Where to get an ultrasound in pregnancy?

Where to do an ultrasound during pregnancy is a pressing issue for future parents. Ultrasound examination is performed as prescribed by a doctor, usually at 12-14 weeks, as well as in the second and third trimesters. Diagnostics are necessary to monitor the course of pregnancy and fetal development. With its help, pathologies and disorders can be identified at an early stage.

• If diagnostics are performed at 5-8 weeks, its purpose is to confirm the fact of pregnancy and the place of attachment of the fertilized egg. The doctor determines the viability of the fetus, that is, motor activity and the presence of heart contractions. It is mandatory to measure the amniotic sac, as well as to clarify the condition of the placenta and water.
• During ultrasound at 12-14 weeks, the doctor receives data on the expected date of birth and specifies the gestation period. The thickness of the collar zone is measured, since indicators below or above the norm may indicate the presence of chromosomal diseases.
• At 22-24 weeks, ultrasound is used to exclude various deviations in fetal development. The condition of the placenta and amniotic fluid is studied, and the size of the fetus is compared with the corresponding development period. During this period, the sex of the future baby can be determined.
• In the last trimester, that is, at 32-34 weeks, the examination is aimed at checking the same parameters as in previous diagnostics. The doctor examines the position of the fetus relative to labor, the possibility of cord entanglement, the activity and well-being of the baby. The results of the examination are necessary for drawing up a birth plan.

Where to get a 3D ultrasound?

Where to do 3D, as a rule, interests future parents. Since recently this diagnostic method has become very popular, since it allows you to look at the baby in the womb. But 3D diagnostics is used not only in gynecology, but in the study of all organs and systems of the body. 3D ultrasound is a volumetric ultrasonography and its difference from a two-dimensional study is that it shows a three-dimensional image of the organ being examined. The range of application of this technology is wide, it is used in gynecology and obstetrics, urology, surgery, cardiology and even endocrinology.

This procedure is especially popular in obstetrics, as it provides a unique opportunity to monitor the development of the fetus and find out the sex of the future child. Most often, diagnostics are carried out before the 12th and at 30-34 weeks of pregnancy. In this case, it is better to conduct the study with the direction and permission of a doctor. During the ultrasound, if the future parents wish, the doctor takes pictures of the baby's movements.

Where to get a 4D ultrasound?

Where to do a 4D ultrasound and how does this study differ from similar diagnostics? So, 3D and 4D ultrasound are distinguished very conditionally, since 3D is an opportunity to get a photo during the examination, and 4D is a photo and video. That is, 4D ultrasound is diagnostics in video mode. In addition, if a regular ultrasound is done for 15-20 minutes, then 4D diagnostics takes from 30 to 60 minutes. If an ultrasound is performed for a pregnant woman, then its advantage is that it can detect various defects and pathologies in the fetus. With the help of ultrasound examination of organs and tissues, it is possible to accurately diagnose a disease and then formulate the correct treatment.

But when going to a clinic or medical center for a 4D ultrasound, it is worth asking about what equipment, that is, the scanner, is used, whether it is harmful to the body and what images it takes. Like any other diagnostic method, it is better to do an ultrasound examination with a doctor's referral. Firstly, having a referral in hand, you can undergo diagnostics for free, since some hospitals have ultrasound machines. And secondly, a doctor's recommendations for such a study make the work of specialists involved in ultrasound easier.

Where can I get a fetal ultrasound?

Where to do an ultrasound of the fetus and from what stage of pregnancy can this examination be performed, we will consider the features of the procedure. So, an ultrasound examination of the fetus is the main diagnostic method used during pregnancy. The number of procedures and their frequency are determined by the gynecologist observing the woman. Depending on the stage of pregnancy, ultrasound has different purposes, but, as a rule, the number of planned procedures does not exceed 5-6 times.

An ultrasound of the fetus is performed at 5-7 weeks of pregnancy. The study is necessary to assess the intrauterine development of the embryo and exclude developmental defects. At 11-13 weeks, the heart is examined, and at 19-21 weeks, the size of the fetus, the condition of the placenta are determined, and the sex of the future child is determined. At 32-34 weeks, that is, in the last trimester of pregnancy, ultrasound diagnostics are necessary to determine the approximate weight of the child, the condition of the umbilical cord and the proportionality of the woman's birth canal and the baby's head. With the help of ultrasound scanning, it is possible to prevent possible complications during the birth process.

The main types of fetal ultrasound and the methods of their implementation:

• Transabdominal

When conducting this type of examination, the sensor is placed on the expectant mother's abdomen. The ultrasound examination is performed with a full bladder. Two hours before the procedure, the woman should drink at least a liter of liquid and not go to the toilet.

• Transvaginal

The ultrasound sensor is inserted into the vagina, while the woman's bladder must be empty. Unlike transabdominal, this study is more accurate. But increasingly women resort to ultrasound in 3D and 4D formats, which allow visualizing the future child on the monitor screen.

In addition to routine examinations, a pregnant woman may be prescribed an unscheduled ultrasound of the fetus. The main indications for it are: pain in the lower abdomen and bloody discharge from the genital tract. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that ultrasound is not harmful to the child and does not affect its normal development.

If a pregnant woman complains of poor health, severe toxicosis or suffers from hereditary diseases, then an additional ultrasound is performed. But, as a rule, during the entire pregnancy, ultrasound diagnostics are performed from 5 to 10 times.