Pregnancy ultrasound is one of the basic examinations that are performed on all pregnant women. This method has been used in medicine for many years, but it still raises various myths and personal opinions about the need for its use. This article will help expectant mothers to figure out whether it is possible for them to have an ultrasound scan during pregnancy, and whether it has any negative effect on their unborn child.
Benefits of holding
Of course, one should not underestimate the possibilities offered by the use of this method in modern gynecology. Timely diagnosis of many pathologies that occur during pregnancy helps save thousands of new lives around the world. In many cases, it is simply impossible to do without an ultrasound scan.
This study helps to determine the presence of the ovum. This criterion is the earliest manifestation of pregnancy. A gestational (fetal) egg is detected already in the first weeks after conception. To determine it, only the most modern devices with a fairly high resolution are used.
Ultrasound helps to establish signs of the viability of the embryo at the earliest stages of its intrauterine development. With this method "frozen" or "frozen" pregnancy is well detected... In this case, as a rule, further development of the fetus is impossible and an urgent gynecological operation is required.
With the help of this study, you can establish the expected duration of pregnancy.
Suspicion of an unfavorable course of pregnancy (not a diagnosis, but only a suspicion):
- Ectopic pregnancy: with a hCG level of more than 2000 units, the fetal egg on ultrasound was not detected in the uterus.
- Anembryonia (empty ovum) - if the ovum is more than 20 mm in diameter, the yolk sac is absent.
- Anembryonia (empty ovum) - there is no embryo if the ovum is more than 25 mm in diameter.
- Anembryonia (empty ovum) - the size of the yolk sac is more than 8 mm.
- Frozen pregnancy - when the CTE of the embryo is more than 5 mm, there is no heartbeat.
If the expectant mother carries several babies at the same time, then in this case it is practically impossible to do without the use of ultrasound. This study is especially necessary if pregnancy occurred after in vitro fertilization. In this case, ultrasound helps assess the viability of each of the planted embryos, as well as monitor their development and growth.
Various genetic and chromosomal abnormalities can be detected using ultrasound. These diseases can occur in the fetus at different stages of its intrauterine development. At later stages, ultrasound diagnostics helps to identify anatomical defects in the placenta, as well as identify signs of oligohydramnios.
For very many years, obstetricians have determined the position of the fetus in the uterus only with their own hands. Quite often they were wrong. This led to doctors resorting to incorrect gynecological techniques during childbirth. In the end, all this contributed to the infliction of severe birth trauma on the babies.
Currently, the position of the future baby in the uterus can be determined using ultrasound. This kind of research, conducted even before childbirth, helps doctors determine the best tactics for future obstetrics.
Is it harmful to the fetus?
Scientists from Ireland argue that the abuse of ultrasound at the gestation stage can lead to the development of various neoplasms in him in the future. True, they made this conclusion on the example of laboratory mice.
Ultrasound may be more harmful in the early stages of pregnancy. At this time, a very important process takes place in the body of the unborn baby - organogenesis. All internal organs and systems begin to form in the fetus. Any physical influences during this period have an undesirable effect on this process. In this case, frequent ultrasound examination can adversely affect the development of the fetus.
A negative effect can also be associated with a certain temperature effect. This effect is possible when the ultrasonic sensor touches various organs. The longer the study is carried out, the more pronounced the consequences after it. Scientists note that when the ultrasound probe is aimed at a certain anatomical zone, its temperature rises by several degrees. Under the influence of ultrasound in the cells of internal organs, the permeability of the cytoplasmic membranes also increases. The composition of the ions involved in their structure also changes. This leads to the fact that the cell membranes become more permeable for the penetration of various substances into the cells.
Specialists in ultrasound diagnostics also note that when such studies are carried out in various cells of the body, even the speed of various enzymatic processes can change. Prolonged exposure to ultrasound in this case can provoke the formation of various deviations.
It is especially unfavorable in this case to carry out a study at a period of intrauterine development of 5-6 weeks, when there is an active laying of all internal organs in the unborn child.
European scientists note that the use of ultrasound can even lead to conditions associated with impaired cellular respiration and metabolism. Some experts believe that it is precisely such violations that lead in the future to the possible formation of various chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. However, it should be noted that all assumptions are only scientific theories and are not recognized by the entire medical world.
According to most experts, the most it is dangerous to conduct ultrasound using focused ultrasound. In this case, the effect on a specific area of the skin becomes most pronounced. If the processing is carried out for a long time, then this can even lead to significant violations.
For many years, scientists have tried to identify the internal organs that are most vulnerable to ultrasonic waves. They came to the conclusion that the most susceptible to such an action are anatomical formations that have a fairly good blood supply and innervation. The most vulnerable organs include the brain. Exposure to ultrasonic waves on this organ can damage it.
Some scientists believe that the frequent use of ultrasound leads to the fact that the number of left-handed births has increased significantly in recent years. They also believe that this is a consequence of the direct effect of ultrasound waves on actively growing brain cells - neurons. Experts believe that such children in the future may have various difficulties with learning at school or, conversely, develop some genius abilities.
American experts note that the incidence of autism in their country is increasing every year. They suggest that there is a pattern between the frequent performance of vaginal ultrasound and the subsequent appearance of various neurological and mental disorders in newborn babies.
The first signs of autism, as a rule, appear already in preschool children. In the appearance of unfavorable symptoms, a violation of the coordinated work of the cerebral cortex has a huge impact. These children develop various behavioral disorders and speech changes. Some American scientists believe that the occurrence of such abnormalities in babies is affected by the frequent ultrasound during pregnancy, but they have not yet conducted any serious research.
Some researchers believe that early ultrasound may even lead to miscarriage. This theory has no scientific confirmation. All the results obtained were also carried out on laboratory animals. Some studies have found that performing An ultrasound scan between 9 and 11 weeks of gestation may cause the mother to reject the fetus... The probability of such a situation, as a rule, is 20-25%.
Debunking myths
It is important to note that it is not only ultrasound examination performed during pregnancy that can lead to warm effects. Ultrasound of the kidneys or heart also has a pronounced effect on the woman's body. However, ultrasound exposure during pregnancy causes the greatest excitement in expectant mothers.
Many of the scientific assumptions are myths, as they have no real evidence.
Most of them were performed only on laboratory animals. In this case, one cannot speak of a clear correlation with the child population. Many theories have existed in medicine for a long time, but have not been confirmed.
Parents' opinions about ultrasound also differ significantly.
There is currently no clear relationship between the effects of frequent ultrasound examinations and various malformations. Such judgments are mostly subjective.
One of the most common myths is the assumption that during an ultrasound scan, a baby in the womb experiences some kind of pronounced discomfort. In the very early period of its development, the embryo practically does not feel such an effect in any way, or it has an insignificant effect on it. In the later stages of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid protects the baby from direct exposure to ultrasound, which supposedly brings the baby severe discomfort.
Many mothers believe that in order to get their unborn baby to move more actively during the study, they should definitely drink coffee before an ultrasound scan. This is a real myth. Coffee does not have a pronounced effect on the motor activity of the fetus. The baby in the mother's womb begins to move more actively not from caffeine, but during a change in the position of the mother's body. Mom's uncomfortable posture makes the fetus move more actively, which is manifested on an ultrasound scan.
Some parents believe that during the ultrasound examination, the future baby sees various light effects and even recognizes sounds. This opinion does not currently have any scientific evidence. The nervous system of a child in the early stages of his development, as a rule, is not yet capable of perceiving irritations that are provoked by an ultrasound sensor.
How often can you do it?
Currently, obstetricians-gynecologists adhere to the current regulatory legal acts in their work. Taking into account such regulatory medical documents, the expectant mother, whose pregnancy proceeds without any pathological disorders, should undergo an ultrasound examination at least three times during the entire period of carrying a baby... Such a number of procedures, according to representatives of official departments, cannot cause pathology in either the mother or her unborn child.
It should be noted that if a pregnant woman has any chronic diseases, as well as defects in the development and growth of the unborn child, then she will need to undergo an ultrasound scan more often. In this case, the need for additional research is determined by the attending physician.
Currently, ultrasound techniques are constantly being improved. 3D and 4D studies are becoming popular. With the help of these studies, it is possible to obtain not only a volumetric and spatial image, but even to observe the fulfillment of active movements of the fetus when it is still in the mother's womb.
This examination is usually very popular with expectant dads and mothers. The first movements that their baby makes, delights parents and gives them pleasant exciting memories in the future. However, the little man in the mother's womb does not share their joy. For him, such an examination is a real test of "strength".
An ultrasound examination carried out in this mode has a very strong effect on a growing small organism. If ultrasound is performed only in special M and B modes, then in this case it is transferred by the fetus much easier.
Parents should remember that an ultrasound scan is not a pleasure procedure, but is carried out only to diagnose various pathological conditions and monitor the course of pregnancy.
Doctors recommend that an ultrasound scan be performed in the first trimester. Usually the first examination is performed for up to 12 weeks... This initial screening is done as early as 13 and 14 weeks of pregnancy.
An ultrasound scan at an earlier date should be carried out only for strict medical reasons. Absolutely all pregnant women cannot do frequent examinations.
The next regulated deadline for this study is 2 trimester. Usually examination held at 20-22 weeks intrauterine development of the baby. This type of ultrasound examination can also be called anatomical. At this time, experienced doctors of ultrasound diagnostics can notice various pathologies and developmental abnormalities in the baby.
If the course of pregnancy in the expectant mother is normal, then in the third trimester, additional ultrasound may not be required... This decision is made by the observing gynecologist. It should be noted that the normal healthy course of pregnancy is currently extremely rare. This situation explains why ultrasound scans are so often performed before childbirth in pregnant women.
For information on whether it is safe to do an ultrasound during pregnancy, see the next video.
