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An Introduction To Ultrasounds |
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Expectant mothers can get a first glimpse of their child during their
nine month long pregnancy through medical ultrasounds. These scans are
performed at various stages of a woman’s pregnancy. Many women usually
only receive one throughout the entire pregnancy which is usually done
at about 20 weeks of gestation.
This can take up to an hour to perform
and is one of the most extensive examinations. The technician will look
for markers of certain diseases, take a close look at the internal
organs. The limbs, abdomen and head will also be measured on medical
ultrasounds. Many couples choose to find out the gender of their baby
on this scan.
There are several other reasons why medical ultrasounds are performed during a pregnancy. The possibility of receiving several ultrasounds over the course of the pregnancy is quite high if the mother is suffering from any chronic diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Doctors and technicians will look for fetal growth and any abnormalities that may occur on the infant. Problems occur frequently in this population of women.
Ultrasounds towards the end of the pregnancy may also be conducted if a mother develops gestational diabetes. This scan will track the baby’s growth because babies tend to grow larger than those born to the unaffected population. Women with chronic diseases can expect to receive Level II ultrasounds, which look more closely at the baby’s anatomy.
Private companies offer the newer 3-D ultrasounds that are not used by the medical field for a fee. However, some of the technicians who perform this scan are not licensed. They are also not looking for anything medical while performing the scan outside of a medical office. These scans are strictly for viewing and taking pictures of the child.
Most medical scans are only done in 2-D and offer less evident images of the baby’s features than the 3-D model. Research has not shown that ultrasounds are harmful to a fetus. However, doctors still recommend that these scans should only be performed when deemed essential. The expectant parents should consider the risk and benefit ratio before making any decision.
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