Pregnant women must know: The importance of ultrasound examination in pregnancy monitoring

Author: Liu Haijing, First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University

Reviewer: Hou Xiaojuan, deputy chief nurse, First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University

During the pregnancy period full of expectations and challenges, every pregnant mother hopes to give the baby the most comprehensive care and protection. With the continuous advancement of medical technology, ultrasound examination, as an important tool for pregnancy monitoring, has become an "invisible sentinel" to protect the health of mothers and babies.

Figure 1 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

1. Early pregnancy: safe implantation and early screening

Early pregnancy, from the beginning of pregnancy to the 12th week of pregnancy, is a critical period for the embryo to develop from a fertilized egg into a fetus, and it is also an important period for ultrasound examination to play its first role. At this stage, through ultrasound examination, doctors can clearly observe whether the embryo has safely implanted in the uterus and obtain key information such as the shape and size of the gestational sac. This not only helps to confirm the pregnancy status of the pregnant mother, but also can detect abnormal pregnancy such as ectopic pregnancy and hydatidiform mole early, providing a scientific basis for subsequent pregnancy management.

1. Confirm that the embryo is safely implanted: Ultrasound examination can accurately determine whether the embryo is located in the uterine cavity, eliminate the risk of ectopic pregnancy, and ensure the safety of the mother.

2. Early screening of abnormal embryo development: By observing the morphology of the gestational sac, fetal heartbeat, etc., the doctor can preliminarily assess the development of the embryo and promptly detect abnormalities such as embryonic arrest.

3. Provide psychological comfort to pregnant women: For pregnant mothers, the sound of fetal heartbeat is undoubtedly the first and most moving melody of life, which can bring them great psychological comfort.

Second trimester: comprehensive assessment, full details

As the gestational age increases, the fetus grows and its organs develop and improve. Ultrasound examinations during the second trimester (i.e., the 13th to 27th week of pregnancy) become the "golden key" to fully understand the health of the fetus. During this period, the most important role of ultrasound examinations is to clearly show the development of the fetus' organs, including the head, spine, limbs, heart, liver, kidneys, etc. Doctors can discover and diagnose fetal malformations, developmental delays, and other problems in a timely manner by carefully observing the structure, size, position, and relationship of these organs.

1. Screening for fetal malformations: The second trimester is a critical period for screening for fetal malformations. Ultrasound examination can detect a variety of serious fetal malformations, such as congenital heart disease, neural tube defects, etc., providing important reference for family decision-making.

2. Evaluate growth and development: By measuring the biparietal diameter, femur length and other parameters of the fetus, the doctor can evaluate whether the growth and development of the fetus is in line with the gestational age, and promptly detect and deal with problems such as fetal growth restriction.

3. Strengthen emotional connection: For pregnant mothers, the second trimester is the best time to undergo four-dimensional color ultrasound. It not only allows pregnant mothers to intuitively see the facial condition of the fetus, but also provides an opportunity for close contact with the fetus, allowing them to look forward to the arrival of new life even more.

3. Late pregnancy: the last line of defense for safe production

Entering the third trimester (i.e., the 28th to 40th week of pregnancy), the fetus has basically matured, and the focus of ultrasound monitoring has shifted to fetal growth and development, fetal position, amniotic fluid volume, placental maturity, etc. Ultrasound examinations during this period are of great significance for ensuring the safety of mother and baby and formulating appropriate delivery plans. Through regular monitoring, doctors can promptly detect and deal with potential problems such as fetal distress, umbilical cord around the neck, and too much or too little amniotic fluid, thus ensuring the safety of mother and baby.

1. Monitor fetal position: Fetal position is one of the important factors affecting the mode of delivery. Through ultrasound examination, doctors can accurately determine the fetal position and provide a basis for choosing the appropriate mode of delivery.

2. Evaluate the amount of amniotic fluid: Too much or too little amniotic fluid may have adverse effects on the fetus. Through ultrasound examination, doctors can monitor the amount of amniotic fluid in real time to ensure that the fetus grows in a suitable environment.

3. Determine the maturity of the placenta: The maturity of the placenta is closely related to the growth and development of the fetus. Through ultrasound examination, doctors can evaluate the maturity of the placenta and predict the timing of delivery.

4. Focus on monitoring high-risk pregnant women

Ultrasound monitoring is particularly important for pregnant women with high-risk factors, such as those with gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and older pregnant women. By increasing the frequency and monitoring range of ultrasound examinations, doctors can more promptly detect and deal with possible complications, such as placental abruption and placenta previa, to ensure the safety of both mother and baby. The specific approach is as follows.

1. Develop a personalized monitoring plan: Based on the specific situation of the pregnant woman, the doctor will develop a personalized ultrasound monitoring plan to ensure the comprehensiveness and pertinence of the monitoring.

2. Multidisciplinary collaboration: The pregnancy management of high-risk pregnant women often requires multidisciplinary collaboration. Ultrasound doctors work closely with obstetricians, internists, etc. to jointly safeguard the safety of mother and baby.

3. Provide psychological counseling and support: In the face of various risks and challenges that may arise during pregnancy, psychological counseling and support for high-risk pregnant women is also essential. Doctors will provide professional psychological support and advice to high-risk pregnant women to help them maintain a positive and optimistic attitude.

Figure 2 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

During pregnancy, ultrasound examination, with its advantages of being non-invasive, safe, and intuitive, has become a powerful assistant in protecting the health of mothers and babies. From confirming the safe implantation of the embryo in the early pregnancy to comprehensively assessing the fetal condition in the mid-pregnancy, to ensuring safe production in the late pregnancy, and focusing on monitoring high-risk pregnant women, ultrasound examinations are always with pregnant mothers, escorting the arrival of every new life.