What is the purpose of a fetal ultrasound during pregnancy?
One of the few ways your pregnancy care provider can see and hear your baby is through an ultrasound. It can help them determine how far along you are in your pregnancy, if your baby is growing normally, and if there are any potential pregnancy complications. Ultrasounds can be performed at any time during your pregnancy, depending on what your provider is looking for.
What can a pregnancy ultrasound detect?
A prenatal ultrasound accomplishes two tasks:
Examines the fetus's overall health, growth, and development.
Detects certain pregnancy complications and medical conditions.
Ultrasounds are generally positive experiences in most pregnancies, and pregnancy care providers find no problems. However, this isn't always the case, and your provider may detect birth defects or other issues with the pregnancy.
Your provider may perform a prenatal ultrasound for the following reasons:
Confirm that you are pregnant.
Examine for ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, miscarriage, or other complications of early pregnancy.
Determine the gestational age and due date of your baby.
Examine your child's growth, movement, and heart rate.
Keep an eye out for multiple babies (twins, triplets or more).
Examine the pelvic organs, such as the uterus, ovaries, and cervix.
Examine your amniotic fluid levels.
Examine the position of the placenta.
Examine the position of your baby in your uterus.
Identify any issues with your baby's organs, muscles, or bones.
When is your first prenatal ultrasound scheduled?
Depending on your provider, the timing of your first ultrasound will vary. Some individuals have an early ultrasound (also called a first-trimester ultrasound or dating ultrasound). This can happen as early as week seven to week eight of pregnancy. An early ultrasound is performed through your vagina (transvaginal ultrasound). Early ultrasounds accomplish the following:
Confirm your pregnancy (by detecting a heartbeat).
Examine for multiple fetuses.
Determine the fetus's size.
Assist in determining the gestational age and due date.
Some providers schedule your first ultrasound around 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Ultrasound at 20 weeks of pregnancy (anatomy scan)
An ultrasound can be scheduled between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. This is referred to as an anatomy ultrasound or a 20-week ultrasound. Your pregnancy care provider can see your baby's sex (if your baby is in a good position for viewing their genitals), detect birth disorders like cleft palate, or find serious conditions related to your baby's brain, heart, bones, or kidneys during this ultrasound. If your pregnancy is going well and there are no complications, your 20-week ultrasound may be your last one. If your provider discovers a problem during your 20-week ultrasound, he or she may order additional ultrasounds.
How soon can an ultrasound reveal a baby?
An embryo can be detected on an ultrasound as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, according to pregnancy care providers. Around the eighth week of pregnancy, an embryo develops into a fetus.
If your last menstrual period was not accurate, it may be too early to detect a fetal heart rate.
What are the two different kinds of pregnancy ultrasounds?
Transvaginal ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound are the two main types of pregnancy ultrasound. Both employ the same technology to create images of your child. A transvaginal ultrasound is performed by your pregnancy care provider by inserting a wand-like device into your vagina. An abdominal ultrasound is performed by placing a device on the skin of your stomach.
Ultrasound transvaginal
Your pregnancy care provider inserts a device into your vaginal canal during a transvaginal ultrasound (similar to how you place a tampon). This ultrasound is used in early pregnancy to detect a fetal heartbeat or to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy (gestational age). Transvaginal ultrasound images are clearer than abdominal ultrasound images in early pregnancy.
Ultrasound of the abdomen
An abdominal ultrasound is performed by your pregnancy care provider by placing a transducer directly on your skin. The transducer is then moved around your belly (abdomen) to capture images of your baby. Sometimes a little pressure is required to get the best views. Abdominal ultrasounds are used by providers after about 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Traditional ultrasounds are two-dimensional. Better images can be produced by more advanced technologies such as 3D or 4D ultrasound. This is useful when your provider needs to examine your baby's face or organs more closely. Not all providers have 3D or 4D ultrasound equipment or the necessary training to perform this type of ultrasound.
Other types of ultrasounds may be recommended by your provider. Additional ultrasound examples include:
Doppler ultrasound: This type of ultrasound examines the flow of blood through your baby's blood vessels. The majority of Doppler ultrasounds are performed later in pregnancy.
This type of ultrasound examines your baby's heart size, shape, function, and structure. If your provider suspects your baby has a congenital heart condition, if you have another child with a heart condition, or if you have certain health conditions that warrant a closer look at the heart, they may use it.
Is it safe to perform an ultrasound every month while pregnant?
While ultrasounds are safe for you and your baby, most major medical associations advise that ultrasounds be performed only when medically necessary by pregnancy care providers. Repeat ultrasounds aren't necessary if your ultrasounds are normal and your pregnancy is uncomplicated or low risk.
