The Importance Of Ultrasound Screening During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, prenatal ultrasound is done to show a picture of your baby inside the womb to help your health care provider monitor your baby’s growth and development. Your provider may also use ultrasounds to see if other tests need to be done to check on your baby’s health. OC Fertility provides pregnancy ultrasound in Newport Beach to help determine the health of your bundle of joy every step of the way.  

Ultrasound 101

Ultrasound is a prenatal test that is offered to most pregnant women. The procedure uses sound waves to show a picture of your baby in the uterus, while a series of several ultrasounds throughout your pregnancy can help the care provider monitor your baby’s growth and development. It is important to know that pregnancy ultrasounds are safe.

Reasons For Having An Ultrasound

An ultrasound is used to;

•         Confirm pregnancy
•         Determine the fetus’s age and size, which helps determine your due date
•         Check the heartbeat, muscle tone, movement and overall development of the fetus
•         Check for multiple pregnancies
•         Monitor fetal position
•         Examine your ovaries and uterus

An ultrasound is sometimes used in conjunction with other tests and screenings to help determine whether your baby is at-risk of developing certain health conditions.

Some of the health conditions include;

•         Congenital disabilities

Additional diagnostic tests are performed after an ultrasound to examine whether your baby has a birth defect that affects one or more parts of the body’s shape and function. Congenital disabilities can lead to overall health problems and affect how the body develops and functions.

•         Amniocentesis and CVS

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is the process where cells are taken from the placenta for testing, while amniocentesis is a test that involves taking amniotic fluid and cells from the sac that surrounds your baby. Before amniocentesis or CVS are done, an ultrasound needs to be performed first to ensure safety.

•         Pregnancy complications

For example, molar pregnancy, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

Types Of Ultrasounds

The most common types of ultrasounds include;

•         Transabdominal ultrasound

This involves lying on your back on an exam table as your health care provider uses a thin layer of gel to cover your belly to allow the sound waves to move more easily and create a better picture as the transducer is moved across your belly. Typically, an ultrasound lasts about 20 minutes.

•         Transvaginal ultrasound

This type of ultrasound is done through the vagina. You are required to lay on your back on an exam table with your feet in stirrups as a thin transducer is placed into your vagina.

•         Doppler ultrasound

This kind of ultrasound is used in exceptional cases where your baby is not growing normally, and is performed to check your baby’s blood flow.

•         3-D ultrasound

A 3-D ultrasound takes thousands of pictures at once, forming a 3-D image that is almost as clear as a photograph. Care providers use it to ensure the normal growth and development of your baby. It is also used to detect abnormalities in your baby’s face or to find problems in the uterus.

•         4-D ultrasound

This helps in showing the movements of your baby in a video.

To access pregnancy ultrasound services and learn more about ultrasounds, call OC Fertility to book your appointment.