ULTRASOUND IN PREGNANCY
For the last 30 years or so a great tool has emerged in form of ultrasound in obstetric care.
Now it is almost mandatory to undergo a number of ultrasounds during pregnancy. Is it justified? Yes of course!
How many and when?
Well, first of all, an ultrasound for confirmation of pregnancy and to see if the newly formed embryo is in right place in the uterus and not in tubes (ectopic gestation ) also whether the primitive heart is ticking away indicating its viability, and to check any underlying abnormality in the uterus (womb). It also helps in dating the pregnancy and hoorah! time to declare it your well-wishers. All this happens in the initial weeks.
Next is the time for serious thinking one would want to know ASAP any risk the child is carrying for a few relativity common genetic problems which cause irreversible mental retardation besides other lesser structural malformations. Here comes the so-called ‘NT SCAN’ somewhere around 11-13 weeks of pregnancy.
After this an ultrasound scan at 17-20 wks for detailing the physical structure of the fetus and to detect any congenital malformation (CMF) thereof.
The idea and aim are to detect serious malformations before 18-20 wks or maybe a tad earlier so that one can legally contemplate Termination of pregnancy.
Thereafter ultrasounds are done periodically about 2 times to monitor fetal growth so that medical intervention can be done to look after the fetus in the womb itself.
At this junction, one would bring in ‘Doppler in pregnancy’. A great tool and a specialized form of ultrasound wherein we can check all is well with the blood circulation of mother and child with the aim to establish that the fetus in the womb is getting enough from the mother in terms of nutrition and oxygen. This particular ultrasound requires some experience and a reasonably good USG machine.
A general quip is ‘ you mean children are not born if there is no ultrasound’ well they are born and most of the time the outcome is satisfactory but in this era, all children are premium kids for parents and poor outcomes have to be negated as much as possible and why not!
Another quip is ‘ Are the ultrasounds safe for a child in the womb?’
It is safe and on newer machines and better expertise it is ‘Absolutely SAFE’.
