OB sonography

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Ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create images of organs, tissues, and other structures inside the body. Unlike X-rays, ultrasound does not use any radiation. Ultrasound can also show parts of the body in motion, such as the heartbeat or blood flow in blood vessels.

For the interpretation of OB sonography and fetal ultrasound, they usually use measurement parameters that must be performed by a specialist doctor.

OB sonography and fetus is a type of imaging method that provides the doctor with images of the fetus using sound waves.

In the OB sonography, there are biometric parameters to measure from the fetus. Biometric parameters play an important role in the interpretation of pregnancy ultrasound. These parameters in fetal ultrasound can show how the child is growing and detect abnormalities.

Measurement parameters in fetal ultrasound include parameters Gs, Ys, Pl, etc.

There are two main types of ultrasound: pregnancy ultrasound (OB sonography) and diagnostic ultrasound.

OB sonography is used to examine the unborn baby. This test can provide information about the baby’s growth, development and overall health.

Diagnostic ultrasound is used to view and provide information about other internal parts of the body. Parts such as the heart, blood vessels, liver, bladder, kidneys and female reproductive organs.

OB sonography is performed to get information about the health of the unborn fetus. It may be used for:

1. Confirmation of pregnancy
2. Checking the size and position of the unborn baby
3. Checking the number of babies in the womb.
4. Estimation of the duration of pregnancy, which is known as gestational age.
5. Investigating the symptoms of Down syndrome, which includes thickening of the back of the baby’s neck. (NT)
6. Examination of birth defects in the brain, spinal cord, heart or other parts of the body
7. Checking the amount of amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid is a clear fluid that surrounds the unborn baby during pregnancy and protects the child from external damage)

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Types of OB sonography

Pregnancy ultrasound

Ultrasound during pregnancy is performed for various reasons to ensure the health of the mother and the fetus. This OB sonography is usually performed for medical reasons and following the appearance of suspicious symptoms in a person, but sometimes pregnancy ultrasound is performed only to determine the gender of the baby.

Although OB sonography  is completely safe for pregnant women, in general, doctors recommend that this imaging be performed only in necessary cases.

Ultrasound of the first trimester of pregnancy

The first twelve weeks of pregnancy play a very important role in the complete and healthy formation of various fetal organs. During the first trimester of pregnancy, ultrasound is performed for the following reasons:

  • Examination of the uterus, ovaries, cervix and vagina in order to detect abnormalities during pregnancy
  • Confirmation of pregnancy
  • Checking the fetal heart rate
  • Check for any abnormal growth in the fetus
  • Investigating the possibility of ectopic pregnancy
  • Etc

ultrasound nt

NT ultrasound is one of the most common tests at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy and helps your doctor diagnose possible chromosomal abnormalities. The focus of this imaging is a small area at the back of the fetus’s neck, known as the nuchal node. In fetuses with a high probability of chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome, interstitial fluid accumulates in this area of the neck.

Of course, the detection of interstitial fluid in this test does not definitively indicate the existence of a serious problem in the fetus, and it is only possible to judge the presence of these abnormalities if the OB sonography results are confirmed by conducting genetic screening tests.

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Ultrasound of the second and third trimesters of pregnancy

In the second trimester of pregnancy, almost all the main organs of the fetus, including arms and legs, as well as genitals, are formed, and over time, it becomes possible to determine the gender of the fetus after the twelfth week. The main reason for women to visit at this stage of pregnancy is to perform an ultrasound to determine the gender. 

Pregnancy ultrasound is performed in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy for other reasons, including the diagnosis of Down syndrome in a baby, the diagnosis of birth defects, the possible diagnosis of miscarriage, etc.

Gender determination OB sonography:

Usually, gender determination ultrasound is done in the middle of pregnancy. This ultrasound is also called fetal anatomy monitoring, and it is performed in order to observe possible abnormalities in the baby and determine the gender of the baby.

The accuracy of ultrasound to determine the gender depends on various factors such as the age of the fetus, the equipment used and the skill of the sonographer. However, in 98% of cases, the ultrasound of determining the sex of the fetus correctly shows whether the baby is a boy or a girl.

During a gender determination ultrasound, you lie on a special ultrasound bed and lift up your clothes. Then, the sonographer covers your abdomen with a special gel and takes an image of your pelvis and uterus using a special ultrasound series. The images recorded by the ultrasound specialist will be referred to your obstetrician and gynecologist so that the doctor can comment on the health of the fetus, whether it is a boy or a girl, as well as your health. 

Depending on the position of the fetus in the womb, you may be able to see your baby’s face, arms and legs easily. Don’t worry if you haven’t seen all of your baby’s parts. You can ask the ultrasound technician or your doctor to give you the necessary explanations during the ultrasound

3D ultrasound

As it was said, several ultrasound sessions are performed during pregnancy, and the purpose of these ultrasounds is to check the health of the fetus and its normal development. Sometimes problems are observed in normal ultrasounds, which will require a 3D ultrasound during pregnancy to determine their accuracy. Of course, performing a screening test in its own time will identify fetal problems and possible abnormalities with a percentage of error.

Doppler ultrasound

Doppler ultrasound is an imaging method that uses sound waves to show the movement of blood in blood vessels. Doppler ultrasound helps doctors to get the necessary information about what is happening inside the patient’s veins without using X-rays or any injections.

By performing Doppler ultrasound, it is possible to obtain useful information needed by doctors about problems such as blood clots, venous insufficiency, arterial occlusion, congenital heart diseases, carotid artery stenosis, heart valve defects, etc.