Having an ultrasound during pregnancy gives sneak peak of baby, helps in determining gender, helps in knowing delivery dates, helps in determining the structure, number and position of the fetus, detects early placental issues, detects fetus growth and growth related issues, level of amino acids and helps in determining the size of the fetus before delivery.

Ultrasound offers you the opportunity to have a sneak peek at your unborn child. This can easily be regarded as one of the most thrilling sensations during your pregnancy. Apart from that, a couple of ultrasound tests will help you and your doctor, in many ways. You can get to know the probable delivery dates. The gender of the fetus can also be determined. The structure of the fetus is also detected via the ultrasound test. More importantly the doctors can also detect the position of the fetus and decide on the mode of delivery (normal or caesarian).

Sometimes it is also needed to identify the number of fetus inside the womb. It helps in deducing whether you are carrying a single child, a twin or a triplet. The ultrasound will also help the doctor to identify any sort of placental issue. An early detection of such things is very critical in determining the success and failure of the pregnancy. Similarly, an ultrasound also helps in the early detection of the size of the child just before the delivery date. The size determination is also a critical factor deciding on the nature of delivery. . (Denney-Koelsch, 2015)

Apart from these, an ultrasound can also help the doctors in noticing the development of the polyps inside and outside of the uterus. Ultrasound is also needed in the detection of the amount of amniotic fluid inside the womb. The morbidity of the fetus can also be determined via a proper ultrasound. Early detection of the growth related problems of the fetus can also be made possible with a help of a proper ultrasound test.

Ultrasound: Uses and Benefits During Pregnancy

Sneak Peek of Your Baby

Your body is undergoing a lot of change. But obviously you cannot see what is going on inside. You remain tentative and also curious about your baby’s size, shape, and other features. A proper ultrasound will help you have a closer look at your child, much before he or she comes out.

The visible human shape of the child will help you make an emotional connection with the child and you can take the picture as your little one’s first snap.

Determines the Gender

Whether you will decorate the baby’s room with blue themed wallpaper or a pink one hangs on the determination of the gender of the child. An ultrasound test will make sure that whether you are expecting a boy or a girl. You can start deciding on the name fro then onwards.

Know your Delivery Dates

An ultrasound test will help your doctor and you to know the birth day of your child. With the help of an ultrasound test, done in the latter half of your pregnancy, your doctor can give you an estimation of the date your baby will be coming out.

This also helps you make some mental preparations on your own. The cloud of uncertainty gets cleared off during these tests as you get to know exactly the time you get to be a mother.

The Structure of the Fetus can be determined

Your doctors can determine the overall structure of your fetus. The shape of the head and limbs are different for each fetus. That is the reason why it is important that the doctors get a good view and understanding of the fetus before the delivery date approaches. (Edvardsson, 2015)

Determines the Position of the Fetus

One of the major benefits of an ultrasound is the fact that helps in the determination of the position of the fetus. It essentially determines the mode of the delivery. If the position of the child is appropriate then the doctors will push for a normal delivery. (Mascilini, 2017)

Your doctor gets to know whether your child is appropriately positioned and whether or not the umbilical cord is causing any hindrance. If such is the case then a caesarian birth is prescribed by the doctor. It is only through a proper ultrasound that the doctors get to know such things.

Determines the number of fetus

An ultrasound also helps in the determination of the number of fetus you are carrying. The doctors need to know whether you are about to conceive a single child or a twin or a triplet. The detection of the number of fetus is also necessary in the process of understanding the nature of delivery. (Edvardsson, 2015)

 Early detection of any Placental Issue

Your placenta must be able to hold adequate amount of fluid for your child’s overall growth and development. That is why it is important that your doctor gets to know whether or not your placenta is functioning properly. (Denney-Koelsch, 2015)

A dysfunctional placenta will mean that your child is being deprived of proper food and resources. That might hinder the child’s growth. An ultrasound helps in this early detection.

Fetus’s Growth and growth related issues

The overall growth and growth rate of the fetus can be determined with the help of periodic ultrasound tests. Your doctor can determine whether or not your child is developing in a proper rate.

Ultrasound tests can also help in the determination of various growths related problems like for instance spina bifda or any kind of heart or kidney related problem of the child. Early detection is always beneficial as it will help in the proper intervention.

Development of Polyps surrounding the uterus

A large amount of polyps surrounding the uterus is often a problem for natural birth. An ultrasound test always helps in the determination of the status of the uterus. Again depending on these factors the ultimate decision of the nature of the pregnancy is determined. An ultrasound test will help in the determination of such problems.

 Level of amino acid

The desired level of amino acid needs to be maintained inside your womb in order to ensure a smooth pregnancy. The ultrasound helps in detecting the amount of amino fluid stored inside the womb. . (Denney-Koelsch, 2015)

If the amino fluid is found to be critically low then the doctors might also opt for an early delivery or your child.

Size of the Fetus just before the delivery

The doctors also need to determine the exact size of the fetus just before delivery. An ultrasound test is the best way to determine that. This gives an idea to the doctors about the overall status of the child. (Mascilini, 2017)

Also there are many criticalities that might arise as the delivery date approaches. So, in order to keep track of all of those factors the doctors tend to conduct ultrasound tests.

Precautions

Though ultrasound tests are beneficial for you and your child, the overall repercussion of long term exposure of your child to the rays is still unknown. Also ultrasound tests cannot determine many critical ailments the baby might undergo.

However, nonetheless the tests have proven to be beneficial during the course of the pregnancy as it helps in the detection of many critical aspects of your fetus’s overall growth and development.

References:

https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-015-0632-y

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2333393615587888