- How many ultrasound should be done during pregnancy
- Diseases and problems that can be detected
- In the 1st trimester of pregnancy
- In the 2nd trimester of pregnancy
- In the 3rd trimester of pregnancy
- What types of ultrasound can be performed
The first ultrasound should be performed in the first trimester of pregnancy, between 11 and 14 weeks, but this ultrasound still does not allow to discover the sex of the baby, which is usually only possible around week 20.
Ultrasound, also known as ultrasound or ultrasound, is a medical examination that allows the observation of images in real time, which must be performed by the whole pregnant woman as it helps to know how the baby is developing inside the uterus.
This type of examination does not cause pain and is very safe for both the pregnant woman and the baby, as it does not use any type of radiation and its performance has no side effects, which is why it is considered a non-invasive test.
How many ultrasound should be done during pregnancy
The most common is to be recommended to do 1 ultrasound per quarter, however, if the doctor has any suspicion or if an examination indicates a possible change in pregnancy, it may be recommended to repeat the ultrasound more regularly, therefore there is no certain number ultrasound during pregnancy.
So, in addition to the first ultrasound done between weeks 11 and 14, at least, an ultrasound should also be done in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, around week 20, when it is already possible to determine the sex of the baby and a 3rd ultrasound, between the 34 and 37 weeks of gestation.
Diseases and problems that can be detected
Ultrasound should be performed more than once during pregnancy because throughout the trimesters, and depending on the baby's growth and development, it will allow to identify different problems in the baby:
In the 1st trimester of pregnancy
In the first trimester of pregnancy, ultrasound is used to:
- Identify or confirm the baby's gestational age; Determine how many babies are in the belly, this being especially important for women who have had fertility treatments; Determine where the embryo implanted in the uterus occurred.
If vaginal bleeding has occurred, this test is essential to rule out the possibility of spontaneous abortion and pregnancy outside the uterus. See which symptoms may indicate a possible miscarriage.
In the 2nd trimester of pregnancy
In the second trimester of pregnancy, with the development and growth of the baby, the exam is able to provide a greater amount of information, such as:
- Presence of some genetic problems such as Down's syndrome for example. For this, in this ultrasound, an exam called Nucal Translucency is performed, a measure that is performed in the region of the nape of the fetus. Determination of malformations that the baby may have; Determination of the baby's sex, which is usually only possible around the 20th week of pregnancy; Assessment of the developmental state of the baby's organs, including the heart; Baby growth assessment; Determination of the location of the placenta, which at the end of pregnancy should not cover the cervix, if this happens there is a risk that the baby may not be born by normal delivery.
In addition, microcephaly is another disease that can be identified in this period, because if it is present, the baby's head and brain are smaller than expected. Learn more at Understand what is Microcephaly and what are the consequences for the baby.
In the 3rd trimester of pregnancy
- New evaluation of the baby's growth and development; Determination and evaluation of the level of the amniotic fluid; Location of the placenta.
In addition, the performance of this test in this period may be especially necessary when there are non-specific and unexplained bleeds.
What types of ultrasound can be performed
Depending on the need, there are different types of ultrasound that can be performed, which provide more or less information about the baby. Thus, the different types of ultrasound that can be used are:
- Intravaginal Ultrasound: should only be done at the beginning of pregnancy until 11 weeks and sometimes serves to confirm the pregnancy instead of the blood test. This is done internally, by placing a device called a transducer in the vagina and is recommended from the 5th week of gestation. Morphological Ultrasound: consists of an ultrasound with more detailed images than the previous one, which allows the assessment of the baby's growth and the development of its organs. 3D ultrasound: it has even better images than the morphological ultrasound and the fact that the image is given in 3D increases the sharpness. With this type of ultrasound, it is possible to better track possible malformations in the baby, it is also possible to see the features of his face. 4D ultrasound : it is the ultrasound that combines the 3D image quality with the baby's movements in real time. Thus, its 3D image in real time allows a detailed analysis of the baby's movements.
Both 3D Ultrasound and 4D Ultrasound should be performed between weeks 26 and 29, as it is during this period that the image is expected to be clearer. Learn more about this subject in 3D and 4D ultrasound show details of the baby's face and identify diseases.
Every pregnant woman must perform at least 3 ultrasounds during pregnancy, sometimes 4 if an intravaginal ultrasound is performed early in the pregnancy. But, each pregnancy is different and it is the obstetrician who must indicate how many tests are necessary.
In most cases, morphological ultrasound is used, and only 3D or 4D ultrasound is used if there are any suspicions of problems or malformations in the baby, or if the mother wants to see the features of her face.
