![]() ![]() ![]() When women have cramping and bleeding early in the pregnancy and are threatening to miscarry, ultrasound can be used to make sure that the pregnancy is still safe within the uterus, and can be used to diagnose different stages of miscarriage as well. Ultrasound is very helpful in evaluating women who have lower abdominal pain or bleeding during the pregnancy. If there is more than a seven day discrepancy, then the ultrasound is used to assign the due date. Ultrasound done at this stage is very accurate in assessing the due date – the measurements of the baby should be within seven days of mom’s pregnancy dating based on her last cycle, or on when she believes that she ovulated. Early in the Pregnancyīetween five and about 11 weeks into the pregnancy, the primary use of ultrasound is to make certain that the pregnancy is within the uterus rather than outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy), to make certain that the mother is carrying one baby rather than twins or triplets, and to confirm the due date for the pregnancy. Our office performs about 9,000 sonograms a year, has experience with the diagnosis of thousands of congenital abnormalities, and has achieved accreditation by the AIUM and certification as a Prenatal Diagnostic Center by the state of California. The sonograms at our center are performed by experienced perinatal sonographers and obstetricians with sub-specialty training in maternal-fetal medicine. Newer, specialized studies are important adjuncts to care for women who have certain pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure or isoimmunization, or who have had problems with preterm labor. Ultrasound can be used for a variety of purposes during pregnancy – to check the location of a pregnancy, assess the due date and the growth of the baby, and evaluate the embryo/fetus for abnormalities. Ultrasound examination of the pregnancy is truly our window on the womb. The studies to date have shown an excellent safety profile for ultrasound performed for prenatal assessment of the baby. There have been numerous studies to determine whether ultrasound has adverse effects on pregnancy. The ultrasound technology which we use to obtain pictures and measurements of your baby is similar to that used by bats to “see in the dark” and by whales and dolphins to locate objects under water and to find fish. Ultrasound is very different from X-rays, which involve radiation and have hazards for the pregnancy. Ultrasound, or sonography, uses sound waves to obtain images of the baby, uterus, placenta and cervix. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |