There are different tests that mum’s may go through during pregnancy. This is to ensure that they will have a healthy baby before giving birth. This will also help doctors in diagnosing problems that mums may have in their pregnancy.
Obstetric ultrasound is a common safe diagnostic test done during pregnancy. It has helped obstetricians since its introduction in 1950. Mums are required to have a full bladder before the test, especially during early pregnancy. First the doctor applies a cold non-staining conducting gel over the mum’s abdomen. Then she moves the transducer over the gel, which sends ultrasound beams that scan the fetus in the mother’s womb. These beams are reflected back into the transducer then recomposed into a picture, showing an image on the monitor screen. The sonogram shows the real time movements of the fetus. With the recent innovations of this equipment moms are now able to see 3d images of their fetus and bring home their own copy.
Ultrasound has numerous uses that are vital in a mum’s pregnancy.
• It can confirm early pregnancy after four and a half weeks. It can also identify fetal heart beat and vaginal bleeding during this period which assesses the viability of the fetus.
• It helps determine the gestational age of the fetus by assessing the fetal size. In later stages of pregnancy, fetal body measurements will assess the growth and size of the fetus. It also helps assess fetal movements and breathing.
• It helps diagnose abnormalities and malformation before twenty weeks of pregnancy. Some of the common examples are hydrocephalus, spina bifida, myelomeningocoele and fetal hydrops. With recent developments it can also diagnose congenital heart problems and cleft lip/palate during early pregnancy. It also helps detect placental abnormalities by locating the placenta and its lower edges.
• It shows the number of fetuses, fetal presentation, indication of growth retardation and fetal anomaly.
• It helps diagnose problems with amniotic fluid that have adverse effects on the fetus.
• Other uses include the diagnosis of pelvic and uterine abnormalities in mothers.
Ultrasound is an indispensable diagnostic tool in making sure that a mother’s pregnancy goes well from the early stages to child birth. Most importantly it helps detect problems early, to prevent any adverse effects to the mother and the fetus. Not to mention that it plays an integral part in two milestones – identifying the baby’s gender and the first glimpse for the parents to be.
