2021-11-07 09:05:53
Ultrasound imaging techniquel’ultrasound allows you to visualize the future baby when it is in its mother’s womb. THE ultrasonic waves are emitted by a probe that the sonographer moves on the stomach by sliding it using a gel, before being converted into images by a computer. “This technique, the safety of which has been proven, under the recommended conditions of use, is particularly interesting in pregnant women and can be repeated as needed safe », Says Pierre-Antoine Migeon, midwife and sonographer.
What is ultrasound monitoring for in pregnant women?
Ultrasound provides essential information for proper monitoring of the pregnancy: pregnancy dating, number of embryoschecking thecardiac activity, evolution of growth of the future baby(s) in utero, study of fetal morphology, screening for malformations, etc.
3 ultrasounds strongly recommended in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters
Three ultrasounds – in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy – are strongly recommended. Depending on the patient’s history or clinical signs suggestive of a pathology – excess or low amount of amniotic fluid, infection (rubella, toxoplasmosis, chickenpox, etc.), poor growth of the baby, etc. – additional ultrasound scans may be performed. “It is also a time for parents and their unborn child to meet, an ideal time for building the parental couple,” continues the sonographer.
When to do the ultrasound of the first trimester of pregnancy?
This must be carried out between 11 and 13 weeks of amenorrhea (3rd month of pregnancy) (absence of periods). “On this occasion, we check the number of fetuses – if it is a single, twin or multiple pregnancy – we make sure that the future baby is well, we check cardiac activity, we measure the cranio-caudal length ( LCC) which corresponds to the distance between the top of the embryo’s head and the buttocks in order to estimate the age of pregnancy and we check the nuchal translucency,” specifies Pierre-Antoine Migeon.
Ultrasound for dating pregnancy
The first trimester ultrasound also allows date the pregnancyto determine the theoretical term at plus or minus four days and to detect major malformations.
The measurement of nuchal translucency – that is to say the thickness of the fetal neck – associated with a blood test (dosage of the PAPP-A protein and the beta-HCG hormone) makes it possible to estimate the risk of Trisomy 21. In case of doubt, an amniocentesis may be offered to the parents in addition.
The first ultrasound is often very moving for future parents who finally see their child. It’s one of the first stages of parenthood, confirms the sonographer midwife. A photo that will open the family album…
When to do the second trimester ultrasound?
Made at the 22nd week of amenorrheathe second ultrasound, also called morphological ultrasound, allows you to examine the different organs – heart, brain, abdomen – to ensure that they are functioning well and to check the brain development of the fetus. It is also an opportunity to measure the head (biparietal diameter and head circumference), the abdomen and femur (femoral length) of the future baby. The figures are then plotted on the reference curves and compared to the average standards.
“We consider that the baby’s growth is correct when the measurements are between the 3rd and 97th percentile, which corresponds to the measurements of 94% of the general population, specify the authors of the Big book of my pregnancy. If the fetal measurements are above the 97th percentile values (top blue curve), we will estimate that the child will be large (weight greater than 4 kg). If the dimensions are small, that is to say located below the 3rd percentile (bottom blue curve), we will then estimate that the child will be of low weight. Monitoring the growth of the fetus in utero allows you to check that the baby is growing regularly and is doing well.
Finally, the ultrasound of the second trimester of pregnancy is the time for parents who wish to know the sex of their future child.
Sometimes, it is also good not to know right away and to leave room for the imaginary child, confides Pierre-Antoine Migeon.
When to do the ultrasound of the third trimester of pregnancy?
The third trimester ultrasound is generally carried out between 31 and 33 weeks of amenorrhea (end of the 7th month of pregnancy). If your pregnancy is going smoothly, this is the last ultrasound before your delivery!
“We take advantage of the examination to recheck that everything is fine, to review the baby’s organs and limbs once more, to screen for possible growth problem et estimate your full-term weight. Normally, it should be between 2.8 and 3.8 kg,” explains Pierre-Antoine Migeon. The location of the placenta and the amount of amniotic fluid are also monitored.
When are the embryo and fetus visible on ultrasound?
If the pregnancy is already visible on ultrasound around the fifth week of amenorrhea where we can see the gestational sac – a small black dot – inside the uterus and to detect cardiac activitythe embryo begins to take a human appearance from eight weeks of amenorrhea. It is then possible to distinguish the head and the outlines of the limbs.
It’s actually during the first trimester ultrasound, between 11 and 13 weeks of amenorrhea that we observe the fetus as a whole with, already, an aspect of a miniature human being!
How does a pregnancy ultrasound take place?
Ultrasound lasts between 20 and 30 minutes. The mother-to-be is lying on her back on the examination table. The sonographer then applies gel to the stomach and carries out the examination. “In order to obtain better image quality, it is strongly recommended that future mothers do not apply moisturizer or oil on the stomach within 24/48 hours which precede the exam,” underlines Pierre-Antoine Migeon.
“No need to come with a full bladder. On the other hand, it is advisable to drink enough water. Ultrasounds pass much better when the tissues are well hydrated,” continues the latter. For the purposes of the examination, the sonographer may use a sonde endovaginale covered with single-use protection.
No worries, this exam is painless for the mother and safe for the future baby.
What abnormalities can be detected during ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a good way to ensure that the future baby is developing well in the mother’s womb but also to detect possible anomalies. The examination has a real predictive role, confirms the sonographer. It offers the possibility of detecting anything that might change the child’s life and necessarily that of his parents: a twin or multiple pregnancy, a pathology, a malformation, etc.
These different anomalies can be of origin:
- Chromosomal: for example the Trisomy 21 or the Down syndrome (syndrome d’Edwards) ;
- Genetics: cystic fibrosis (sometimes suspected due to abnormalities of the fetal digestive tract);
- Morphological: malformations digestives, cerebral, genitourological, cardiac;
- Infectious: for example rubellatoxoplasmosis or even cytomegalovirus expose the fetus to risks of malformation.
If a fetal anomaly is confirmed, the practitioner will refer the parents to a Multidisciplinary prenatal diagnosis center (CPDPN). There are around fifty in France. There, prenatal medicine specialists will be able to take stock of the malformation of the future baby or its pathology and explain the different therapeutic possibilities: medical treatment of the mother and/or fetus in utero, surgical treatment in utero or at birth or possibly a medical termination of pregnancy.
How much does a pregnancy ultrasound cost? Where to do it?
It can be done in the hospital or in town, with your doctor, a midwife or a gynecologist. Pregnancy ultrasound oscillates between forty and a hundred euros on average (second and third trimester ultrasounds are generally more expensive). The pregnancy ultrasound is 70% covered by Health Insurance until the end of the fifth month of pregnancy, then 100% from the sixth month (source 1).
1696863249
#Ultrasounds #pregnancy #month #Hows
