main indicators that are compared with the norm and always taken into account on ultrasound in the 12th week of pregnancy are:
- KTP - coccygeal parietal size. The distance from the margin of the parietal bone to the coccyx is fixed;
- BDP - biparietal size - the distance between 2 parietal tubercles;
- TVP - the thickness of the collar space.
Deciphering the results of a pregnancy at 12 weeks of ultrasound and comparing them to the norms are dealt with by doctors using the table.
At the same time, doctors also establish:
- symmetrical development of the cerebral hemispheres, paying special attention to the structure;
- assess the work of the cardiovascular system, by fixing the heart rate;
- assess the overall physical development of the fetus by measuring the length of the shoulder, thigh, shin, forearm.
Special attention in such a survey is removed by examining the placenta, fixing its thickness and attachment site. In addition, the doctor carefully examines the umbilical cord, because directly through it the fruit receives useful substances and oxygen. The discrepancy between the size of the vessels and the norm can indirectly indicate the likelihood of the development of oxygen starvation of the crumb, which in turn negatively affects its development.
Thus, as can be seen from the article, ultrasound at the 12th week of pregnancy is one of the most important studies that can detect violations at a very short gestational age.