Pregnancy is a part of a woman’s life, especially during married life. More people today are dreaming of bearing a baby, especially when they are financially stable. They want to enjoy the life of giving another life that comes from their blood and flesh. A woman’s journey includes pregnancy and that would be the most challenging part as a woman. A prenatal ultrasound scan or method is called a sonogram, a test during pregnancy.
What is a sonogram?
A sonogram is a pregnancy ultrasound; it is a test performed to check the health and development of the baby inside the womb. An obstetrician or ultrasound technician performs the ultrasound during pregnancy for several reasons, whether it is to check the current health condition and growth of the baby or to know the baby’s gender. Other than that, ultrasound detects possible problems while the baby is growing inside the womb.
The sound waves are sent through the abdomen or vagina, during the ultrasound, using a device called a transducer. These sound waves will bounce off the structures in the body. The sound waves transform into images that the doctor can see on the screen. However, the ultrasound scanning method doesn’t use any device or tool that can help the baby.
Prenatal ultrasounds can also be called fetal ultrasounds.
What can be detected during pregnancy ultrasound?
A prenatal ultrasound does two different things:
- It can evaluate the overall health and growth of the fetus
- It can detect certain complications and medical conditions
In most pregnancies, an ultrasound is a positive experience and pregnancy care providers ensure that they can easily locate and monitor the condition of the baby. Sometimes when this is not the case, the provider notices birth disorders or other possible problems with the pregnancy. There are reasons why a provider performs prenatal ultrasounds, such as:
- Confirmation of being pregnant
- Check for possible pregnancy conditions (ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, molar pregnancy or any other early pregnancy complications
- Consider the gestational age and due date of the baby
- Check the movement, heart rate, and growth of the baby
- Look for multiple babies: twins, triplets, and more
- Check the placenta location
- Check the position of the baby and the uterus
- Detect possible problems with the organs, bones, or muscles of the baby
Ultrasound is an essential tool to help healthcare providers screen for congenital conditions. A screening is a test that specifies the baby can have a specific health condition. The provider uses ultrasound to guide the needle during diagnostic procedures during pregnancy, such as:
- Amniocentesis
- Chorionic villus sampling
The ultrasound is a component of the biophysical profile. It is a test that combines ultrasound with a nonstress test to assess whether the baby gets enough oxygen.
Most pregnant people have 1 or two ultrasounds during the pregnancy period. The number and timing may differ on the pregnancy care provider, and if you have health conditions. If the pregnancy is high risk or if the provider suspects you or the baby has a health condition, they suggest more regular ultrasounds.