Ultrasound pregnancy
Ultrasound in pregnancy it is key to study the health of your child. This ultrasound is done through morphological ultrasound. What is the function of morphological ultrasound? ultrasound is one of the most expected tests after the discovery of pregnancy.
It is through him that mom and dad can see their son still in the womb, a moment of great emotion, expectation and also anxiety.
During the entire gestation period, on average, four different ultrasonography exams to follow the development of the baby and the evolution of pregnancy.
What is morphological ultrasound?
It is a recommended image exam for all pregnant women. Through it, it is possible to evaluate the formation and development of all the internal and external organs of the baby, to discover precocious malformations and fetal syndromes, in addition to indicating health conditions that may require a more rigorous follow-up of the pregnancy.
Although it is not a mandatory examination, ultrasound is essential for a more complete monitoring during pregnancy, providing important information on the health of the fetus, the development of the baby's organs, the conditions of the placenta, etc.
When should the ultrasound be done?
The morphological ultrasound is done in two moments during pregnancy: in the first trimester, between week 12 and week 14, better known as the nuchal translucency and in the second trimester, between week 20 and week 24.
In the first one, the main objective is to measure the liquid that remains in the nape of the fetus and that is only visible at that stage of gestation.
Doppler veno duct is also done and the measurement of the nasal bone to evaluate parameters that can track the appearance of chromosomal changes, such as those of Down syndrome.
The second is more detailed, it is done when all the baby's organs are already formed and can be seen with details of their positioning, functioning, size and other expected characteristics.
What does morphological ultrasound detect on ultrasound?
As the name suggests, this ultrasound is to evaluate the baby's morphology. In this way, you can clearly see the internal organs and the members of the fetus.
The doctor will evaluate if the development is adjusted to the gestational age, if there are anomalies or warning signs that indicate the need for a deeper investigation through other more specific tests.
Important details are observed for the health and education of the child. Next, the main parameters observed during the examination are shown.
Measures of the head
This measurement allows to identify serious problems in the formation of the brain or the cranial cage, such as hydrocephalus and microcephaly.
Face
The formation and placement of the eyes, nose and mouth are evaluated. It is possible to identify facial and mouth deformations, such as the cleft lip or cleft lip, and malformations in the nasal bone.
Spine
The doctor evaluates the alignment of the baby's vertebrae and checks if the skin covers its entire extension to the back.
Heart
The morphological ultrasound allows to visualize the four chambers of the baby's heart and evaluate the functioning of all the heart valves, examine the veins and arteries and quickly identify any anomaly, such as murmur or arrhythmia, that may require special care right after birth.
Internal organs
The formation and functions of the kidneys, stomach, bladder and intestines will be verified during the examination. Your baby is already urinating and the doctor is evaluating whether the urine, formed by the amniotic fluid you swallow, is passing as it should through the kidneys and bladder.
Although they are the last to mature and are used to breathe only after birth, the lungs are also evaluated.
Genitals
it is in the morphological ultrasound that most parents discover if the baby is a boy or a girl! If in the previous ultrasounds the position of the baby made it difficult to visualize the sex, in the morphological the possibilities of solving the mystery are much greater, because the doctor can see the internal genitalia of the child, if his position does not hinder that visualization.
Upper and lower limbs
The fingers of the baby's hands and feet are counted and the size of the femur and other bones is measured to check the size of the baby and if the growth is within expected or if there are abnormalities.
Does morphological ultrasound only measure the growth of the baby?
No. In addition to checking the formation of the fetus, morphological ultrasound also verifies the conditions of the placenta, the umbilical cord and the blood flow of the veins and arteries that carry nutrients and oxygen from mother to baby. The volume of the amniotic fluid is also checked, as well as the thickness of the cervix.
How is morphological ultrasound done?
Morphological ultrasound can be done in three different technological models:
2D-the most traditional, with black and white images.
3D, where the images gain 3 dimensions, allowing to see better details, like the face of the baby-the image looks a lot like a photograph.
4D, where in addition to the three-dimensional images, the movements of the child are captured in real time.
The procedure, in morphological ultrasound, the doctor usually passes the probe through the surface of the abdomen and the pelvic region of the mother.
With the help of a transparent gel, the probe slides easily through the skin, transmitting to the monitor the images formed by the sound waves emitted by the device.
In some cases, the test can also be done intravaginally or endovaginally, when the vagina of the pregnant woman introduces a special probe for a better visualization of the cervix.
In both cases, the examination is painless and lasts, on average, 30 to 45 minutes.
Do you need special preparation to take this test?
This test does not require preparation, but it is recommended that the pregnant woman be accompanied by her partner or a relative or a trusted person, because if there is any change or abnormality in the baby, it is important that the woman has the support of someone close to her.
What is the difference between morphological ultrasound and common ultrasound?
The common or obstetric ultrasound is a test designed to check the general conditions of pregnancy, such as the placenta, the volume of the amniotic fluid and the position of the baby in the uterus.
The more detailed ultrasound provides richer information about the development and formation of the baby and possible malformations.
Morphological ultrasound is of great prenatal importance and allows to diagnose about 90% of fetal anomalies.
Having this early diagnosis may scare, but it is essential to correct and treat problems that can be resolved or attenuated even in intrauterine life, ensuring greater health for your child.
Are you worried about your baby's health? Start with attention to pregnancy!
For cases that can only be treated after birth, know the precondition helps in their preparation, the whole family and the medical staff that will receive a child that will need special attention and follow-up shortly after delivery.