An ultrasound scan or sonography is a type of imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to look inside the structures and organs of the body. During pregnancy, doctors use these scans to monitor the development of a fetus.
Ultrasonography is done to know the growth and congenital anomalies in an unborn baby growing in the womb of a pregnant woman. Till today whatever research has been done shows that it is not harmful to the unborn baby. But it should not be done unnecessarily. Following types of sonography is done during pregnancy –
- 1. for dating the pregnancy
- 2. to know whether the Heartbeat has come or not
- 3. For multiple pregnancy
- 4. If there is ectopic Pregnancy ( sometimes pregnancy may occur outside the uterus in fallopian tubes, ovary, peritoneal.)
Level 1 sonography or NT scan– Done between 11 to 13.6 weeks. This sonography is very important to know early congenital anomalies and down syndrome in Unborn baby. There are some specific features which may indicate the possibility of down syndrome. every women should get this sonography.
level 2 sonography or target scan- This is a detailed sonography of the foetus done between 18 to 22 weeks. in this sonography most of the congenital anomalies can be detected along with the growth of an Unborn foetus.
Growth scan – This is done between 32-36 weeks to know the growth and the well being of the baby along with the amount of liquor amount, weight of the baby etc.
Sometimes in high risk cases like high blood pressure, diabetes, growth retardation serial growth scans are done to know the growth and timing of delivery.
Doppler- Study– This study is also done by sonography machine. In this study the blood vessels are evaluated. This study of blood vessels of Fetus play a very important role in high risk cases like high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth retardation excetra to know the wellbeing of fetus and the timing of delivery.
