Within the evaluation of pregnancy, ultrasound is a very important diagnostic tool, and so far there are no known risks to you or the baby. Sound waves can generate heat by small vibrations, but this is minimal and disappears quickly, although it can accumulate if the examination is carried out for a long period of time in the same area, and this is an important factor to consider for the doctor conducting the study.
There are international safety standards that all companies that manufacture ultrasound equipment must comply with. Ultrasound scans can be performed at different times of pregnancy with different objectives and the number of times the study will be performed will depend on the evolution of each pregnancy.
Before 10 weeks. It is used to determine if the pregnancy is inside the uterus, how many babies there are, if they are twins, if the baby or the babies are alive.
Week 11-14 of gestation. Determine if the baby’s early development seems normal, how many babies there are, if they are twins or more babies, if there is any visible abnormality, if there is extra fluid in the baby’s neck (nuchal translucency ?, and request an evaluation for risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome.
20-week gestation scan. It is carried out approximately 18-22 weeks gestation, determines how many babies there are.
Most common questions when coming to your query
- Know if the baby is growing well ?
- If there is any suspicious problem for the baby? (rule out malformations) where the placenta is located,
- If there is a normal amount of amniotic fluid? Fetal growth scan 3rd trimester, 28-30 weeks, last 3 months of pregnancy
- Baby position?
Suspicious issues that couldn’t be seen before?
Doppler study: A test to detect blood flow to the placenta, or within certain blood vessels, will show red or blue according to the direction of blood flow, and adds information about how the placenta works and the condition of the fetus.
Should I have an ultrasound in pregnancy?
No, the study is your choice, but it is important to note that ultrasound is a less invasive technique to be able to observe the baby, the information is important for proper care of the pregnancy, and it is important to explain the objective of conducting the study so as not to face to unwanted information. Like other studies, ultrasound has limitations and can pass problems on the baby or misclassify them. Sometimes additional studies or repeat studies are required to confirm suspicious findings.
Dr. Adrián Israel Ramírez M.
Jefe del Servicio de Medicina Materno Fetal