What is the four-dimensional prenatal examination?

Four-dimensional color ultrasound is a type of color ultrasound examination. In addition to the functions of general B-ultrasound, it can also perform three-dimensional imaging of the fetal head and face, and can clearly show the eyes, nose, mouth, jaw, etc., which can help doctors to promptly diagnose fetal malformations, including surface malformations, internal organ malformations, and head and face malformations, and can determine the exact position of the fetus in the uterus. In addition, the four-dimensional color ultrasound adds the time dimension parameter based on these functions, which can observe the dynamic movement images of the fetus in real time.

Generally speaking, four-dimensional color ultrasound can reveal major malformations in the fetus, such as congenital heart disease, cleft lip and palate, hydrops fetus, congenital fingers (toes) and external auditory canal malformations. However, four-dimensional color ultrasound is not omnipotent. For example, it cannot detect deafness or cataracts in newborn babies.

Pregnant women should understand the necessity of four-dimensional color ultrasound screening and carry out four-dimensional color ultrasound examination at the time required by the doctor.

When is the best time to do 4D color Doppler ultrasound?

When is the best time to do a four-dimensional color ultrasound? Generally speaking, the 24-28 weeks of pregnancy is the best time to do a four-dimensional color ultrasound, because around 24 weeks of pregnancy is the stage of rapid brain growth and development. The fetal structure at this stage has been formed, the size of the fetus and the amniotic fluid are moderate, the activity space in the uterine cavity is large, the echo effect of the fetal bones is relatively small, and the image is clearer.

Four-dimensional ultrasound has real-time dynamic effects based on three-dimensional ultrasound. Pregnant fathers and mothers can watch the baby's physiological activities in the mother's belly, such as moving, breathing, swallowing, yawning, and sticking out the tongue, through the screen, which is very vivid.

Choosing the best time for four-dimensional color Doppler ultrasound examination can not only leave valuable image records for the child, but also has the more important function of ruling out fetal malformations. Four-dimensional ultrasound examination can be performed at any stage of pregnancy, but the best time is 20-28 weeks of pregnancy. At this time, the main internal organs of the fetus have grown and developed, the amniotic fluid flow is appropriate, and the fetus has entered the abdomen, which is conducive to the screening of fetal malformations.