How many weeks do ultrasound for pregnancy. At what stages of pregnancy do ultrasound

During the appointment, the obstetrician-gynecologist will tell the patient at what time it is necessary to do an ultrasound scan during pregnancy. Usually, three studies are carried out for the entire period of bearing a baby: 10-12 weeks, then 20-22 weeks and the last at 30-32 weeks.

uzi snapshot photography
apparatus consultation inside
planned in rest position
development snapshot view


Each of these diagnostics has its own goals. Three is the amount of research that needs to be done. Sometimes the doctor prescribes more procedures. It all depends on the condition of the mother and baby.

A qualified doctor always tells in detail how many weeks you need to do the first and subsequent ultrasound during pregnancy. Which .

So, the first study is done for a period of 3-5 weeks. This is necessary to confirm pregnancy and understand the location of the fetus. However, the baby is still very tiny, so you need to make a diagnosis at 10-12 weeks to understand how it develops.

The first procedure should be carried out between the 3rd and 5th week

At this time, the doctor:

  • receives information about the development of the baby;
  • determines the presence of a heartbeat;
  • eliminates gross malformations that are incompatible with the life of the crumbs.

The second diagnosis is done at 20-22 weeks. The fetus is already quite large, so details are visible on the screen that cannot be seen at the age of 10-12 weeks. It is already possible to understand whether it is a girl or a boy, how it develops.

At this age, the doctor, with the help of research, receives information about:

  • localization of the placenta;
  • the amount of amniotic fluid;
  • condition of the cervix.

The possible threat of miscarriage is determined. In this case, a woman can undergo inpatient treatment and avoid serious consequences.

In general, the main purpose of diagnostics at this time is to identify genetic pathologies, for example, Down syndrome, and other malformations. If the situation is unfavorable for the fetus and mother, the doctor suggests an abortion.

Second diagnosis at 20-22 weeks

The last ultrasound is done at 30-32 weeks. Diagnostics is carried out for:

  • identifying the well-being of the baby;
  • identification of possible infectious diseases;
  • finding various congenital surgical pathologies (hernia of the umbilical cord, gastroschisis).

It is important to determine the presentation of the baby. The baby should already roll over head down. This position is called head presentation. If the fetus is in a state of breech presentation, there can be serious complications during childbirth. Dopplerography is also performed, which allows you to determine congenital heart disease, see the blood flow in the vessels.

If there are suspicions of twins, you need to know at what time an ultrasound is done in a multiple pregnancy. It is installed at the first examination in the second month. Multiple pregnancy can be diagnosed with a routine gynecological examination. The main symptom is too rapid growth of the uterus.

After the IVF procedure, it is necessary to clarify at what time it is best to do an ultrasound scan during pregnancy. Diagnosis is required after about 20 days in order to:

  • identify the possible presence of blood in the uterus;
  • exclude early miscarriage;
  • determine the location of the embryo.

The doctor also monitors the condition and development of the fetal egg, the condition of the woman's ovaries.

Types of research

At the first appointment, the specialist will tell you what kind of ultrasound is done to determine the presence of pregnancy, as well as to collect information about the condition of the fetus.

There are several types of research baby.

The doctor determines the required number of screenings. Sometimes the number of procedures increases. It depends on the condition of the woman and her fetus.

Chromosomal abnormalities are found using biochemistry

Goals of early diagnosis

The procedure for a planned study is similar to how ultrasound is done at an earlier date. There is a transabdominal and transvaginal method. The specialist will advise which one is right for you.

In the early stages, the study will help:

  • determine the number of embryos;
  • confirm their viability;
  • determine the location of the fetal egg;
  • know the exact time.

The term can be determined by the size of the embryo. However, sometimes there is an error of 1-2 weeks. Let's find out when is the best time to do an ultrasound at an early stage of pregnancy.

The location of the fetal egg allows you to identify an ectopic pregnancy, which can be determined as early as 7 days after a missed period. As already mentioned, it is possible to detect multiple pregnancy in the first study.

Also, early diagnosis is designed to confirm the viability of the fetus. The functionality of the heart can be detected at 3-4 weeks. The expectant mother at this time can feel the baby's heartbeat. This also confirms that he is alive.

That's just the sex of the child to determine the early diagnosis is very difficult. This requires a minimum of 12-13 weeks.

Indications for carrying out

Only a doctor should advise whether to do an ultrasound examination in the early stages. After the future woman in labor is registered in the antenatal clinic, the obstetrician-gynecologist starts a card, which includes the following information.

  1. Possible miscarriages.
  2. Various disorders in the body.
  3. hereditary factors.
  4. Transferred diseases.

You should know in which cases ultrasound during pregnancy is done in the early stages. First of all, the indicator is chronic and internal diseases that can provoke the development of fetal abnormalities. Particular attention is paid to:

  • diseases of the cardiovascular system;
  • pathologies of the nervous system;
  • diseases of the circulatory system;
  • diabetes mellitus.

Also, the close attention of the doctor causes cases when the first child was born with abnormalities or pathologies, if the woman experienced a miscarriage, fetal fading.

Fetal examination

The danger is the pathology of the pelvic organs, oncological sores, severe and prolonged toxicosis. It is worth knowing that the doctor can print a photo of the fetus, regardless of the timing of the ultrasound examination during pregnancy. Many moms want to get photos as soon as possible. Modern equipment allows you to do this.

How to prepare for the procedure?

It does not matter when ultrasound is done at any stage of pregnancy, it is important to emotionally prepare for the diagnosis. Many women worry that the procedure is harmful and the ultrasonic waves harm the tiny embryo. As a result, the body begins to produce stress hormones, and they are immediately transmitted to the child. That is why the baby begins to move actively during the diagnosis, and this can interfere with the procedure.

The schedule of days when you need to do an ultrasound study is only a doctor. Usually three treatments are sufficient. Sometimes more diagnostics are required, but this is an exception to the rule.

Before the first study, you need to drink a large amount of water, but this is not required before subsequent studies. The fluid you drink will be replaced by amniotic fluid.

Please note that it is best to drink water immediately before taking, because if some time passes, the urge to urinate that appears will interfere with the procedure. You should make sure the qualifications of the doctor, the availability of high-quality equipment in the clinic where the diagnosis is carried out. This will avoid errors and inaccuracies in the result.
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Any obstetrician will tell you how much necessary and sometimes vital information can be obtained using ultrasound (ultrasound). Before this diagnostic method was used in medicine, the size of the fetus remained a mystery, it was also impossible to identify genetic abnormalities and control the state of the placenta. In rare cases, X-rays have been used to determine genetic abnormalities. But x-rays have an extremely adverse effect on the development of the fetus. Therefore, this method belonged to the emergency. Thus, ultrasound has revolutionized obstetrics.

Some expectant mothers doubt the need to attend an ultrasound. To this, any gynecologist will say that even with an outwardly favorable course of pregnancy, it is impossible to determine, for example, genetic deformities, aging of the placenta and many other anomalies that can cause fetal death or the birth of a sick baby.

  • You should know that children with defects are born in ninety percent of cases in perfectly healthy mothers and fathers. Thus, only ultrasound can detect them,
  • Many defects can only be detected using this method, which is done during a screening examination,
  • With the help of probing and listening, it is far from always possible to detect a multiple pregnancy, but it is only possible to follow how the twins develop further with the help of ultrasound,
  • Only with the help of this method it is possible to detect placenta previa or its low location ( risk of bleeding and miscarriage),
  • About half of expectant mothers are not able to correctly calculate the timing of childbirth. Most often, the error is 14 days. This period can be vital. With the help of ultrasound, it is possible to calculate the term of childbirth with an accuracy of several days.

How many times can an ultrasound be done during pregnancy?

All indications for ultrasound examination are divided into screening and selective.
Screening ultrasounds are performed for all pregnant women on time. They are aimed at detecting developmental defects. Such studies provide information about the size of the fetus, compliance with their developmental standards, as well as the state of the placenta and uterus. Screening examinations are usually 3-4.
Selective examinations are prescribed if the pregnancy passes with complications or the doctor has doubts about the normal development of the fetus. Due to the fact that such examinations are prescribed in connection with a disease or pathology, their number may vary depending on the condition. In special cases, ultrasound is done even twice a week.

Examination dates by week of pregnancy

Screening obstetric ultrasound is prescribed in terms of:
  • 10 - 14 weeks,
  • 20 - 24 weeks,
  • 30 - 32 weeks,
  • 36 - 37 weeks.

Early examination (4 weeks)

A transvaginal examination can detect the presence of a gestational sac as early as three weeks after conception. After four weeks, you can already "see" some of the details of its structure.
A four-week-old embryo reaches 5 millimeters in length. It is still impossible to detect where his head is, but after a couple of weeks, limbs, a head and a body stand out. At this time, he begins to move.


The main purpose of this examination is to make sure that the pregnancy exists and the fetal egg is in the uterus. And also examine the state of the chorion ( placenta in the future) and amniotic fluid. Such an examination is preferably carried out by a very qualified specialist. Sometimes the doctor has doubts, in which case another study is performed a week later.

Examination at 10 - 14 weeks

The first examination at 10-14 weeks reveals the location of the fetal egg, diagnosing uterine or ectopic pregnancy. On the same examination, the thickness of the collar zone, the place located on the back of the neck, is necessarily studied. If this zone is more than normal, this indicates a genetic anomaly. And the future mother will be sent for a genetics consultation. It is at a period of 12 - 13 weeks with the help of ultrasound that Down syndrome can be detected, then the fetus develops, and these violations will no longer be noticeable.

The diameter of the fetal egg is determined, as well as its length from the coccyx to the crown. An important parameter of well-being is the size of the uterus. It is this size that indicates the gestational age, because the increase in the size of the fetus is standard, in contrast to later periods. In the transcript for ultrasound, sometimes it is not the obstetric period, that is, from the first day of the last menstruation, but the embryonic period - the period from conception itself. Usually the difference between these terms is no more than 14 days. On the screen you can see how the little man moves, how he moves his arms and legs and even opens his mouth.

The placenta is formed only by 16 weeks. At the first examination, they study exactly where it is attached to the uterus, how close the cervix is ​​\u200b\u200b( norm - at least 6 centimeters). If the placenta is located on the pharynx, a diagnosis of placenta previa is made, which entails complications during childbirth. Sometimes during the first examination, a low placenta is found, but later it rises to a normal level.

The structure of the placenta, its thickness is also important.
During the examination, the number of vessels in the umbilical cord is checked. There should be three.

The condition of the amniotic fluid is another important indicator of the well-being of pregnancy. The volume of amniotic fluid is calculated through the amniotic index. If the index is increased, this indicates polyhydramnios, if it is reduced compared to the norm, they speak of oligohydramnios. A strong deviation of this indicator indicates a violation of blood circulation in the placenta - fetoplacental insufficiency.
Turbidity of the amniotic fluid may indicate the presence of an infection.
The uterus is also examined: the presence of myomatous nodes, the tone of the uterus, the thickness of its walls is determined.

Second examination at 20-24 weeks

The main purpose of this examination is to identify abnormalities in the development of the internal organs of the fetus: liver, kidneys, heart, brain, digestive organs, as well as to detect symptoms of fetal infection. Now the facial features of the fetus are already clearly visible and defects such as a cleft lip or cleft palate can also be detected. Even a violation of the laying of the teeth is detected at this time. Now it is already possible to determine the sex of the unborn baby, although these data may still be subject to adjustment. You can very accurately study the structure of the heart, down to the chambers and valves, as well as calculate the heart rate.

At this time, it is already quite accurate to determine the localization of the placenta and diagnose its presentation.
In eight out of ten pregnancies, the loops of the umbilical cord are in close proximity to the neck or legs of the fetus. However, this does not indicate the presence of entanglement with the umbilical cord. Such a diagnosis is made on the basis of dopplerometry and it indicates that the fetus suffers from a lack of oxygen and nutrients. But even in the presence of entanglement, doctors do not always resort to surgical intervention during childbirth.

Examination at 30 - 32 weeks

At this time, it is possible to identify the syndrome of developmental delay, to detect a number of developmental disorders ( e.g. heart defects) that could not be detected earlier. This examination also traces the position of the placenta and fetus, and early aging of the placenta can be detected. According to the norms, up to 32 weeks the placenta should be of the second degree of maturity.
The amniotic index at this time should be 10-20 cm.
At this time, you can determine how much the weight and height of the fetus corresponds to age norms.

Examination at 36 - 37 weeks

The size and weight of the fetus is determined. The position of the fetus is also of great importance at this time. Although, before childbirth, he can still roll over.
From this period, the degree of aging of the placenta is 3. Its thickness is 26 - 45 mm. Any deviation from the norm is a reason for additional Doppler examination, and possibly tests. It is very important that in these last weeks the baby does not suffer from a lack of oxygen and nutrients.

Fetal heart examination

Ultrasound examination of the fetal heart during fetal development is a very difficult task that requires high professionalism from doctors. Such research is a novelty in medicine. According to statistics, the first place among all defects in newborns is occupied by heart defects. Often the baby leaves the maternity hospital home, and his parents believe that everything is in order with the crumbs and a heart problem is discovered only by two or three years.
With the help of an expert ultrasound of the heart, the fetus can detect almost all life-threatening malformations that either lead to death or require urgent surgical intervention immediately after the baby is born.

You can start such studies no earlier than 18 or 20 weeks of gestation. During the study, the valves, ventricles, vessels are examined in great detail, and the blood flow velocity is also calculated. Partition defects are also found.

Indications for expert ultrasound of the heart in the fetus:

  • Insulin-dependent form of diabetes mellitus in the mother,
  • fetal heart rhythm disturbances
  • Genetic predisposition to congenital heart defects,
  • The use of certain medications by a pregnant woman in the first weeks of gestation,
  • Probability of a malformation detected during a routine ultrasound examination.

Preparing for an ultrasound

If the pregnancy is less than 12 weeks and a transabdominal examination is performed, the doctor will ask you to drink about a liter of water an hour before the procedure. A full bladder will "squeeze out" the uterus from the pelvic cavity and make it possible to better view it. At a later date, as well as during a transvaginal examination, no preparation is required.

Interpretation of survey results

The first items in the ultrasound protocol will be the last name, first name, patronymic of the subject, then the first day of the last menstrual cycle, as well as the probable gestational age.
Most of the information will be about the fetus.

So:
1. The presence of the fetus and their number, condition.
2. The presence of presentation ( oblique, transverse, pelvic, head or variable). In the first and second trimesters, the fetus can take any position. But after thirty weeks, the position should normally be cephalic. But there is a possibility of breech presentation. Sometimes in such cases, a caesarean section is prescribed. Although a few hours are enough for the baby to take the “correct” position.
3. Fetometry of the fetus: the size of the head, abdomen, thigh, heart and cerebellum, height and weight, term, as well as growth parameters: normal, slow, accelerated or not at all. The presence of malnutrition.
4. The width of the collar zone. In a properly developing fetus at 12 weeks, the width should be within 3 mm.
5. The presence of congenital defects.
6. The presence of entanglement of the neck with the umbilical cord. Its presence should not immediately scare.
7. Heart rate ( heart rate) should be between 110 and 180 beats per minute. The "older" the fetus, the lower this indicator - by the end of pregnancy from 120 to 160 beats per minute.

Transvaginal examination

Transvaginal ultrasound examination is prescribed from a three-week period and is done only in the early stages. Such an examination allows you to clearly see the fetal egg and the fetus and set the gestational age with an error of one day. The examination reveals an ectopic pregnancy, as well as some malformations that are already noticeable at such early stages of development.

Ultrasound 3d and 4d

If most of the devices operating in 2d clinics show a black and white flat image, then the 3d device makes it possible to see the baby in volume. Such a device shows a clearer picture, enabling parents to independently determine whether they are expecting a son or daughter. It turns out something like a holographic photograph.
The device for volumetric ultrasound examination is no different in appearance from their predecessors. The frequency of ultrasound is similar to 2d counterparts. Thus, the procedure is not more dangerous than a conventional study.

Three-dimensional examination can be carried out at the same time as the usual one. But it is best to do it before 24 weeks, since at this “age” the child is still completely placed on the screen. Interestingly, after 30 weeks, some babies even show similarities with one of the parents.

The duration of the three-dimensional examination is somewhat longer than usual. Since two-dimensional is done first, and then a special function is turned on and a three-dimensional image appears on the monitor.
During the 3D examination, the circulatory system can be seen very clearly, as well as some defects that are not visible during the 2D examination.

4d is already a whole color film about a baby that you can watch and shoot.
The image can be immediately downloaded to disk and left in the family archive.
Due to the fact that equipment for this type of examination is expensive, and medical information obtained from 3d or 4d differs little from the already known two-dimensional image, public clinics rarely purchase such equipment.

Doppler

With the help of dopplerometry, it is possible to determine the state of the blood supply system of the fetus and placenta.
This is very important information that is required if a pregnant woman has problems with blood clotting.

Indications for dopplerometry.

For every girl, the time of waiting for the birth of her beloved child is the happiest and most exciting. I would like to know what he is, how he develops, what happens to him even at the very early stage of pregnancy. Every pregnant woman worries about her baby being healthy and developing properly. It is ultrasound that allows you to monitor the process of fetal development throughout all 9 months.

What is an ultrasound


Ultrasound has been known for its special capabilities for a long time and longer than x-rays. Their properties and capabilities are different, but in the field of obstetrics, ultrasound has become just a panacea for solving many problems and has provided answers to the most common questions. In addition, ultrasound makes it possible to diagnose a variety of congenital diseases or pathologies in the early stages with an accuracy of 95-100%. It began to be applied in the middle of the twentieth century and since then every pregnant woman has the opportunity to see her unborn child. What is the purpose of this device?

The apparatus consists of a sensor and a receiver. The sensor sends invisible ultrasonic waves, which, when they enter the body, are converted, and the receiver decodes them and creates a picture. Modern equipment makes it possible to conduct ultrasound examinations at the highest level of quality and opens up many opportunities for doctors and future parents to monitor the process of fetal development.

Today, obstetricians and gynecologists perform several ultrasound sessions during pregnancy without fail. And to be precise, three. Why is this research necessary? What is the timeframe for doing this?

Ultrasound in the first trimester


The first ultrasound examination is performed at 9-14 weeks of fetal development. Already on this to see whether the baby is growing and forming correctly and in a timely manner. It is at this time that the first deviations and pathologies can be determined (all organs have already been formed in these weeks), and timely actions can be taken to solve such problems. Ultrasound in the first trimester allows you to get answers to the following questions:

  • The maximum exact gestational age is established;
  • Single or multiple pregnancy;
  • Ectopic pregnancy;
  • Risk of miscarriage;
  • Condition of the uterus and placenta;
  • The size of the fetus is measured;
  • It is possible to determine the gender of the child;
  • The most accurate due date is calculated.

In addition, ultrasound in the first trimester is also carried out in order to determine the size of the collar zone - the correctness of chromosomal development is also very important. If this zone exceeds 2.7 mm, then doctors can talk about the presence of pathologies such as Down syndrome. If ultrasound finds this kind of deviation, then additional studies and blood tests can confirm the diagnosis. The main thing is to identify the threat in time at an early stage of development. Unfortunately, Down syndrome is not treated by modern medicine. But its timely determination enables the mother to prepare for this kind of responsibility.

Ultrasound in the first trimester is extremely important, and a pregnant woman should not miss it. Thanks to him, your doctor will be able to establish the correct and most accurate monitoring of the development of your child. Also, after the study, you can get the first photo of your baby - the ultrasound doctor can do a screening for you.

It is worth noting that it is not recommended to conduct a study at an earlier date. Ultrasound, while providing many benefits, can still have some side effects. If you are not worried about pain in the lower back or lower abdomen, then postpone the first examination until the deadline of the first trimester. An examination in the early stages can only be carried out on the recommendation of a doctor and for good reasons.


The second ultrasound examination is carried out for a period of 20-24 weeks. At this time, you can learn a lot more about the baby. The doctor measures the size of the fetus: the circumference of the abdomen, the head, and the length of the femur. These parameters will help determine developmental deviations. In addition, you can determine how well developed the blood flow inside the placenta, as well as the uterus, the level of their maturity, as well as where and how they are located. The condition of the placenta can tell a lot. If there are seals in it, then this is a harbinger of various infections, and its detachment can lead to miscarriage or premature birth. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent such situations.

In addition, it is on the second ultrasound that the sex of the child is determined with 100% accuracy. The genitals become larger and more pronounced. It is during these weeks that you can talk about who you will have - a boy or a girl.

At the second ultrasound, amniotic fluid and cervix are examined. This allows you to prevent a number of pathologies. Timely undertaken therapy or timely hospitalization will help normalize the process of fetal development and lead to the threat of miscarriage or premature birth.

Unlike the first trimester test, the screening this time will allow you to have a more accurate picture of your baby.

This ultrasound procedure is performed at 32-34 weeks. By this time, the intrauterine development of the fetus is coming to an end, and the fetus itself is turning upside down. Ultrasound can confirm or refute this fact. And then the obstetrician - gynecologist can plan in advance a strategy for how the birth will take place. If the baby has not rolled over by this time, the doctor can take a number of actions to correct his position. Head presentation is very important for the correct and normal course of the birth process. At this stage, thanks to ultrasound, you can find out how much the child weighs and how tall he is. The latest study will also help determine when you can give birth. This is especially important if you are having a caesarean section.

During these weeks, the position and condition of the placenta are also examined. It is this fact that can tell whether a woman can give birth herself - in the event that the placenta is attached to the very top of the uterus. If it is shifted to the cervix, then such a placenta previa is an indication for a caesarean section. The maturity of the placenta indicates the readiness of a woman for the birth process. If the placenta matures ahead of schedule, then this indicates that the birth must be carried out ahead of schedule in order to avoid the transfer of the fetus.

At the final ultrasound, you have the opportunity to see your baby as he will be born.

Is it safe to do an ultrasound?


Many women are very worried about whether the ultrasound examination will harm the baby. Medicine does not give unambiguous answers to this question, but no obvious threats to the baby have been identified. It is precisely because of this ambiguity that the number of sessions is reduced to a minimum - 3 on clearly defined dates. On the territory of our country, the maximum number of ultrasounds can reach 10. But they are carried out exclusively for good reasons and the urgent recommendation of a doctor. This will protect the development of your baby and make it as correct as possible in the presence of various kinds of threats.

Also today it is possible to conduct a 3D study. It makes it possible to get a three-dimensional picture and view the child from all sides. 3D ultrasound is a real joy for the expectant mother. Thanks to him, you can quite accurately examine the face of the child, especially in the weeks of the last trimester, to consider how he moves and breathes.


Thanks to modern equipment, we can see our baby even in the womb. Ultrasound during pregnancy at various times gives you the opportunity to take care of the baby even when you cannot touch it.

At what gestational age do ultrasound for pregnant women and fetal diagnosis? It is better to consult with your doctor about this.

At this stage of life, it is impossible to imagine modern obstetrics without ultrasound. Therefore, many girls, who want to know at what time, and how safe it is, do ultrasound to impatient mothers during pregnancy.

When can I visit an ultrasound?

An ultrasound examination is prescribed by a specialist throughout the pregnancy three times.

  1. At nine to eleven weeks.
  2. From the sixteenth to the twenty-first week.
  3. At thirty-two - thirty-six weeks.

If the leading doctor has any doubts about the state of health of the pregnant woman or the gestating fetus, he prescribes an ultrasound at an earlier date.

Also, an examination can be carried out just before the birth to determine whether the patient will be able to give birth naturally.

First Pregnancy Study

It is better to do the initial ultrasound at the ninth - eleventh weeks.

During the study revealed:

  1. Pregnancy rate.
  2. Timing.
  3. Fetal heart rate.
  4. The number of fruits is set.
  5. The threat of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy is determined.
  6. Condition of the placenta, uterus and hip organs.
  7. The exact date of the birth of the child is established.

The first ultrasound diagnosis is very important:

  • For women who have had a premature birth.
  • Married to a close relative.
  • For a woman who has had an infectious disease.
  • Having a child with Down's disease.
  • Over thirty-five years of age.
  • Having previously frozen fruit.

The first trimester examination takes place in two stages:

Ultrasound screening is performed first, then if a transvaginal examination is expected, no preparation is needed.

The abdominal view requires filling of the urea. Thirty minutes before the examination, you should drink half a liter of liquid.

Blood from a vein is taken on an empty stomach.

Even before the first study in one day, it is better to go on a diet for a more accurate blood test.

The results of the first examination indicate the need for the next ultrasound examination in the second trimester.

What are the results of the second ultrasound for pregnant women

Future mothers go to the second examination with the hope of determining the sex of their child. It is from the twentieth week of pregnancy that it is better to determine who will be born, a boy or a girl.

Although the child may lie in such a position that the doctor will not be able to see his genitals.

During the second study, the specialist does:

  • Measurements of the circumference of the tummy of the fetus.
  • The hip bone.
  • Determines the circumference of the fetal head.

Due to these results, the doctor reveals the norm of a developing baby. On this examination, he assesses:

  • Blood flow in the vascular system of the placenta.
  • The position of the placenta.
  • The state of the amniotic fluid.

The study makes it possible to establish the pathology of fetal development. It is necessary to do genetics when identifying any deviations in the development of an intrauterine baby.

It is better to prevent pathology than to lose a child in the twentieth week of pregnancy.

Mothers with pathologies in the early stages of the study must undergo ultrasound diagnostics at the twentieth week of pregnancy without fail. At this time, the treatment will bring positive results.

Ultrasound in the third trimester of pregnancy

At the thirty-second week, the baby takes the necessary position inside the uterus. Therefore, a specialist can determine in advance the course of childbirth. Based on the examination of ultrasound diagnostics, it is possible to establish the weight of the crumbs, body dimensions, and calculate the exact day of delivery.

At this time, the position of the placenta is assessed. If it is not normal, then a surgical intervention is prescribed - a caesarean section.

The third examination involves dopplerography, with which you can see the movement of blood through the fetal vascular system and identify heart defects.

The most dangerous is the third trimester. During this period, the problem of the occurrence of blood enrichment in the umbilical cord or placenta may occur.

In the third trimester, it is best to observe the fetal gastrointestinal tract, cranial section, brain structure, and the size of the lateral ventricles of the brain.

Indications are given about the size of the large cistern of the brain. All these studies help to exclude various brain defects, signs of intrauterine infection.

It is possible during these periods to examine the baby's chest, the structure of the facial bones, and the spine. This is very important to exclude fetal malformations.

To make an examination of the uterus preparing for childbirth is the primary task of the gynecologist - obstetrician, the condition of the placenta of the woman in labor is important. Ultrasound diagnostics gives an assessment of amniotic fluid, which is important for the course of childbirth and the development of the child.

Types of ultrasound diagnostics for expectant mothers

  1. Diagnosis is transvaginal.
  2. Abdominal examination.
  3. Doppler.

A transvaginal examination is performed in the first ultrasound examination. It should be prescribed by a specialist for a more informative diagnosis in the early stages.

Preparation for such a study is not needed, you just need to grab a condom for the procedure, which is worn for examination (ultrasound sensor) to protect the pregnant woman from various types of infections.

This inspection should reveal:

  1. Presence of conception.
  2. Embryo development.
  3. Determination of the threat of fetal disruption.
  4. condition of the ovaries and uterus.
  5. pathological phenomena.

If there is a need to do an ultrasound after ten to twelve weeks, then such an examination will not bring any threat. Wherein:

  • The condition of the cervix is ​​assessed.
  • If the patient had an operation on the uterus, then the doctor should evaluate the scar.
  • Determining the location of the placenta.

Transvaginal examination can be carried out as many times as the leading gynecologist considers it necessary.

Performing an abdominal ultrasound

Ultrasound snapshot

In the third - fifth week, with an abdominal examination, it is possible to identify the fetal egg, determine an ectopic pregnancy and pathologies of other organs.

This examination cannot be replaced by anything during pregnancy. The task of abdominal examination in the second trimester:

  • Establishment of the correct term, the condition of the cervix.
  • Determination of contractions of the fetal heart, its sex and location.
  • Identification of the position of the head, buttocks crumbs.
  • Structure and volume of amniotic fluid.
  • Research of a brain, vessels.

An examination of this type is carried out with the patient's body position lying on the left side, in order to avoid pressing the inferior pudendal vein.

Abdominal examination can be done only after 20 - 24 weeks; in the early stages, examination by this method is difficult for internal organs.

Dopplerography of pregnant women

The most reliable Doppler ultrasound information about the vessels:

  1. Umbilical arteries.
  2. Royal.
  3. Arteries of the embryonic midbrain.
  4. With fetal aorta.

Ultrasound diagnostics is shown:

  • When maternal blood sugar is detected.
  • Arterial pressure.
  • For kidney problems.
  • In cases of detection of several fetuses.
  • The speed of maturation of the placenta.
  • With slow fetal development.

The study begins, as a rule, with the study of blood flow in the uterine arteries at the twentieth week of pregnancy.

Then the umbilical artery, aorta and middle cerebral artery of the fetus are examined. This is done to understand the adaptive response of the body in response to the action of a damaging factor.

Normally, in the two arteries of the umbilical cord, the blood flow is the same.

Each artery carries blood approximately to the middle of the placenta, as a result of which the difference in coefficients should alert the doctor in terms of unilateral pathologies in the vasculature.

What effects does ultrasound diagnostics have on the condition of the fetus?

Not having the opportunity to know how the formation of the embryo goes, in some cases entails disastrous consequences. It is better to prevent pathologies by ultrasound diagnostics than to look at the torment of the baby all his life later.

Scheduled ultrasound examinations do not harm the fetus and a gynecologist-obstetrician can prevent pathology in the early stages of pregnancy.

Perhaps there are rare cases when it is riskier not to apply diagnostics.

Allegations about the dangers of ultrasound are not confirmed by anything and no one, therefore, routine examinations using ultrasound are necessary.

Qualified specialists are sure that ultrasound diagnostics is the safest and simplest procedure, it simplifies the monitoring of pregnancy. You can do an examination only in the direction of the leading gynecologist. The desire of some mothers to visit ultrasound diagnostics very often in order to satisfy their curiosity is unacceptable.