During pregnancy, a device called a transducer is used to move along the belly of a pregnant woman. The device will emit sound through the abdomen and through the uterus and return the wave bouncing back. The computer connected to the device will reproduce the data acquired from the sound waves into the image on the screen. When the fetus moves and moves the limbs, the image can be seen on the ultrasound screen. Sound waves have very high frequencies and intensities (over the hearing threshold).
Ultrasound is a non-invasive medical examination (no bleeding) and no pain. However, early pregnancy ultrasonography requires pregnant women to drink plenty of fluids to dilate the bladder to see the fetus more easily.
Is ultrasound harmful to the fetus?
So far no accurate information about the harmful effects of ultrasound on the fetus has been reported. However, pregnant mothers should not be abused because, in addition to unnecessary costs, there are clinical studies that identify ultrasonic waves that affect more or less sensitive areas such as the eyes, ears, and gonads.
What is 2D, 3D, 4D ultrasound?
A 2D aneurysm is a 2D ultrasound, with black and white images, to measure the length and size of fetal abnormalities compared to normal forms.
This is the diagnostic tool used in obstetric ultrasound. It is used to produce three-dimensional images of what is happening inside the mother and baby body. In general, all gestational ultrasounds are still performed using 2D technology. Pregnancy, growth, heart rate, development, and size of a baby can all be seen clearly in 2D ultrasound. Placement of placenta, placenta and placenta/placenta can also be seen clearly.
Images from a 2D ultrasound are usually black and white and have the same level of detail as a negative film. Depending on how the baby is lying and the position of the baby in the uterus, different images will be seen.
3D ultrasound
3D ultrasound is a 3-dimensional ultrasound, which produces a true color image of the actual size of the fetus. The advantage of 3D ultrasound is that it easily detects congenital malformations of the fetus, and the disadvantage is that it is not 2D ultrasound.
For pregnant women, 3D ultrasound is no different than 2D ultrasound. The ultrasound process is almost the same, however, technological advances will produce different images.
3D ultrasound can capture thousands of images or images of the fetus at the same time. The computer is then processed into a 3D image of the fetus is more vivid than 2D.
3D images are clearer and sharper than 2D images. Use 2D ultrasound to see the internal organs and tissues of the fetus. Meanwhile, 3D and 4D ultrasound imaging are more realistic when it is possible to see fetal skin. Especially when you see the face and fragility of the fetus.
4D ultrasound
4D ultrasound is still a 3D ultrasound with animation. The advantage is seeing the real picture of the baby’s movement, the disadvantage is that the file is too long, many rays radiation can harm mother and child.
4D ultrasound or 4-D ultrasound is built on the basis of 3D scanning technology. One more dimension here is time. In essence, 4D pregnancy is the fetal movement in real time. As your baby moves, wriggles, frowns, wrinkles, thumbs up, eyes open and closes, you can see these movements on the scanner as it happens.
The most important purpose of pregnancy ultrasound?
- Determination of fetal age
- Determination of fetal health status
- Detect abnormalities (if any)
Many mothers enjoy fetal ultrasound to look at their baby on the screen, while mothers prefer to save the fetal ultrasound paper to make a pregnancy diary. When pregnant, if the mother is too anxious to avoid ultrasound is not recommended, if too excited to see children every day and ultrasound abuse is not good. Therefore, the mother elects to ultrasound as instructed by the doctor to be born healthy and intelligent.