Why Ultrasound Services are Safe During Pregnancy

Ultrasounds during pregnancy are commonly used to monitor the development and growth of a fetus. However, that is not the only use of ultrasound. It is also a medical test that can be used to show images of soft tissues such as the liver, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder and so much more.

There are very many misconceptions surrounding use of ultrasound services during pregnancy that we wish to demystify.

To begin with, ultrasounds don’t use radiation. They actually use harmless high frequency sound waves that reflect to give a graphical representation of the body’s internal form. Radiation is only used in X-Rays and CT Scans.

Having ultrasound examinations done frequently is not harmful to the body. But again, you don’t need to do an ultrasound every other day or week, so ordering unnecessary medical tests is not good.

Ultrasounds are not bad for the baby. If anything, they actually give a report of the baby’s growth so as to keep the mother aware.

Having an ultrasound during the first trimester cannot cause a miscarriage. Actually, having an ultrasound very early on is very important for confirmation of the pregnancy and location of the pregnancy. If the baby is not positioned at the right place, it can be a threat to both mother and baby.

3D/4D/5D Ultrasounds are not more accurate than 2D ultrasounds. They simply look more mesmerizing but do not add any more technical info. 2D- is good in accurately monitoring amniotic fluid, growth and majority of birth defects.
3D- provides more graphical imagery which is good in seeing physical defects like cleft lip, spinal cord issues or limb problems.
4D/5D- provide more of the baby’s heart related info.

Getting one normal ultrasound report is not a guarantee of a normal baby. Since the baby is continuously growing throughout the 9-month period, different info on their growth will be detected at different stages. So, having periodic scans at different stages is important.

Ultrasound examinations are not painful procedures.However, the trans-vaginal ultrasound which is used during the early stages of pregnancy, when capturing a clear image may make one feel slightly uncomfortable. For this test, a small ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina. The probe rests against the back of your vagina while the images are captured.

It’s not a guarantee that an ultrasound done anywhere will give the same results. This is because the results are largely dependent on the doctor performing the examination and the time spent. So always visit an accredited hospital and professional for these services.

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

• The earlier in pregnancy a scan is performed, the more accurate the age assignment and initial age assignment should not be revised on subsequent scans.
• Overall, the accuracy of sonographic dating in the first trimester is +/-5 days (95% confidence range).