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Fetal Medicine - Obstetric Scans in Mukundapur

Obstetric Scans

Obstetric Scans in Mukundapur - Pregnancy Testing Centres in Mukundapur

Obstetric scans are essential imaging studies used for monitoring pregnant women and their unborn babies. These scans are undertaken at various stages of pregnancy to assess for conditions such as Down syndrome, and the risk of preterm labour, and to monitor foetal growth.

Different types of scans can be performed depending on the patient's needs: Ultrasound, Transvaginal Sonography, or Doppler Sonography. These scans use sound waves to create an image of the baby within the uterus, making them very safe to perform during pregnancy.

Obstetric scans are indispensable tools in prenatal care, offering an effective and painless method to screen and monitor babies. The images are projected on a TV monitor, giving the mother a precious opportunity to bond with her child.

FAQ's

Obstetrical ultrasound is a non-invasive medical test that produces real-time images of an embryo or foetus within a woman’s uterus. The imaging also shows how blood flows through vessels, including the umbilical cord and placenta.

Obstetric scans are a standard examination procedure during pregnancy to monitor the foetus’s physical development and identify congenital abnormalities. Obstetrical ultrasound is used for:

  • Confirming the presence of an embryo or foetus and the number of foetuses
  • Estimate the gestational age
  • Evaluate the position of the foetus or placenta
  • Diagnose congenital abnormalities in the foetus
  • To determine how much amniotic fluid surrounds the infant
  • Assess foetal growth and well-being
  • Analyse the foetus’s movement, breathing, and heart rate
  • Estimate the foetus’s size and weight

In the first trimester of pregnancy, the ultrasound helps determine the fetus's viability, estimate the correct gestational age, and determine the number of foetuses. However, during the second trimester, an ultrasound scan is performed to analyse the growth and development of the foetus. Additionally, it can also help detect any congenital abnormalities.

At 18 to 22 weeks, your baby will be large enough to obtain an accurate evaluation of your baby's heart, kidneys, limbs, and other organs. Therefore, it is standard practice to perform an anatomy scan during this period.

A limited ultrasound exam is performed to analyse a specific patient concern. When the patient is in labour, a limited scan is performed to check the foetus's position in the uterus, or if the pregnant woman experiences vaginal bleeding, a scan may be performed to monitor the foetus's heart rate and confirm the position of the placenta.

It is advisable to wear loose-fitting clothes, as you may have to expose your lower abdominal area for the procedure. In cases of early pregnancy, a transvaginal ultrasound may be used to confirm the pregnancy or examine the cervix.

In an ultrasound exam, the transducer is pressed against the abdominal skin of the pregnant woman. The device emits sound waves and records the returning waves, which helps analyse the movements of the foetus or embryo and their heartbeat. If a Doppler ultrasound is used, it analyses the echoes produced by the blood flowing through the foetal heart, blood vessels, and umbilical cords and converts them into an audible sound.

You will be asked to lie down face-up on a table for ultrasounds or Doppler scans. A water-based gel will be applied to the area to be examined. The transducer is placed on the gel and moved back and forth over the area of interest until it captures the desired images. You will have to drink several glasses of water at least 2 hours before the exam to keep the bladder full. A full bladder helps visualise the structures below the bladder or around it more clearly. Once the examination is complete, the gel is wiped off.

Transvaginal scans are often used during early pregnancy, and they provide detailed images of the uterus and ovaries. You will have to lie on your back with your feet in stirrups. After the patient empties the bladder, the transducer is inserted into the vagina. Before inserting the transducer into the vagina, it is covered with latex and lubricated. The doctor takes images from various angles to best visualise the uterus and ovaries.

Obstetric scans are painless, fast, and well-tolerated by pregnant women. However, when the transducer is pressed against the skin to get closer to the embryo or foetus, it can temporarily cause minor discomfort. Generally, these scans are completed within 30 minutes.

The benefits of obstetric scans are:

  • It is a painless, non-invasive diagnostic procedure
  • The scans are widely available
  • The imaging is extremely safe
  • It is a preferred method for monitoring pregnant women and their babies
  • It provides a clear image of the soft tissues
  • The scans help visualise the structure inside the uterus

No adverse effects on the foetus, birth deformities, childhood cancer, or issues with later-life development have been reported as of yet. Even though there are no reported adverse effects, the casual use of ultrasound scans must be limited. The exams must be performed only for medical purposes by a qualified doctor.

You must remember that obstetric scans cannot identify all abnormalities. If your doctor suspects any abnormalities in the foetus, you must undergo blood tests, amniocentesis (evaluation of fluid from the sac surrounding the foetus), or chorionic villus sampling (testing placental tissue) to determine foetus health. 

Obstetric scans have been in use for several decades, and there have been no reported adverse effects on the foetus or the mother.

There have been no reported miscarriages caused by pressure from transducers used on the lower abdomen or inserted within the vagina, even when the patient was experiencing bleeding before the exam.

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