How many ultrasound scans are needed during pregnancy?
It has been revealed through practice that women would need about 2 ultrasounds during the whole pregnancy. These ultrasounds have become an integral part of prenatal care for most women. It offers a good glimpse of the developing baby. Though these scans can be amazing photographs for keepsakes, most women would need very few scans. There have been medical guidelines that state that pregnancy scans can be performed only when it is medically validated.
What are these ultrasounds?
A plastic transducer is used by a doctor or a skilled technician during an emergency to transmit high-frequency sound waves through the uterus. These sound waves send back signals to the machine. These are then converted to an image of the baby. The test would not hurt. The gel does feel cold and messy. It is used to guide the transducer through the stomach.
How many ultrasounds are done during pregnancy?
The actual number of USG scans done would vary with the woman and her pregnancy. The following are some of the ultrasounds that can be expected.
Ultrasound during early pregnancy (about 6 to 8 weeks) - The first ultrasound scan is known as a sonogram and can take place when the pregnancy is around 6 to 8 weeks. However, some doctors would conduct it only if there is high risk involved with it, like abdominal pain, bleeding or a history of miscarriage or congenital disabilities.The first exam would often be transvaginal to get a clear picture of the baby.
Dating ultrasound - There can be a dating ultrasound which happens at about 10 to 13 weeks of the pregnancy. The parents would get information about the due date and the size of the baby. It would also show the number of babies and the fetal heartbeat.
Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound - There can be a Nuchal translucency ultrasound around 14 to 20 weeks to check for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. These should be considered by women older than 35 and those who have a family history of congenital disabilities. Doctors would measure hormones and the thickness of the baby's neck.
Anatomical Survey - The detailed ultrasound can be done between 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy and can last from 20 to 45 minutes if there is only one baby. It can be longer if there are multiple. This is the most thorough checkup of the baby before he or she is born. The doctor would check the heart rate of the baby and look for abnormalities in the different organs. She will count the toes and fingers, examine the placenta, check for congenital disabilities and measure the level of amniotic fluid.
Third-trimester ultrasounds - Many mothers would not need an ultrasound scan in the third trimester. It would only be considered in high-risk pregnancies.
Doppler Foetal Monitoring - The test would be performed on women during the last trimester on women who are suffering from gestational diabetes. While a regular USG scan uses sound waves to produce images, this would use high-frequency waves to measure blood pressure and blood flow.
Though there are lots of pregnancy scans, a normal pregnancy would require only two. It would vary for each woman. Your doctor can guide you the best in your case.
