If you are searching for How Many Ultrasounds in Pregnancy Pregnancy is the period expected with anticipation by every woman and a man. It’s also a time when expectant parents make health decisions-for instance, knowledge of ultrasonic scans for monitoring of the baby’s development.
Pregnancy or prenatal ultrasound uses sound waves to produce an image of your baby on a monitor. Your provider will use ultrasound to evaluate your baby’s well-being and potentially identify some types of pregnancy complications.
In the course of your pregnancy, two ultrasounds are typically performed, although your provider may recommend additional ultrasounds, based on medical needs, if there is concern for your pregnancy.
What exactly is a prenatal ultrasound?
A prenatal ultrasound (or sonogram) is an examination in pregnancy that assesses the growth and health of your baby. The prenatal ultrasound assessment could be performed by obstetricians, nurse midwives or ultrasound technicians (sonographers) for varying uses.
While a prenatal ultrasound is certainly performed as an assessment of growth or health of your baby, it may also be recommended by your pregnancy care provider after diagnosing a complication.
What does a pregnancy ultrasound show?
- To evaluate the general health, growth, and development of the fetus.
- To evaluate for specific complications and medical conditions associated with the pregnancy.
- Most ultrasounds during pregnancy are a positive experience with the pregnancy care provider reporting little to no problems.
- Are there times that a pregnancy care provider sees a birth defect or other pregnancy complication
Ultrasound Scans and Safety
Ultrasound scans use sound waves to make images and there are no known risks for mother and baby. If you are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy there may be additional scans scheduled for additional views of baby growth and effectiveness of the placenta.
High Risk Pregnancies and Scans
You may be placed in a high-risk pregnancy category if you have conditions such as: gestational diabetes, hypertension, or fetal growth restriction. In this case, some additional ultrasounds may be scheduled ranging from every 2-4 weeks, in order to assess when is safest for delivery, and wellbeing of the fetus.
What can be seen on your ultrasound scan
Your scan can show:
- the size of your baby, because it helps with estimating their due date
- your baby’s heartbeat
- how your baby is lying in your womb, as this matters when you go into labor
- if you are having one baby, or more than one
- how your baby’s organs and bones are developing (i.e. spinal cord, kidneys, bowel, brain, heart, arms, legs)
Before an ultrasound scan
Ahead of your ultrasound scan, doctors will ask you to drink some water (about a pint/500ml) about an hour before the early pregnancy screening scan. Drinking the water will fill your bladder and will improve visibility for the sonographer viewing your baby.
During an ultrasound scan
- When you arrive for your ultrasound scan, most hospitals will let you bring one person with you.
- If you have a young child, it is best to check whether they will allow them in as the child can distract the sonographer.
- Before and during the ultrasound, a number of things will happen.
- the sonographer will ask you to lie on a couch, pull your top to your chest and pull your skirt/trousers to your hips.
- the sonographer will put some gel on your belly and then gently place a hand-held device upon it.
- The device sends and picks up ultrasound waves to allow a computer to create an image of your baby.
Conclusion
Ultrasound scans are important in pregnancy care; they offer safe, detailed images that help in the monitoring of the growth of the baby and also in observing any foreseen concerns.How Many Ultrasound in Pregnancy Most women will have at least two ultrasounds during pregnancy; high-risk cases may be advised to take more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many times do you get an ultrasound during pregnancy?
Two to four house
Q. What are the 4 scans in pregnancy?
The dating and viability scan (8 -14 weeks), nuchal translucency (NT) scan (11 – 14 weeks), anomaly (or anatomy) scan (18 – 22 weeks), and growth scan (from 28 weeks on) are all accomplished at different time points to confirm the pregnancy.
Q. Do you get ultrasound in the 3rd trimester?
Yes you may receive an ultrasound within the third trimester but it may not be the norm; it depends on your pregnancy. If it is medically indicated like in a high risk pregnancy, high blood pressure, or diabetes; or if there is a concern for the growth of the fetus.
Q. When is the last ultrasound done in pregnancy?
18 to 20 weeks
Q. Can too many ultrasounds affect your pregnancy?
The safety of using ultrasounds in pregnancy has been similarly studied. Sound waves used are at such low energy levels until now that they are considered safe in pregnancy (they do not involve the danger of ionizing radiation).
