During pregnancy, one of the appointments that some mothers remember most fondly is the ultrasound, as it is the first time you see your baby on screen. It is a highly emotional moment. However, these scans in those precious minutes also give your doctor useful information about your baby's development. For example, if you are concerned about your baby's weight or have faced any medical difficulties, your baby is being monitored through these scans, or earlier scans (often done during the initial weeks) noted any concerns about development. If your doctor has recommended a scan during pregnancy, you may be wondering when it will happen, what it will look like, and what it will tell the doctor about your pregnancy.

What Happens During a Pregnancy Ultrasound?

An ultrasound for pregnancy, or sonography, uses sound waves to produce images of the baby inside the uterus. It does not use X-rays.

Depending on the stage of pregnancy, the scan can help the medical team look at things such as:

• Baby's growth and development

• Position of the baby

• Placenta

• Amniotic fluid

• Certain aspects of foetal anatomy

• Overall progress of the pregnancy

The exact purpose of a scan depends on why it has been recommended and how far the pregnancy has progressed.

There Isn't Just One Scan for Every Pregnancy

The timing of an ultrasound can make a difference because the doctor is looking for different things at different stages.

Diva Women's Hospital's foetal medicine department lists three important pregnancy scans:

• Around 12 weeks: First-trimester scan and double-marker assessment

• Around 20 weeks: Second-trimester anomaly scan

• Around 32 weeks: Third-trimester growth scan

These are general milestones. Your doctor may suggest additional scans depending on your health, the baby's development, or any concern that needs closer observation.

2D, 3D and 4D: What's the Difference?

Perhaps you have heard people mention the differences between 3D and 4D scanning as compared to a standard scan. Whereas a 2D scan produces a flat image, a 3D scan provides a more detailed three-dimensional rendering; in 4D sonography, this image shows motion and expected delivery time. This can result in parents seeing features such as the baby moving limbs or changing position, and it should be selected in a medically necessary context, rather than on the basis of providing "a clearer" view.

Is There Anything to Do Before the Scan?

Preparation depends on the type of ultrasound and the stage of pregnancy. Your healthcare team will tell you if you need to follow any specific instructions beforehand.

During an abdominal scan, you generally lie down while gel is placed on your abdomen. A transducer is then moved over the skin to obtain the required images.

It is a fairly simple procedure, although the duration can vary depending on the examination.

Is Ultrasound Safe During Pregnancy?

Ultrasound does not involve radiation and has been widely used as part of pregnancy care.

That does not mean scans need to be done without reason. It is best to have them when recommended by your doctor and have them performed by trained professionals who can interpret the findings in the proper clinical context.

If you have concerns about how often you need a scan, ask your gynaecologist or fetal-medicine specialist.

Choosing a Place for Your Pregnancy Scan

While the quality of the equipment can make a difference, so does the expertise of the team of medical practitioners carrying out and interpreting the test.

Diva Women's Hospital, Ahmedabad, runs the 3D/4D sonography service along with its foetal medicine department. Along with this, the hospital claims to manage pregnancy complications and problems related to foetal abnormalities. Sonography services offered at this institution take care of pregnancy-related scan reports as well as gynaecological and fertility scans.

The worth of the ultrasound is not in the photography and video that the expectant mother takes home, but more in the kind of information that the mother is able to learn about her pregnancy.

One Scan Can Answer Many Questions

During the many wonderful weeks of pregnancy, it's very easy to doubt whether everything is on track. An ultrasound scan tells the doctor about what's going on in the womb.

Therefore, there is no need to be apprehensive about having an Ultrasound for Pregnancy just because you don't know the procedure. Enquire from the physician about the function of the specific scan, the need for preparation, and when one may anticipate the scan report.

Blog Source -- Ultrasound for Pregnancy: Complete Guide for Expecting Mothers

FAQs

Q1. Are ultrasounds safe in pregnancy?

Yes, medically advised ultrasound is very safe when carried out correctly by a trained practitioner.

Q2. When are scans normally carried out in pregnancy?

Crucial scans are normally performed around 12, 20 and 32 weeks in the pregnancy.

Q3. What is a 4D pregnancy scan?

A four-dimensional scan shows moving pictures of your baby as they grow.

Q4. Is everybody going to need extra scans in pregnancy?

No, not necessarily; it depends on the individual pregnancy, results during each scan, and what your doctor advises.