What does B-ultrasound check?

B-ultrasound is a commonly used method of examination in our daily life, especially women need to do many B-ultrasound examinations during pregnancy. B-ultrasound examination can clearly see the life of the fetus in the female body. It can not only see the fetus's limbs, but also see whether there are other things inside the uterus. So what can B-ultrasound check?

What to do during the first ultrasound examination during pregnancy

An ultrasound scan during early pregnancy is not necessary for most expectant mothers. However, if the pregnant mother has a history of miscarriage, has received infertility treatment, or has bleeding, abdominal pain, etc., the doctor may ask her to do an ultrasound examination between 6 and 11 weeks of pregnancy. The only valid reason to do an early pregnancy ultrasound before 6 weeks of pregnancy is to rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. If it is not necessary within 3 months, ultrasound examination can be omitted, that is, the first ultrasound examination should be performed after 12 weeks. When the doctor checks the results based on the symptoms reported by the pregnant woman and suspects a hydatidiform mole, ectopic pregnancy or combined pregnancy, an ultrasound examination at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy will show a complete image of the fetus and can diagnose whether the fetal development is consistent with the gestational age, whether there are multiple births, etc.

Ultrasound examinations of pregnant women usually take a very short time, only a few minutes, and generally do not affect the fetus in the uterus during the late stages of pregnancy. Generally speaking, 3 to 4 ultrasound examinations are sufficient during pregnancy. However, if there are abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, frequent or reduced fetal movements, or unclear fetal position, ultrasound examinations may be required depending on the doctor's examination results. Before doing B-ultrasound, you need to pay attention to the following matters:

1. You don’t need to be on an empty stomach for B-ultrasound.

2. It is best to wear loose clothes and shoes that are easy to put on and take off when going to the hospital for examination.

3. Hold your urine in advance. When doing an ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy, a certain amount of urine needs to accumulate in the bladder in order to see clearly, so pregnant mothers hold their urine in advance. If you need to do an ultrasound examination in the early stages of pregnancy due to special circumstances, such as abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, etc., you should drink 4-6 cups of boiled water at home in advance.

4. Do not eat foods that easily produce gas, such as milk, sweet potatoes, etc., before having an ultrasound, because this will hinder the penetration of ultrasound and cause unclear imaging of the examined organs.

Ultrasound examination schedule during pregnancy

1. An ultrasound examination: Under normal circumstances, pregnant mothers should have an ultrasound examination in the early stages of pregnancy (around 12 weeks of pregnancy). Pregnant mothers should avoid having B-ultrasounds too early or too many times. Doing an ultrasound too early may cause the fragile, newly formed embryo to be shaken, which is not conducive to embryonic development. B-ultrasound in early pregnancy is to confirm whether the pregnancy is ongoing and how many days the pregnancy has lasted, to provide a reliable basis for determining the expected date of delivery, and to promptly detect any abnormalities in embryonic development.

2. Second B-ultrasound examination: It is usually arranged in the middle of pregnancy (around 20 weeks of pregnancy). At this time, there is relatively more amniotic fluid in the uterus, the fetus is of moderate size, and there is a large space for movement in the uterus. For B-ultrasound examination, there is better contrast, and the various organs of the fetus can be clearly seen. More obvious malformations, such as congenital heart disease, anencephaly, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, abdominal wall defect, short limbs, polycystic kidney disease, and gastrointestinal atresia are easy to detect. If necessary, timely treatment or termination of pregnancy can be carried out.

3. Three B-ultrasound examinations: should be arranged in the late pregnancy (around 28 weeks of pregnancy), mainly to understand the development of the fetus in the uterus and to re-check whether the fetus has any malformations. Because some diseases may not be discovered in time during the second trimester of pregnancy by ultrasound examination.

4. If the pregnant mother has not given birth two weeks after the due date, the doctor may perform another B-ultrasound to understand the condition of the placenta, amniotic fluid, fetal position, etc., which will help the doctor decide which delivery method is safe. If the pregnant mother suffers from certain diseases, ultrasound examination is more important. The frequency and time of ultrasound examinations during pregnancy should be determined by the doctor according to the pregnancy situation.