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When you feel that first kick and hear a tiny heartbeat for the first time you suddenly understand what it means to love someone more than your own life.
It has been nearly four decades since ultrasound was used to evaluate pregnancy. Initially, they were performed to answer basic questions like singleton or multiple pregnancies, location of the placenta, estimate the gestational age. In the present day, it has been used to identify subtle abnormalities like cleft lip or suggest the presence of a chromosomal abnormality. The recent technological advances in imaging, the use of high-frequency transvaginal probes and the potential for chromosomal screening in early pregnancy have only magnified the interest in the use of ultrasound imaging in pregnancy.
Ultrasounds or pregnancy scans in Whitefield Bangalore are usually performed by trained radiologists or fetomaternal specialists. The safety of ultrasound in pregnancy has been established beyond doubt and is considered safe in all trimesters of pregnancy. If you are looking for the best gynecologist in Whitefield Bangalore then book your appointment at Manipal Hospital now!
The first scan is usually performed between 6 to 8 weeks. It has the following benefits:
- Confirms an intrauterine pregnancy
- Confirms singleton or multiple pregnancies
- Confirms the viability of the pregnancy
- Estimates the expected due date ( EDD) accurately up to 3 to 4 days
- Identifies adnexal pathology like ovarian cysts or uterine pathologies and abnormalities
Transvaginal scans are usually performed. The first to appear is the gestational sac around 4 and half weeks. The yolk sac develops next around 5 weeks. The fetal pole which develops into the fetus is noted next around 6 weeks and finally the cardiac activity at 6 and half weeks.
The next important scan is around 12 to 13 weeks. During this scan, a few parameters are checked like:
- Nuchal translucency (NT) is a measurement taken at the nape of the baby's neck. Increased levels of skin thickening are worrisome.
- The nasal bone is usually seen during the scan. The absence of the nasal bone or low values can indicate a fetus affected with Down’s syndrome or other pathological conditions.
- Intracranial translucency is a marker recently introduced to detect cases with spina bifida (fetal spine fails to develop properly).
- Uterine artery Doppler changes have been used as predictive markers for the development of pre-eclampsia ( raised BP) and fetal growth restriction.
The next important scan is the anomaly scan. It is usually performed between 19 to 21 weeks. This scan studies in detail the fetus’s brain, spine, face, heart, abdomen, kidneys, bones and identifies possible anomalies in the fetus. Sometimes it may be difficult to examine all the structures in one sitting and the patient may be asked to walk about and rechecked later. It also assesses the placental location, cervical length and fluid around the developing baby.
Growth scans are performed every month in GDM, growth restrictions etc. Usually, in an uncomplicated pregnancy, a growth scan is performed during 30 to 32 weeks which may or may not be repeated closer to the due dates. During the scan, growth parameters are assessed, placental location and relationship to the cervix are noted and checked to see if the amniotic fluid is adequate or not. The fetal weight is calculated based on the growth parameters. Doppler study assesses the blood flow to the fetus and identifies at-risk fetuses. If there is a doubt about the presentation of the fetus closer to dates, a scan is performed to confirm the presentation.
The appeal of the ultrasound is that it is a non-invasive, safe procedure that has a high degree of patient acceptance and yields a wealth of information.
Manipal hospital is considered as one of the Best Gynaecology Hospital in Whitefield, Bangalore having renowned Obstetrics & Gynecologist who provide personalised attention and care 24/7.
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