Wednesday, 15 July 2015

Ultrasound in pregnancy

Nowadays ultrasound has became a very important investigation in pregnancy.
It helps in detecting the pregnancy, in monitoring the well being of the baby and to detect any abnormality, so that necessary action can be taken.
Some procedures like chorionic villi sampling, amniotic fluid reduction etc can be under ultrasound guidance.

Usually in low risk pregnancy ultrasound is advisable during:
-Around 5 to 6 weeks of pregnancy, to confirm the intrauterine pregnancy, to estimate the gestational age and to rule out ectopic pregnancy etc.
- Around 9 to 11 weeks, to estimate the expected date of delivery, to find out the nuchal thickness etc. This helps in  finding out risk factors like chromosomal abnormalities specially down syndrome.
-At around 18 to 20 weeks TIFFA scan 'Targeted imaging for fetal anomalies' is advised, which helps in finding out any fetal anomalies, so that necessary action can be taken accordingly.
Then further ultrasound scans can be planted according to the report.
Usually in normal low risk pregnancy further ultrasound examinations around 28 weeks, 36 weeks and before delivery are recommended to monitor the growth of the baby, estimate the amount of liquor, condition of placenta etc.
Any maternal and fetal complications can alter this schedule and need for more ultrasound examinations may arise depending upon the problem.

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