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A peek into the unseen

PHOTO: SHAJU JOHN

MOTHER-TO-BE? Many abnormalities can be diagnosed by an ultrasound scan

Sumithra is excited. She is three months pregnant and has been scheduled for an ultrasound examination. She and her husband will actually be able to see the baby! At the same time she is a tiny bit nervous. Will the baby be normal? Will the doctor be able to tell her that the baby is growing normally? Does she have twins?

What is an obstetric ultrasound scan?

In the 70s, ultrasound scanning was introduced, to image the foetus growing inside the uterus. We can now measure its growth, and watch and make sure that most of its organs are functioning well. We can see it moving, blinking its eyes, making breathing movements, swallowing, waving its fingers, sucking its thumb and even urinating inside! Ultrasound scan is a safe, non-invasive, accurate and cost-effective investigation in a pregnancy. It has increasingly become an indispensable obstetric tool.

The role of ultrasound scanning in pregnancy

Ultrasound can confirm a pregnancy by five weeks from the last period. Diagnosing a miscarriage

When there is vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy, ultrasound examination is very important in confirming the viability of the foetus. If the heartbeat is identified, the chance that the baby will go to term is almost 95 per cent. In case the pregnancy is not growing well, the gestational sac may be irregular and the foetus may not be identified. This is called a blighted ovum. Dating of pregnancy

Foetal body measurements give us the gestational age of the foetus. A scan done between six and 12 weeks of gestation will give us the most accurate age of the foetus. In women who have irregular periods or who do not remember the first day of the last period, such measurements must be made as early as possible in pregnancy to arrive at a correct dating of the pregnancy.

Confirming that the baby is normal

Many physical abnormalities in the foetus can be reliably diagnosed by an ultrasound scan. A few abnormalities can be seen even in the early weeks of pregnancy but the best time to look for most defects is between 20 and 24 weeks of pregnancy.

It is important to remember that even with the most advanced ultrasound technology; 15-20 per cent of foetal defects may be missed. A ‘normal scan’ report is not a guarantee that the baby will be completely normal.

Diagnosing twins

Ultrasound scanning is invaluable in the diagnosis of twins. Ultrasound scanning is also used to monitor the growth of the twins.

How often is a scan done?

An early scan may be done at seven - eight weeks to confirm pregnancy. A scan between 11-14 weeks is useful to check nuchal translucency and can be combined with blood tests to rule out Down’s Syndrome.

A scan at 20-22 weeks is important to rule out foetal abnormalities.

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