Ultrasound in the early stages is how they do it. Is it possible to have an ultrasound scan early in pregnancy? What kind of ultrasound is done in early pregnancy

When pregnancy occurs in female body Global changes are occurring, which can be assessed using a modern diagnostic method - ultrasound. This technique is based on the use of ultrashort sound waves, which have a radiation frequency from 2 to 10 megahertz.

Ultrasound waves are capable of penetrating any tissue of the human body, transforming into a return signal, which we can see on the monitor screen of special equipment. Ultrasound examination is included in the list of mandatory studies performed for mother and child during pregnancy.

What is it for?

Ultrasound examination is absolutely harmless and during pregnancy is carried out for preventive and diagnostic purposes. It should be done for every pregnant woman, regardless of whether she has health complaints or not. Total for the period of pregnancy during its normal course three ultrasound examinations are performed routinely– as a rule, this is enough. If there is any pathology or observation is required, the number of examinations may be different.

A woman must undergo her first ultrasound examination between the tenth and fourteenth week of pregnancy. At this time, vital organs and systems are already being formed in the fetus, and their formation is taking place. The examination shows how this process occurs and whether there are any obvious pathological phenomena.

At this stage of fetal development, all deviations in its development are already clearly visible, thanks to which the doctor can determine a further plan for managing the pregnancy.

Most often, an ultrasound is prescribed at the twelfth week, since during this period the study will be more informative. During the first ultrasound examination, attention is paid to the following points.

The number of fetuses in the uterus is determined - this can be either a single fetus or a multiple pregnancy.
The fetus should have an audible heartbeat - this means that unborn child is alive and developing.
The development of a brain region and the presence of all organs, systems, and limbs are determined.
The timing of pregnancy is established, and the date of birth is also presumably determined - the ultrasound device allows you to measure the fetus from a certain point on the crown of the head to the tailbone area.
They look at the full value of development " children's place“- the placenta, with attention paid to its integrity, the absence of detachments and areas of necrosis.
An ultrasound will show the absence or presence of genetically determined Down syndrome in the unborn child - for this, the condition of the facial part of the head, in particular, the bone tissue of the nose, as well as the collar area, is assessed.

If severe pathologies are detected early, the fetus is considered incapable of life, so it is advisable to terminate such a pregnancy so as not to cause significant harm to the woman’s health.

What happens?

Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) for pregnant women is carried out in a antenatal clinic or in a specialized perinatal center. Modern equipment allows for a comprehensive examination of the expectant mother. This event is carried out in two ways.

Transvaginally– in the early stages of fetal development, the most accurate information is obtained by inserting a special sensor, called a transducer, into the vagina. Since the fetus is still very little developed, it is almost impossible to see it through the abdominal wall.
Transabdominal– already at 10-12 weeks of pregnancy, the examination is carried out through the abdominal wall using a sensor and a special binding component – gel.

To obtain the most accurate data when examining with an ultrasound device, you can use various methods of its use. When examining pregnant women, the following types of ultrasound examinations are used.

Fetometry– this type of ultrasound examination makes it possible to most reliably and clearly determine the timing of pregnancy and identify all pathologies in the development of the fetus in the early stages. There are methods for intrauterine ultrasound measurement of the fetus, the data of which, entered into special tables, helps to determine the gestational age as accurately as possible. During the examination, the circumference of the fetus's abdomen, chest, and the distance from the crown to the sacrum are measured.
Doppler– using this method, the functioning of blood vessels is scanned – the speed of blood flow in them is measured. Most often, this method is used to study the functioning of the heart. It is prescribed for suspected cardiovascular pathology in the fetus.

Fetometry

Doppler

Screening- is a standard ultrasound examination procedure that all pregnant women undergo three times during the entire period of pregnancy.
3-D study– used only after the 24th week of pregnancy. Its essence is that the image supplied to the monitor is displayed in three-dimensional form, that is, three-dimensional, which makes it possible to improve the quality of diagnosis.
4-D study– this method allows you to see a fully three-dimensional image of the fetus, which makes it possible to examine the baby more closely and in detail. This method is popular among expectant parents, as it makes it possible to see their child long before his birth.

Ultrasound examination can be conditionally divided into planned and unscheduled - according to the period of its conduct.

Planned

Routine ultrasound during pregnancy with one fetus is performed three times during the entire period of its development. Ultrasound diagnostics multiple pregnancy possible as early as 4 weeks, that is, immediately upon detection of a delay in the regular female cycle. During the examination, the presence of several embryos in the uterus is clearly visible.

If there are several embryos, their development will require more careful monitoring than with a single pregnancy. Therefore, ultrasound screening in case of multiple pregnancy is carried out 2 weeks earlier than usual, at 7-8 weeks, and the next screening is carried out as planned at 10-14 weeks.

Sometimes, after routine screening, pregnant women notice the appearance of vaginal discharge, which may be light beige, Brown or bloody. Such discharge is not dangerous for the development of pregnancy and does not harm the fetus.

Their appearance can be explained by the increased sensitivity of the cervix or its increased blood supply, in which microdamages occur when the ultrasound device touches the sensor.

Unscheduled

An unscheduled ultrasound examination is carried out if there are twins in the uterus. During diagnostics during an unscheduled examination, any type of ultrasound examination can be used. Multiple pregnancies are observed under ultrasound control every four weeks. Such frequent attention is necessary for developing embryos so as not to miss the pathology of their development.

Ultrasound waves emitted by an ultrasound machine do not have a negative effect on a woman and her fetus, therefore, we cannot say that this observation method is harmful to health.

Hardware ultrasound examination is currently an indispensable tool for monitoring the intrauterine development of the fetus and protects the health of the mother, as well as her unborn child.

Indications and contraindications

In order to understand whether fetal development in the uterus proceeds normally at all stages of pregnancy, the most safe method research - ultrasound. Transvaginal examination is indicated for those women who have a delay in their regular monthly cycle. Such a study makes it possible not to be mistaken about the presence of pregnancy, so doctors turn to ultrasound, which is considered one of the most reliable diagnostic methods.

Ultrasound diagnostics can promptly identify serious genetic developmental abnormalities in the unborn child, ectopic pregnancy or a fetus frozen in its development - all these situations are quite clearly visible to a diagnostic specialist.

Not only the developing fetus is subject to observation. The pelvic organs of the expectant mother are also an object of study. Anomalies in the development of the female genital organs can pose a threat to the development or gestation of the fetus, and can also create problems during childbirth.

Confirmation of the presence of such anomalies in the early stages of pregnancy will make it possible to timely build tactics for monitoring the course of pregnancy and allow you to select in advance the most best option obstetrics, which will not harm the health of the woman and baby.

There are no contraindications for ultrasound examination in modern medical practice of obstetrics and gynecology for pregnant women. Experts believe that ultrasound does not harm the health of mother and child. However, in medical practice there is an opinion that an ultrasound examination should not be done without proper reasons, if the gestational age has not reached the threshold of ten obstetric weeks. A strong justification for such a diagnosis in early pregnancy is considered to be:

presence of signs of placental abruption;
discomfort and constant nagging pain in the lower abdomen;
suspicion of ectopic pregnancy;
bloody and spotting discharge, which may raise suspicions of a frozen pregnancy;
the woman has a history of previous frozen pregnancies;
if you have previously been diagnosed with infertility;
previous surgical interventions were performed on the reproductive organs of the small pelvis;
during fertilization using IVF method;
the contours of the uterus do not correspond to the duration of pregnancy.

Not a single doctor currently has reliably confirmed or refuted data on whether early ultrasound diagnosis will harm the developing embryo or not. Therefore, it is still not worth conducting it out of curiosity and without compelling reasons.

Today, private ultrasound rooms, and sometimes state clinics themselves, offer the expectant mother to take a picture of the child during his intrauterine development. This procedure is often done using increased ultrasound power, which, in turn, is not beneficial for the baby’s brain and heart.

How is it going?

The very first ultrasound examination of a pregnant woman is carried out at 10 weeks; earlier this is considered inappropriate, since it is necessary to allow the embryo to properly consolidate in the uterine cavity. A routine examination, called screening, in the early stages is carried out transvaginally, that is, through the vagina. It requires certain preparation from the woman, which consists of the following:

the day before the examination, it is not recommended to eat legumes, cabbage, vegetables, fruits and other foods that cause flatulence;
before the procedure, a hygienic toilet of the external genitalia is necessary;
one hour before the start of the study you need to fill bladder– for this it is recommended to drink 1-1.5 liters of liquid.

After 12 weeks, ultrasound diagnostics are performed transabdominally, that is, through the abdominal wall. It is carried out as follows:

a special preparation is applied to the pregnant woman’s belly – a gel with a dense consistency, into which the device’s sensor will be placed;
indicators of the internal state of fetal development are displayed on the monitor in the form of an image;
the doctor evaluates the necessary parameters, takes measurements and draws up a description of what he saw in the form of a general medical report.

The entire ultrasound examination procedure takes no more than 15 minutes and is completely painless.

Experts' opinion

In Russia, ultrasound examinations of pregnant women have been carried out for more than 30 years, during which time a lot of statistical data and observations of specialists have been collected. There has often been controversy in the media about whether ultrasound is harmful to the fetus and whether it is worth doing it at all. These debates remain relevant to this day. However, neither in domestic medical practice nor in foreign ones is there any evidence that after ultrasound diagnostics the fetus has any signs of changes in internal organs under the influence of ultrasonic waves.

In order to better study this issue, it is necessary to conduct a series of long-term studies, for which it is extremely difficult to find volunteers. After all, the ultrasound procedure lasts a short time, and for detailed study long-term and regular exposure is necessary.

According to experts, every woman simply needs to have an ultrasound scan several times during pregnancy - the risk of harm is minimal. It is better to make sure that the unborn child does not have developmental abnormalities in the early stages of pregnancy.

Some patients note that after they have undergone a vaginal examination, they begin to experience so-called spotting and may even appear in small quantities blood. But it is not the ultrasound that is to blame for this, but the peculiarity of the cervix, which during pregnancy becomes full of blood and sensitive to any influences. In this case, there is no threat of miscarriage; there is no reason to panic.

Transvaginal ultrasound (ultrasound) is a real chance to evaluate the development of pregnancy in the early stages from a professional point of view. It allows you to reveal everything possible deviations and problems, see clearly ovum, its location in the uterus, as well as a lot of other nuances. As a result of the examination, the doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis if a woman has any problems. Should I do an ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy? Can it harm the baby? Let's look at all the nuances of the procedure.

Read in this article

When should the first ultrasound be done?

Quite rarely, a woman herself decides to undergo examination. Most likely, she does this due to her worries or inexperience, simply delaying the moment of visiting the doctor. In all other cases, ultrasound of pregnancy in the early stages is prescribed only by a specialist and no earlier than 12-13 weeks. Before this period, the doctor can refer the patient for an unscheduled examination when he has doubts or suspicions of deviations from normal course pregnancy. Also, the reason for the analysis may be nagging and aching pain, previous miscarriages, missed pregnancy, suspected pregnancy. All this will help you take timely action.

Duration of ultrasound transvaginal examination	Why is it carried out, what can you find out from the results
1-3 weeks after conception	Research at this time is carried out quite rarely. A doctor's suspicion of an ectopic pregnancy may be a harbinger. The mother will also be examined during this period after IVF. Based on the results, the presence of pregnancy, its course, its duration will be accurately determined, and problems will also be identified if the delay in menstruation did not occur due to conception.
3-4 weeks pregnant	The ultrasound specialist can examine the umbilical cord, ear buds and limbs. The fruit at this period is still very small, only 2-4 mm. However, parents can already receive his first “photo”. And from the fifth week you can even hear the heartbeat, which is normally 100 beats per minute.
10-11 weeks after conception	In the third month of pregnancy, the doctor can already assess the anatomy of the fetus based on ultrasound results. Based on them, he will also check for the presence of deviations and pathological threats to the pregnancy and life of the child. For example, if by the 11th week the nasal bone has not formed, then in this case the specialist will suspect the presence of chromosomal abnormalities. At this time, the threat of miscarriage, if any, will also be established.
12-14 weeks of pregnancy	During this period, deviations from the norm become more obvious, since the child’s organs and body are better formed. At this stage, the main attention is paid to the thickness of the collar space, the location of the femurs and the distance between them, the length of the body, and the size of the head. Special attention will be given and internal organs, the outlines of which will become more pronounced. And even the brain will not be left without attention, so an ultrasound at this stage is very informative and significant. The doctor will also evaluate the condition amniotic fluid, placenta, uterine tone and other important data on the mother’s condition. On the positive side: parents can take the first video, which will clearly show the baby’s movements in the womb, his facial expressions and heartbeat.
Week 15	At this time, those who for some reason did not have time to complete it earlier undergo the first study. At week 15, the fetus’s heart can be heard well, and the central core is intensively formed. nervous system, skeleton. The average weight of a child at this stage is only 70 g, but his height reaches 10 cm.

An ultrasound to determine pregnancy in the early stages can be both the first joyful event in the life of mother and child, and a reason for serious worry. Before you start worrying, make sure of the doctor’s qualifications, the accuracy and quality of the equipment, and be sure to get advice from another specialist if pathologies are identified. It is recommended to perform a repeat ultrasound using the same equipment used for the first examination.

Unscheduled research

If at 11-14 weeks all indicators were normal, then the next ultrasound is scheduled for 18-22 weeks of pregnancy. After the first time, the studies will be carried out again in the near future either on the recommendation of the doctor or at the request of the parents.

At week 16, those who are especially impatient can find out who they are expecting - a boy or a girl? In addition, young parents will be able to observe the child’s facial expressions. His smirks, smiles and even furrowed eyebrows can delight the most serious dads. If the doctor prescribed the referral, then at this stage the suspicion of Down syndrome in the fetus is confirmed or refuted.

How is a transvaginal ultrasound examination performed on a pregnant woman?

A woman’s first ultrasound during pregnancy is the same as a routine examination when planning or suspecting a disease before conception: future mom lies down on the couch, her stomach is lubricated with a special gel and a sensor is installed. On the monitor, for a non-professional, only white-gray-black stains and circles will be visible, but the ultrasound specialist will be able to examine the uterine cavity, the length of the cervix, the state of the fertilized egg, the state of the placenta, and the presence of formations in the mother’s pelvis. Ultrasound pregnancy detection in the early stages is carried out mainly using a vaginal sensor.

The principle of operation of the device is similar to an echolocator: ultrasound waves are reflected from tissues and the fetus and display a silhouette on the monitor. Since ultrasound is performed in the early stages of pregnancy with a vaginal sensor that reacts to fluid, some are confident that the study can cause pathologies in the child’s brain development. No need to worry! There has not yet been a case identified where this was confirmed in a 100% healthy woman and baby.

It is worth noting that ultrasound during early pregnancy is quite uninformative, so doing it just like that is not recommended. And, even more so, if you want to make sure that conception has occurred, or due to any other unimportant factors. It’s better to do it again or.

In the first weeks of implantation of a fertilized egg, the uterus needs rest. Unnecessary interference in the natural process is completely unjustified! If there are no recommendations for a doctor’s examination, then it is better to postpone satisfying curiosity until 11-12 weeks.

The danger of ultrasound: myth or reality?

The debate about whether ultrasound is harmful in early pregnancy continues to this day. Even foreign doctors cannot confirm for sure that ultrasound waves can affect the brain, leading to its changes. The thing is that the period of research should be quite long, women with a “crystal” anamnesis are selected from pregnant women and, of course, are ready to risk their child. Naturally, there are only a few of them, and there is not always enough money and energy for long-term observation.

It is impossible to prove the direct influence of ultrasound waves, as well as the harm of ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy! Doctors only recommend not to abuse the procedure, so as not to expose yourself and your child to possible danger!

Is ultrasound dangerous in early pregnancy? The question is rather rhetorical. Yes and no. The situation is similar to taking pills: there is a potential danger, but they are prescribed when the benefit outweighs the risk. After all, the ability to diagnose the development of pathology in the fetus, to notice in time a detached placenta or other deviations from the norm contribute to the timely provision of assistance and solution to the problem that has arisen.

What to do if spotting starts after an ultrasound

Ultrasound diagnosis of pregnancy in the early stages alone cannot provoke bleeding or spotting. But the experiences of a pregnant woman are very capable! If suddenly, after visiting the ultrasound doctor’s office, you notice any deviations in your usual state, do not delay contacting an obstetrician-gynecologist! In case it is worth calling ambulance without delay!

The fact that the embryo feels the impact of ultrasound waves is a proven fact. A very tiny baby can hide, cover his face with his hands, and his overall activity increases. Some compare the impact to the approach of a train: it arrived, made noise, scared and left. And then the usual silence and calm sets in. If you do an ultrasound on time and on the recommendation of a doctor, then you don’t need to worry and stress yourself out. After all, the child feels everything the same as the mother! Remember that the benefit of research is much greater than the potential threat of exposure. May everything be fine for you and your child!

As soon as the desired, and often long-awaited, pregnancy was confirmed, the next period did not come, and the test showed two cherished stripes, future mommy going to register at the antenatal clinic. Preparing mentally for the surrender of many necessary tests, some impatient people ask almost immediately when the first ultrasound scan during pregnancy is scheduled?

Ultrasound as an indispensable diagnostic

Ultrasound (ultrasound examination), diagnostics, which is also called echography, since it is based on the principle of echolocation. The device's sensor emits ultrasonic vibrations, which penetrate through the tissues of the human body and are reflected from them. Tissue formations of different densities, due to their characteristics, refract and reflect ultrasound differently, which ensures the transmission of differentiated signals.

The ultrasound machine processes the data and transmits images of organs using a special program to the monitor screen. Echography, due to the combination of its unique qualities, such as high information content, ease of implementation, speed of procedure, lack of preparation, and absolute harmlessness, provides reliable data on the condition of the pregnant woman and the fetus with the highest probability compared to other methods.

The absence of negative influence during the examination allows it to be carried out:

to re-analyze the results obtained;
regular monitoring of development in early pregnancy and beyond;
checking the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment.

There are two types of ultrasound diagnostics of female genital organs - abdominal (performed through the surface of the abdominal wall) and transvaginal (the sensor is inserted into the vagina).

The first ultrasound is an excellent opportunity to recognize developmental pathologies in the early stages. For several decades, ultrasound diagnostics have become indispensable for assessing the development of pregnancy and determining the presence of various pathologies in both the woman and the fetus. In addition to the established standards regarding the timing of ultrasound screening of the 1st trimester, there are many cases when it is necessary to carry out this procedure much earlier.

Pregnancy confirmation

Sometimes even passing the test and not having another period is not a 100% guarantee of pregnancy. A positive test result may be due to hormonal disorders, A menstrual cycle not always regular.

The test does not provide a 100% guarantee of pregnancy

Then gynecologists-obstetricians have no choice but to prescribe an ultrasound to determine pregnancy in the early stages, in order to be completely sure of its presence. Of course, when carrying out the procedure at just 2–3 weeks of delay, it will be difficult for the diagnostician to examine in detail the structure of the embryo and the presence of possible disturbances in its development. But an ultrasound during early pregnancy, in combination with other methods of determination, will give a final conclusion on the presence of conception.

Detection of ectopic pregnancy

The first ultrasound during pregnancy can sometimes be scheduled much earlier if indicated. At the slightest suspicion of embryo consolidation ectopic cavity You should not delay the ultrasound examination and take appropriate measures if the diagnosis is confirmed.

Timely detection of conception outside the uterus allows you to preserve the fallopian tube and the chances of reconception. If in the early stages of pregnancy - no later than 5-6 weeks, a study is carried out and the ectopic attachment of the embryo is confirmed, then the embryo is removed laparoscopically.

Definition of a non-developing pregnancy

They also do an ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy to check whether development is progressing or whether the embryo has frozen for some reason. During the examination, the doctor will be able to determine this by the presence of a fetal heartbeat. After an ultrasound is performed in the early stages of pregnancy, a condition called hydatidiform mole is diagnosed, which is characterized by pathological growth of the chorion (membrane) and the initial absence or death of the embryo.

Risk of miscarriage

One of the dangerous conditions of a woman when they undergo the first ultrasound during pregnancy is the threat of losing the child. Therefore, gynecologists do not take risks by waiting for the first scheduled ultrasound screening to arrive, but strongly recommend undergoing diagnostics immediately. For pain in the lower abdomen of various pulling and aching nature, bloody discharge or smearing from the genital tract, pregnant women must undergo an ultrasound.

Diagnosis of pathologies

When expectant mothers wonder whether it is possible to do an ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy, fearing whether ultrasound will harm the development of the baby, doctors try to convince them to undergo the procedure. And as a rule, specialists’ suspicions are confirmed, which makes it possible to terminate the pregnancy in time if serious pathologies in the child’s development are detected.

Pathologies of the female genital area can also be determined at the time of diagnosis

When undergoing an ultrasound in the first trimester of pregnancy, especially in the initial stages, in most cases it will show malignant and benign neoplasms uterus and appendages, such as fibroids, cysts, endometriosis. Also during this period, pathologies that arise in the genital organs - a bicornuate uterus, a septum in the uterine cavity - are easily diagnosed during pregnancy.

Setting the date of conception

Ultrasound of the first trimester allows you to set exact date pregnancy - examination becomes indispensable when a woman does not know the exact date of conception. This may be due to birth control or irregular periods. The date determined during the examination becomes the basis for further reporting of dates in case of discrepancies with the remaining expected dates - the last menstruation or possible conception.

This indicator is also used to determine the date of future births and to establish multiple pregnancies. Later deadline established by measurement coccyx-parietal size fetus (measurement is taken from the head end of the embryo to its tailbone). The obtained data are compared with generally accepted norms. This method of determining the gestational age is erroneous within 3 days.

Monitoring fetal development in the first trimester

Modern diagnostics using the transvaginal method will establish uterine conception even if menarche is delayed by 4–5 days, that is, with an embryological period of 2–5 weeks (if you count from the first day of the last menstruation, then at 4–5 weeks). During this period, the diameter of the fertilized egg grows to 5 mm.

In the third week, it becomes possible for the diagnostician to identify the embryo, and around the same period it is possible to see the heart pulse.

At this stage, the coccygeal-parietal size of the embryo is 4 mm. You can examine the head on the monitor no earlier than from the 7th week, the limbs from the 8th week, and the bones that make them up, after the formation of ossification points, from the 9th to 11th week.

An ultrasound at week 11 visualizes the organs and systems of the fetus, as well as possible developmental abnormalities. The procedure at 11–14 weeks will allow you to see the number of fingers, which allows you to diagnose a number of pathological syndromes. Echography using the transvaginal technique in almost one hundred percent of cases at 11–12 weeks provides clear visualization of the embryo’s stomach and bladder, and the kidneys from 12–13.

As a rule, gender identification is not performed by ultrasound in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, and the mother and impatient relatives will be able to find out the first information on this matter no earlier than 15–16 weeks. Sometimes, when using the latest devices, attempts to find out the sex of the fetus are successful, but more reliable data can be obtained much later - at 22–25 weeks.

Considering that most of the child’s systems and their constituent organs can be examined in detail only after the 11th–12th week, the first planned ultrasound scan during pregnancy is prescribed during this period. Before 12–14 weeks, it is possible to identify only gross developmental pathologies, which will make it possible to terminate the pregnancy artificially.

The first ultrasound does not provide 100% reliability of the data, so additional studies are prescribed in parallel

But it is impossible to thoroughly assess the anatomical structure of the fetus - at such a time frame one can only suspect congenital anomalies. In a later period - in the next trimesters of pregnancy, repeated and additional examinations are carried out to obtain more detailed information.

When and why is the first planned ultrasound performed?

Ultrasound diagnostics is one of the main methods that ensure careful monitoring of the process of bearing a child. Because of its prevalence and accessibility, many women undergo the procedure several times during the first trimester. But according to medical standards, the first screening ultrasound should be scheduled at 10–14 weeks, and more specifically, at 12–13, which is considered the optimal period for checking the development of the embryo.

Ultrasounds recommended according to indications, performed earlier given period, do not allow identifying markers of chromosomal developmental abnormalities, while the first ultrasound screening during pregnancy identifies such pathologies with ease. At 10–14 weeks, the absence of the bones of the cranial vault, cerebral hemispheres and soft tissues can be determined.

The size of the fetus makes it possible to measure and evaluate the nuchal space, an increase in the width of which is an indisputable sign of Down's disease. Normally, it should be 2–3 mm, and if this indicator is exceeded, the woman must undergo additional tests to ensure a 100% determination of the pathology.

If thickening of the nuchal translucency was detected at week 11, then a repeat examination is scheduled at week 14.

All data obtained is entered into a special research protocol so that doctors can study and compare them in detail. One of the mandatory conditions is to carry out a number of repeated procedures on the same device, which will minimize the slightest deviations in the results.

Further examinations to confirm suspicions of chromosomal pathologies are in most cases carried out in medical genetic clinics. Modern equipment allows highly qualified prenatal diagnostic specialists and geneticists to make a final conclusion and recommend ways out of the current situation. It is often suggested to interrupt pathological pregnancy artificially.

In addition to identifying the presence of chromosomal pathologies, screening ultrasound during pregnancy is prescribed to check the quality and quantity of amniotic fluid, the nature and place of attachment of the placenta. At the same time, the condition of the uterus can be determined, for example, hypertonicity or placental abruption.

Knowing what the first ultrasound shows and understanding its importance in diagnosis, every pregnant woman must follow all the instructions of the doctor supervising her pregnancy process. And if a specialist prescribes this procedure within the specified time frame, then you need to be examined at this time, and in no case delay visiting the diagnostic center.

Preparing for the examination

When expectant mothers, having received a referral for their first ultrasound examination, are interested in how to prepare for the procedure, they are reassured that they will not need to perform any complex actions that limit their normal life. All preparation consists of taking one and a half to two liters of liquid two hours before the examination so that the bladder is full.

The principles of the transabdominal and transvaginal method, which are used for diagnosis

Since this is the first appointment, most likely it will be carried out using the abdominal method. When prescribing a transvaginal ultrasound in the first trimester, you will not have to drink liquid at all - the presence of amniotic fluid will replace the background instead of a full bladder. If you have the results of earlier studies, you should take them with you so that, if necessary, the doctor can compare them with recent data.

Carrying out the procedure

The examination itself lasts no more than 10–15 minutes. The period starting from 10–11 weeks is long enough to carry out an examination using the abdominal method. But if a pregnant woman has overweight or the uterus is too deep, your doctor may recommend a transvaginal examination.

Before starting the examination, the diagnostician applies a special gel to the surface of the abdominal wall in the groin area and, moving the ultrasound wave emitter, examines the fertilized egg, embryo and female genital organs, looking at the monitor. Information is processed in parallel by the program and recorded on electronic media. After the examination, the expectant mother waits for the results for some time and can then go about her usual activities - the procedure does not have any effect on the body, you can drive or engage in normal activities.

In recent years, the diagnosis of pregnancy is increasingly made using ultrasound. How justified is ultrasound examination in early pregnancy? Is there any harm possible from it? Is it worth doing it to determine pregnancy - or is it better to use other methods?

If foreign doctors categorically do not recommend performing an ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy only to determine its presence or duration, with the exception of a number of indications, then doctors in post-Soviet countries not only encourage early ultrasound, but they are also prescribed several times in a row in the first weeks of pregnancy, which is due to the desire for commercial gain, and not to practical necessity.

Why do foreign doctors perform ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy strictly according to indications? At this time, ultrasound is not very informative, so there is a high risk of getting many false negative and false positive results. When implantation of the fertilized egg occurs, the uterus needs rest. Interfering with this process (inserting vaginal sensors) just to see whether there is a pregnancy or not is fraught with disruption and termination of pregnancy. In addition, the definition of up to 11-12 weeks can be very inaccurate.

The idea that the earlier an ultrasound is done, the more accurately it will be possible to determine the gestational age is completely false.

What can an ultrasound show in the early stages of pregnancy?

With a vaginal sensor, a fetal sac with a diameter of 2-3 mm can be detected at 4 weeks and 3 days (three days with a 28-day cycle). Yolk sac- this is the first structural part of the ovum, which confirms the presence of an intrauterine pregnancy. It becomes noticeable when the size of the fetal sac is 5-6 mm, that is, not earlier than 5 weeks. From the 5th to the 7th week, the fetal sac should grow by 1 mm per day. An embryo can be detected with a vaginal sensor only when its size is 1-2 mm, which corresponds to 5 weeks of pregnancy.

Ultrasound doctors use other criteria for diagnosing pregnancy, taking into account blood levels. You can see the fertilized egg when the hCG content is not lower than 1000-2000 mU/ml. Therefore, according to the recommendations of most medical associations, it is advisable to perform an ultrasound when the value of this indicator exceeds 2000 mU/ml.

As a rule, a clear heartbeat of the embryo can be detected only after it has increased to 5 mm, which corresponds to 6-7 weeks of pregnancy. At 5.5-6.5 weeks, the embryo's heart rate should be 100 beats per minute. Over the next three weeks, the rhythm accelerates and reaches 180 beats per minute.

Ultrasound safety: what 70% of doctors don’t know about

There is also a lot of debate about the safety of ultrasound in early pregnancy. Modern obstetrics takes into account two main indicators of ultrasound machines: thermal (thermal) index and mechanical index.

Ultrasonic waves, hitting the surface of biological tissues and being reflected from it, lead to heating of cells. Tissues and cells that contain more water heat up more strongly. If for the uterus, the dimensions of which are several centimeters, such heating is insignificant, then the dimensions of the embryo and its parts are millimeters and fractions of millimeters.

The most “watery” part of the embryo is the brain, which is still very tiny. Therefore, there is an assumption that during ultrasound, the brain tissue of the embryo heats up more than other organs and parts of the body. What does this mean for the unborn child? No one knows. Research has been conducted on this topic, but even serious foreign health organizations treat their results very carefully. Why?

First, large, long-term studies require funding, and are often sponsored directly or indirectly by companies that produce ultrasound machines. Obviously, the primary goal of such studies is to prove that ultrasound is completely safe. The entire mechanism for collecting and analyzing specific data is built on this, and individual criteria for assessing how ultrasound affects the human body may be relegated to the background or not taken into account.

Secondly, if we talk about the effect of ultrasound on a woman’s body, then even several procedures are quite safe. And ultrasound does not threaten a fetus, say, from 12 weeks and older. But if we are talking about the very first weeks of pregnancy, then scientists have not yet fully studied the issue of the safety of ultrasound, if only because pregnancy is most often terminated in the early stages. The effect of ultrasound on the fetus is studied in cases where the pregnancy ended in the birth of a child. If it is interrupted, it is often simply impossible to find out the reason for this.

There is no guarantee of complete safety of ultrasound in early pregnancy. Therefore, many foreign doctors act wisely by not sending women for an ultrasound scan earlier than 11-12 weeks, unless there are strict indications for it (bleeding, pain, suspicion of an ectopic pregnancy, etc.). I repeat once again: the best criterion for the normal course of pregnancy is its progress. And its deadline can be clarified a little later.

Thermal index characterizes the ultrasound force (acoustic force) that causes tissue heating by 1 °C. This does not mean that the higher the thermal index, the greater the heating: as you already know, the degree of heating depends on the type of biological tissue. Some tissues (the brain) heat up even at a low thermal index. Ultrasound is considered safe for the fetus if the thermal index does not exceed 2. With Doppler ultrasound, the thermal index increases, so up to 12 weeks it should be performed only according to strict indications or no more than once.

Ultrasound not only heats cells upon contact with them, but also exerts pressure on them. Mechanical index determines the amplitude of negative acoustic (sound) pulse pressure. When performing an ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy, it should be from 0.05 to 1.9, but no more.

It turns out that 70% of obstetricians and gynecologists do not know what the thermal index is, and 80% of women's doctors have never heard of the mechanical index of ultrasound machines (less than 4% gave the correct definition of this concept). The survey was conducted among Israeli and American doctors who regularly attend medical seminars and conferences. What can we say about specialists who do not improve the level of their knowledge, and especially about doctors in post-Soviet republics, who are most often guided by outdated directives? Sometimes our doctors send women for ultrasound examinations up to 10 times or more, and this is at the very beginning of pregnancy!

Discussion

Comment on the article "Ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks. Should I do it or not?"

Ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks. To do it or not? Ultrasound to detect chromosomal abnormalities: at what stage of pregnancy? What is determined by ultrasound during pregnancy. What can be seen on an ultrasound different terms pregnancy.

Ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks. To do it or not? I think an ultrasound is (almost) necessary before giving birth. Section: ...I’m having a hard time choosing a section (should I do an ultrasound after 32 weeks). I had an ultrasound at 32 weeks, was this the last ultrasound or should I do more.

Ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks. To do it or not? Your first ultrasound. Why is ultrasound examination (ultrasound) performed during pregnancy? In recent years, in many cases, the transvaginal method has been used, in which I...

Ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks. To do it or not? Why do foreign doctors perform ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy strictly according to indications? At this time, ultrasound is not very informative, so there is a high risk of getting many false negatives and...

Analyzes, studies, tests, ultrasound. Pregnancy and childbirth. Look at other discussions: is ultrasound harmful or not? I did an ultrasound at 5-6 weeks, at 11 weeks, at 14 weeks and at 20 weeks, due to a possible threat, I often checked ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks.

Again I've read all sorts of nonsense... is it possible to do an examination on a chair in the early stages? 3 weeks for us) And I also did an ultrasound, where they determined the period was 3 weeks... is this dangerous? I did an ultrasound to determine the duration and what kind of pregnancy... uterine or not. Well, what about...

Analyzes, studies, tests, ultrasound. Pregnancy and childbirth. Ultrasound - harmful or not? Another question: I have a very long-awaited pregnancy, ultrasounds have already been done 2 times - at 5.5 weeks they were convinced that it was uterine, at 7.5 they heard an ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks.

I read that in the early stages an ultrasound can be dangerous, I’m going to be observed in another place, maybe I shouldn’t go, eh? I don’t see a reason to do an ultrasound just because of endometriosis before pregnancy... Maybe she didn’t really explain - WHY? unless there is a serious reason...

Ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks. To do it or not? Analyzes, studies, tests, ultrasound. I had ultrasounds done in two different places before my second birth (I’m not a fan of ultrasounds at all, but it so happened that in the maternity hospital they forced me to redo the ultrasound from the clinic where...

Analyzes, studies, tests, ultrasound. Pregnancy and childbirth. At your term it should be approximately 2 - 2.5 cm in diameter (this is an academic value, from the textbook). Progesterone is a pregnancy hormone that is produced in the ovary in early pregnancy...

Ultrasound in the early stages. Analyzes, tests. Pregnancy planning. But for some reason it seems to me that if the test streaks during an “invisible” pregnancy, this can only mean one thing: that the period is very short, and the hCG is large (since it is detected even in the urine).

But at the hospital they did an ultrasound (January 15) and didn’t see anything. On the 11th I did a test “Taking antibiotics before pregnancy and in the early stages entails an increased risk. In the early stages of pregnancy, prescribing tetracycline is dangerous because of the possibility...

early ultrasound. Analyzes, studies, tests, ultrasound. It’s very dangerous to walk around with an ectopic pregnancy, for example, before 12 weeks, you know. Early pregnancy and the threat of miscarriage I was confused about this problem yesterday and what I did, sorry for the details...

Ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks. Ultrasound - harmful or not? Another question: I have a very long-awaited pregnancy, ultrasounds have already been done 2 times - at 5.5 weeks they were convinced that I had an ultrasound at 5-6 weeks, at 11 weeks, at 14 weeks and at 20 weeks due to.. .

Pregnancy and childbirth: conception, tests, ultrasound, toxicosis, childbirth, C-section, giving. We are talking about NOT a vaginal ultrasound; during pregnancy you need to have a full bladder? I did it in January of this year, I was 9 weeks old and my bladder needed to be filled...

Ultrasound during pregnancy: the first weeks. To do it or not? But if we are talking about the very first weeks of pregnancy, then throughout my first pregnancy I had a paid ultrasound and didn’t even mention a free one. First child, you don’t know anything yet, you’re afraid of everything and...

You don’t have to take a smear in the early stages, because you can’t treat for 12 weeks anyway. not always and not everyone can have sex during pregnancy, especially in the early stages. Examination on a chair is much more dangerous; it is better to make love with your husband with extreme caution... Ultrasound is not dangerous..

early ultrasound. I had an ultrasound a few days ago. Today I went for the first time to see my doctor, who I will see. If foreign doctors categorically do not recommend performing an ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy only to determine its presence or duration...

And it’s better not to do an ultrasound in the early stages at all. There are many cases when pregnancy is terminated. It’s better to count the period from the last one. Any research method and any device has a certain degree of accuracy, a certain error, etc. In your...

Section: Analyzes, studies, tests, ultrasound (how dangerous is megacystic at 12 weeks of pregnancy?) Can such an ultrasound be harmful? Thank you in advance! What are the dangers of early ultrasound? Early pregnancy and threat of miscarriage: is it necessary to treat?