All future mothers are invited to undergo several planned ultrasound tests during pregnancy. This study is considered the most revealing and safe method for examining the health of a child. However, it is not recommended to carry out ultrasound for a period of up to 10 weeks, if for this there are no weighty reasons, such as spotting, abdominal pain and lower back. In addition to confirming pregnancy at such a short time, the study probably will not show anything. Therefore, it is better to refrain from it, if for that there is no special evidence.
So, how many times can you do ultrasound in pregnancy, and on what terms of pregnancy do they do? As a rule, during the entire pregnancy, ultrasound is performed at least 3-4 times. With regard to the timing of its conduct, then the most revealing moments are chosen for this, when this or that phase of fetal development occurs.
When to do ultrasound in pregnancy?
There is the concept of planned ultrasound in pregnancy, which are carried out at certain periods of pregnancy. At the same time, the timing of planned ultrasound is as follows: the first study - at 10-12 weeks, the second - in the interval of 20-24 weeks, the third - at 32-34 week.
During the first ultrasound, the doctor determines the exact period of labor and can tell about the general features of the course of pregnancy. At this time, you can already listen to the heartbeat of the baby.
The second ultrasound is more revealing and during this time it is already possible to consider the child, especially if it is a 3D-ultrasound. On it you can see the smallest details, up to the fingers on the handles and legs. And, of course, at this time the sex of the future baby is already well defined. It is extremely important that the doctor looks at how the internal organs develop, and is convinced of the absence of malformations.
The third planned ultrasound is done almost before the very birth. The doctor again looks at the baby's organs, determines his presentation and other important indicators for childbirth. At this time the child is already so large that it does not fit completely into the picture, so the doctor considers it in stages.
If pregnancy is prolific (for example, with pregnancy twins), ultrasound is done more often. This is necessary to exclude the various risks involved.
Why do you need ultrasound at different times of pregnancy?
During the study, the doctor can diagnose various deviations in the development of the child, as well as the problems of the course of pregnancy itself. Using the ultrasound method, you can:
- confirm the presence of pregnancy in the early stages, determine whether pregnancy is the uterine. If the pregnancy is ectopic, urgent surgical intervention or correction of the situation without surgery, if possible, is necessary;
- determine the number of children - in case of multiple pregnancy, special medical supervision is necessary;
- accurately determine the age of the fetus;
- to determine the pathology of the course of pregnancy (the threat of interruption, detachment of the placenta, hypertension of the uterus, etc.) and to make attempts to save pregnancy;
- to identify the developmental defects of the child in order to timely decide on the need for abortion (if the vices
are incompatible with life) or treatment if possible; - properly prepare for childbirth - find out the mass of the fetus, its presentation, specify the term and diagnose the presence or absence of a cord by the umbilical cord;
- determine the gender of the child.
In addition to the listed items, ultrasound sometimes becomes the decisive moment for unwanted pregnancy to turn into a desirable one. Often happens so that, after hearing the heartbeat, a woman makes a firm decision to save her child's life.