Ultrasound scan, An Overview
What is an ultrasound scan?
E xpectant
couples like you and your partner look forward to the baby’s scan
because it provides a first glimpse of the baby. An ultrasound scan
propels high-frequency sound waves through your uterus. Through these
sound waves, these bounce off the baby and the sound coming back are
turned into an image on a TV screen that shows your baby’s movements as
well as his position inside your womb. Sonographers, radiographers and
trained midwives can do the scanning. They have post-graduate diploma or
master’s degree in medical ultrasound.
Ultrasound scan can examine your baby’s heartbeat and determine
whether you are pregnant with one baby or more as well as identify an
ectopic pregnancy wherein an embryo implants is located outside the
uterus, or the fallopian tube. An ultrasound scan can also discover the
reason of any bleeding in case you experience bleeding during pregnancy.
This is also helpful in determining the accurate expected delivery date,
weighing up the baby’s risk for Down’s syndrome by way of measuring the
fluid at the back of the baby’s neck. This is called the nuchal
translucency scan and done usually at the 11th to 14th weeks. During the
ultrasound, the abnormality in blood screening test will show the reason
why, check up your baby to find out if his organs are in good condition,
diagnose some abnormalities including spina bifida, measure the quantity
of amniotic fluid that you have and check where the placenta lies inside
the uterus. If the baby rest in an awkward position, it can be hard to
tell whether the baby is a boy or a girl. During the early pregnancy
scan, you need to drink at least 2 pinch of water before the scheduled
appointment with your sonographist in order to the uterus to push out
the pelvis by the bladder, showing a better image on the TV screen.
If abdominal scan is to be done, you will not feel any pain except for a
slight discomfort when the roller is being pressed on your tummy. Later
pregnancy does not require drinking of water if undergoing ultrasound
scan for a better picture of the baby. Transvaginal scan is also another
option and intended for those women who are overweight.
Whether to have or not to have an ultrasound scan depends on you. It
is not really a necessity. Some women prefer not to have their baby be
scanned while majority would love going to a sonographist to check if
their baby is in good condition. Do I have to have an ultrasound?
Although most women in the UK have at least one scan during
pregnancy, you don't have to have one. Scans can give useful information
about your pregnancy, and most women find them reassuring. However, many
abnormalities cannot be seen on scan, and sometimes the scan findings
can cause worry.
If your midwife recommends a scan and you'd rather not have one, ask
her to explain her reasons to you. The final decision rests with you. |
