French gynecologists issued a statement a few years ago advising pregnant women to perform ultrasounds on their own to see what their child is like.
Ultrasounds provide information about the baby's development; It is important to carry out those requested by the doctor who is monitoring the pregnancy.
During the course of pregnancy, a screening ultrasound is usually performed to monitor the normal growth of the fetus and verify the due date. Ultrasounds may also be performed at various times during pregnancy for different reasons.
In its protocols, the SEGO (Spanish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology) recommends systematically performing 3 ultrasounds during pregnancy, one in each trimester of pregnancy:
Ultrasounds in the first trimester, what are they for?
- To establish the date of pregnancy
- To determine the number of placentas and identify placental structures
- To diagnose an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage
- To examine the uterus and the rest of the anatomy of the pelvis
- In some cases, to detect abnormalities in the fetus
- During the second trimester: (sometimes called the "18-20 week exam")
- To confirm the dates of pregnancy
- To determine the number of fetuses and identify placental structures
- As an aid in prenatal examinations such as amniocentesis
- To examine the anatomy of the fetus and detect the presence of abnormalities
- To control the amount of amniotic fluid
- To examine blood flow patterns
- To observe the behavior and activity of the fetus
- To evaluate the placenta
- To measure the length of the cervix
- To control the growth of the fetus
Third quarter:
- To control the growth of the fetus
- To control the amount of amniotic fluid
- As part of a biophysical profile
- To determine the position of the fetus
- To evaluate the placenta
Ultrasounds are safe but with control
The majority of health professionals and patients consider diagnostic ultrasound in pregnancy as a completely safe procedure, even making indiscriminate use of this tool. Ultrasound, however, is a form of energy with thermal and mechanical effects, with the potential to produce biological effects in exposed tissues.
Animal studies have suggested that ultrasound exposure could produce adverse effects on different developing organs, raising concerns about the safety of ultrasound exposure during fetal life.
The time it takes to perform an ultrasound is important because ultrasounds increase the body temperature of the person undergoing the ultrasound. If the recommended duration is exceeded and the test is not performed by a trained professional, it could have harmful effects on the future baby, especially in the first months of pregnancy.
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