Half ultrasound – when should it be performed? Preparation and course of half ultrasound

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The period of 9 months of pregnancy is the time when the expectant mother is mixed with two emotions: happiness and fear. Most women are happy to hear that they are pregnant and look forward to meeting their baby. However, along with joy, there is also a fear that the child is healthy and is developing properly. To check this, three compulsory ultrasound examinations are performed throughout the pregnancy, the most important of which is the half ultrasound.

What is pregnancy ultrasound?

Pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that allows you to evaluate the fetus. It is carried out using ultrasounds, i.e. acoustic waves that are completely inaudible to the human ear. They penetrate deep into the body through the skin in a completely safe, non-invasive and painless way. Since different structures and tissues of the body reflect them differently, it is possible to create their actual reflections on the screen of an ultrasound monitor.

Thanks to this, the doctor conducting the examination can see all organs and limbs of the unborn child on the monitor. On their basis, he makes assessment of the child’s developmenttaking into account a number of parameters such as body length, head circumference and heart rate.

No contrast or harmful X-rays are needed to perform the test. It is a completely safe test that does not affect development or the course of pregnancy.

Ultrasound examinations in pregnancy

It is assumed that every healthy woman with an uncomplicated pregnancy within 9 months should undergo at least 3 ultrasound examinations:

1. Pregnancy ultrasound between 11 and 14 weeks;
2. Pregnancy ultrasound between 18 and 22 weeks (half-time examination);
3. The pregnancy ultrasound is between 28 and 32 weeks.

Sometimes the test is performed before the 11th week Transvaginal ultrasoundwhich is to confirm or exclude pregnancy. If complications arise during pregnancy, treating doctors will order more ultrasound scans. The experts agree on one thing – the half-test performed between the 18th and 22nd week is one of the most important tests to be performed in pregnancy.

For what purpose is a half ultrasound performed?

Performing a half ultrasound allows for a comprehensive assessment of pregnancy development, the child’s growth rate and the diagnosis of possible abnormalities in the child’s development. During the examination, the doctor will check the unborn baby:

1. head circumference (HC);
2. femur length (FL);
3. abdominal circumference (AC);
4. body weight and age;
5. within the head: the continuity of the skull, the size of the head, the mineral density of the skull and its shape, the structure of the brain and the amount of cerebrospinal fluid;
6. in the area of ​​the face: face profile, presence of eye sockets, nasal bone and assessment of upper and lower lips for possible splitting;
7. in the neck area: lack of goiter and neck swelling;
8. in the thoracic region: presence and structure of the heart, heart rate, curvature of the ribs;
9. in the area of ​​the abdomen: the size and structure of the stomach, the structure of the urinary bladder, kidneys, umbilical cord vascularization;
10. in the genital area: no abnormalities and checking the sex of the child;
11. within the skeletal system: the presence of arms and legs, their mobility and structure, the structure of the spine and the absence of a cleft.

In addition, the doctor will make placenta evaluation, qualifying him to the appropriate degree of maturity (at this stage of pregnancy it should be grade I / II) and will determine the amount of amniotic fluid. Half-time examination also allows for a more precise assessment of the age of the fetus and determining the probable one due date.

Often, during a medical visit, in addition to a half ultrasound scan performed through the abdominal wall, the patient also undergoes USG transwaginalne. This is the only method to be accurate determination of the length of the cervixwhich at this stage of pregnancy should be more than 25 mm. If, during the examination, the doctor determines that the neck is shorter, he will certainly order the implementation of early birth prophylaxis methods. It could be assumption of a cervical seam, pessary, or the introduction of vaginal progesterone.

If the doctor notices any abnormalities during the examination, he will certainly order further tests that will exclude or confirm his suspicions. It is important to know that in the case of defects in a child’s structure, modern medicine allows for an operation to be carried out on a child in the womb without terminating a pregnancy.

The course of the half ultrasound

The examination itself does not require any special preparation. On the day of its performance, it is worth choosing comfortable clothes that can be easily tucked up, revealing the entire stomach for examination. The doctor will ask you to lie down on the couch, and the clothes will protect you from getting dirty with paper towels.

Then, a special gel will be applied to the abdomen, which will make it easier to move the probe over the abdomen. The image of the baby in the belly then appears on the screen. It is normal for the examination to take as long as 30-45 minutes – only by being thorough, the doctor will be able to judge whether the baby is developing properly. To do this, in order to obtain a better, more accurate image in some places he will have to press the probe more firmly against the abdomen. It may cause discomfort to the patient, but not pain.

After completing the examination, the doctor will give us paper towels with which we should wipe the remains of the gel from the abdomen.

3D and 4D pregnancy ultrasound

It is important to know that the period of pregnancy between 18 and 22 weeks is also the best time to carry out 3D ultrasound or 4D. Why then? This is the time when the baby is still small enough to be fully visible on the examination, but large enough to have facial features characteristic of a newborn baby. Thanks to it, it is also easier to recognize the child’s gender.

However, it is worth realizing that 3D or 4D ultrasound, which allows to obtain a three-dimensional image of the baby in the mother’s womb, is of the greatest importance for future parents. However, you should know that this test is not reimbursed and can only be performed privately. From a medical point of view, traditional 2D ultrasound as well as the knowledge and experience of the physician performing it are still of the greatest importance to assess the child’s development.