The use of ultrasound imaging during pregnancy is called obstetric ultrasound. Since it was introduced in the late 1950s, the field of obstetric ultrasound has become a useful tool for medical diagnosis. It is used to get a glimpse of the fetus in a mother’s womb. In many countries, routine pregnancy ultrasounds tests are performed to help identify potential birth defects of the baby in utero. With the capability of diagnosing and treating problems in utero, advancements in ultrasound technology have cleared the way for increased rates of survival.
Research has shown that an ultrasound exam during pregnancy is safe for the unborn child. A wand called a transducer scans the abdomen in real time to form a continuous picture of the moving baby on a monitor. Very high frequency sound waves are usually used in this process. They are released from the transducer, when the wand is placed in contact with the maternal abdomen. When it is moved around, the technician can see much of the uterus.
Sound waves are beamed into the abdomen where they scan the fetus and are then reflected back as an echo onto the transducer. The information obtained from different echoes is used to create a picture on the monitor’s screen. After 16 weeks, the sex of the baby can usually be determined. It depends on the ultrasound machine and abilities of the technician. Movements like the fetal heartbeat, as well as malformations in the fetus can be distinguished and measurements can be made accurately with the images displayed on the monitor. Fetal structural abnormalities can be diagnosed by an ultrasound scan performed before 20 weeks.
Most often, ultrasounds are performed with a full bladder while the abdomen is scanned. They are usually done early in a pregnancy in order to detect birth defects and to ascertain the sex of the child. An ultrasound is quite literally a hassle-free, safe and painless procedure, though a full bladder may cause some uncomfortable pressure. The gel that is used to conduct radio waves does not stain and the radio waves cannot be felt during the procedure.
With 3D and 4D imaging, the radiologist can get the full picture in one single image. The entire brain can be seen in one view instead of a series of several images. In order to achieve similar results with a traditional ultrasound of the head, it would require at least three separate scans. As with abdominal scans, it is not possible to get a third view with a routine scan due to the dimensions of the abdomen. Three and four-dimensional pregnancy ultrasounds let a physician get a better look at the structure being examined.
The technology behind pregnancy ultrasounds has increased exponentially in the last fifty-plus years, enabling medical practitioners to pinpoint and diagnose problems while the baby is still inside the womb. Early diagnosis of problems is the key to the successful treatment of malformations and birth defects.
