Most people who hear “ultrasound” immediately think of pregnant women getting an ultrasound scan to take a sneak peek at their baby and select which nursery colors they would like. But ultrasound, also known as sonography, has many other applications as well.
Ultrasound imaging involves applying gel to the abdomen before passing a small handheld probe over the area being examined. The probe emits sound waves that bounce off of structures within your body and produce real-time images on a screen.
1. Accurate Diagnosis:
Ultrasound uses sound waves to form images of the foetus, helping us screen for birth defects and detect health conditions in either the mother or foetus. Ultrasound imaging can also guide needles during procedures like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling.
Most ultrasound exams involve spreading gel onto the abdomen and moving a transducer along it in an easy and pain-free process.
Although ultrasound introduces energy into the body, decades of research and current safety standards based on ALARA principles (as low as reasonably achievable) have revealed no adverse side effects from diagnostic ultrasound use.
2. Screening for Birth Defects:
Ultrasound scans play an invaluable role in monitoring foetal development. In the first trimester, ultrasounds monitor early embryonic development and viability; by the second trimester, they identify foetal anatomy and track organogenesis.
Routine ultrasound scans can detect major birth defects like spina bifida and heart defects, but screening alone won’t capture all defects; additional diagnostic tests may be necessary, including maternal blood tests or more invasive procedures like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. When used appropriately by trained healthcare providers, ultrasound imaging is safe.
3. Monitoring the Growth and Development of the Foetus:
Ultrasound technology enables healthcare teams to monitor foetal growth and development during gestation. Furthermore, ultrasound displays the foetus’ anatomy and position within its mother’s womb, as well as amniotic fluid levels.
Ultrasound scans are non-invasive procedures that do not cause any discomfort to patients. A healthcare team will apply a gel on your belly before conducting the ultrasound scan to prevent discomfort from the process. At around 20 weeks gestation, an ultrasound may reveal your baby’s genitalia; you can request not to see this.
4. Monitoring Amniotic Fluid:
Ultrasound exams are performed throughout pregnancy for various purposes. An ultrasound is a noninvasive test that produces images of the foetus using sound waves reflected off body structures to create images on a monitor screen.
Your pregnancy care provider uses a wand-like device to move around your abdomen (abdomen) or insert it inside of your vagina to detect foetal heartbeat and determine gestational age. They may also use ultrasound imaging technology to evaluate your placenta’s health before delivery, including detection of issues like placenta previa and abruption.
5. Enhancing the Bonding Between Mother and Child:
Ultrasound technology provides parents with an invaluable way to connect with and bond with their foetus, an experience that can be both emotional and reassuring for imaging professionals who act as intermediaries between the foetus and the mother.
Elective ultrasounds offer more details and insights into a baby’s development than medical scans can. This can be particularly reassuring to mothers as it allows them to view their child’s growth and movements more closely, which helps strengthen bonding while simultaneously building excitement and engagement throughout pregnancy.
6. Preventing Imprecise Needle Positioning:
Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves reflected off body structures. The strength (amplitude) and duration (the time it takes for the echo to return) provide information that is then used to produce an image. The procedure is safe for pregnant women and their unborn foetuses alike and does not use ionising radiation.
Ultrasound tests are usually administered by a registered diagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS) or radiologist trained specifically in obstetrical ultrasound. At CHOP, our RDMS and radiologists possess extensive expertise in monitoring routine and acute pregnancies as well as recognising complications that arise during gestation.
7. Preventing Birth Defects:
Ultrasound has been used successfully and safely during pregnancies for 30 years without using ionizing radiation or endangering the mother and baby. An ultrasound examination should be performed during the first trimester to verify gestational age and detect early anomalies, with another scan at 18–22 weeks to assess anatomical development.
An ultrasound exam is performed by a registered diagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS), while an attending radiologist interprets its results. This ensures that any potential anomalies are quickly identified, helping both mother and baby have the best outcome possible.
8. Preventing Premature Delivery:
Ultrasound imaging can serve as a screening test to detect whether your baby may be born with any condition. Furthermore, ultrasound technology is often utilised during diagnostic procedures like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling.
To perform an ultrasound, your healthcare provider applies a gel on your skin before passing a transducer over your abdomen or vagina. Sound waves from this transducer bounce off structures inside of your body and bounce back off foetuses and other structures inside, creating images that your provider can see on a monitor screen. Routine ultrasounds are safe for both mother and baby.
9. Preventing Infections:
Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive imaging procedure that uses sound waves to produce images of the body. Ultrasound is safe for both mother and foetus alike and doesn’t use radiation like X-rays do.
Ultrasonography can also be used as a diagnostic tool, including during procedures like amniocentesis and CVS (chorionic villus sampling). Sometimes combined with biophysical profiling, which measures foetal heart rate to identify signs of oxygen deprivation, ultrasonography may provide insight into signs that a mother might need medical care due to preterm labour or another medical issue. As ultrasound technology is revolutionising pregnancy management practices in many low- and middle-income countries, it is vital to be aware of any associated risks.
10. Preventing Miscarriage:
Ultrasound can help confirm a pregnancy, detect foetal heartbeats, assess levels of amniotic fluid, and identify any uterine or pelvic issues in its mother. Ultrasound imaging is generally safe when performed by providers who are trained, although its energy can produce thermal (heat) effects on tissues and bodily fluids.
