Ultrasound Baby Scan in Cheras

An ultrasound is a medical procedure which is otherwise known as a scan. This involves high frequency sound waves transmitted through the body and then picked up on a screen.

During pregnancy, a device known as a transducer is used to move along the mother’s abdomen and this sends sound waves via her abdomen and through her uterus. These sound waves bounce off the baby in the form of echoes. A computer picks up the echo messages and translates them onto a screen. As the baby moves and kicks, images can be seen on the ultrasound screen. These sound waves are very high in pitch and intensity and cannot be heard by the human ear.

Most types of ultrasound are a painless and non invasive procedure. However, as you may need to have a full bladder if you are in the early stages of your pregnancy, it can be a little uncomfortable.

A 2D ultrasound is the standard procedure used during obstetric ultrasound. It is the one used to produce 2 dimensional images of what is happening inside the mothers and baby’s body. Generally, all pregnancy ultrasounds are still done using 2D technology. A baby’s gestation, growth, heartbeat, development and size can all be seen clearly using 2D ultrasound. The position of the placenta, cord and lie/position of the baby can also be clearly seen.

The images from a 2d ultrasound tend to be in black and white and have the same level of detail as a photographic negative. Depending on how the baby is lying and their position in the uterus, different images will be seen.

It really is a matter of luck if the baby is awake and active or having a little sleep when the ultrasound is being done. Some mothers choose to have a sweet or cold drink before the procedure or poke their tummy in an effort to stimulate their baby. Sometimes the images are very clear and it’s easy for parents to interpret the ultrasound images. At other times, this can be a little more difficult. But don t worry; the sonographer can point out specific organs, features and details of the baby if you’re not sure. They can also freeze frame the images, take photos and label different body parts on the screen. With a little explanation, it can all be come a lot clearer!

At any stage during pregnancy. Some health care practitioners recommend 2D ultrasound very early in gestation to:

• Diagnose a pregnancy.
• Determine if one or more embryos are present.
• Check where the placenta is lying, especially in relation to the mother’s cervix.
• Determine if there are any physical abnormalities or birth defects.
• Estimate the period of gestation.

A transvaginal ultrasound still uses the same technology but in a different way. Instead of the transducer being held against a mother’s abdomen, a specially shaped device is inserted into the vagina. It is not as important to have a full bladder for this procedure as the sound waves do not need to travel through as many layers of tissue and muscle. Instead, the sound waves travel through the cervix and straight into the uterus. To reduce the risk of cross infection, the sonographer will apply a disposable condom to the vaginal transducer.

In early pregnancy, a transvaginal ultrasound is a good alternative to abdominal ultrasound as it can provide a much clearer picture of the embryo and its development.