By Rodrigo Díaz
Given the hectic rhythms imposed by daily life, in recent years medicine has redoubled its efforts in terms of prevention, so it is essential to have methods that result in reliable and, above all, timely diagnosis. In the case of pregnant women, ultrasound examinations, in addition to being aimed at assessing the characteristics and general conformation of the baby, also help to detect the greatest risks of maternal or fetal problems.
Ultrasound allows us evaluations that help us accurately determine normal growth and development in utero, gestational age, weight and height of the baby can be estimated and, at the same time, that fetal weight can be projected at the time of delivery. Specifically, it is an effective way of clinically examining the patient, before he is born. Therefore, it is essential that these tests are carried out by a professional with all the credentials, adequate training and high-level equipment, since the sum of all these factors are key in the management and decision-making during pregnancy.
Throughout the pregnancy, ultrasound makes it possible to review the proper development of the fetus, depending on when the study is carried out. The first exam is done before 10 weeks to confirm the diagnosis of pregnancy, its location, gestational age, number of embryos and normality of the structures typical of pregnancy. With the application of color Doppler, the embryonic heartbeat can also be heard.
The second examination is usually performed through the abdomen between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy, in order to evaluate the fetal anatomy and rule out significant structural abnormalities. The risk of some chromosomal abnormalities can also be detected by measuring the thickness of the tissue in the nuchal region or nuchal translucency, the presence of the nasal bone, the flow in the ductus venosus, etc. During this exam you can get to know the gender, which is confirmed after the 18th to 20th week or fifth month.
The third exam takes place between weeks 22 and 26 of pregnancy. There, fetal anatomy and placental uterine irrigation are studied in detail. Most of the severe anatomical alterations can be diagnosed, as well as fetal growth, characteristics of the placenta, among others. Also determine the risk of preterm birth, by measuring the cervix transvaginally.
The fourth examination, on the other hand, is carried out between 32 and 34 weeks of gestation. At this point of development you can see the proper growth, size and vitality of your baby and the projection of weight at the end of the pregnancy. All this monitoring via ultrasound gives us a clear and safe picture of the gestational development, which gives certainty and security to each future mother who undergoes the study.
