Having your first sonogram appointment when you are expecting is an exciting milestone. A sonogram appointment is your first opportunity to glimpse your baby, and new technology means you will get to see a rather detailed image. Sonograms can also be stressful, but if you understand what will happen and you go in knowing what to expect, it can make the entire experience much easier. Here is what you need to know about sonograms.
What is a Sonogram
Sonogram and ultrasound are terms that many people use interchangeably. An ultrasound is a device that uses sound waves to create an image. Simply by gliding a device over your body, a trained professional can reveal an image of your baby. Those images are known as a sonogram, and they are the baby’s first images.
Sonograms have been around for a long time but were first used by obstetricians in the 1960s. By the 1970s, the practice of using an ultrasound device during pregnancy to monitor the health of the unborn child started to become standard. As technology improved, the quality of the images became more precise and detailed. For many years, sonograms provided a 2D image, but advancements in technology allow professionals to create 3D and even 4D images that show greater detail.
Why Have a Sonogram
Sonograms are used to monitor the development of the fetus during pregnancy. Ultrasounds are a valuable tool to help identify health issues or concerns early. Early detection can allow immediate treatment and minimize or possibly eliminate health issues. Another perk of a sonogram is it enables parents to know the gender of their unborn child. Not every parent wants to know, but the ability to find out is something many people look forward to learning.
First Sonogram
The first sonogram is usually conducted around the 7- or 8-week mark of pregnancy. The goal is to measure the length of the baby, which will help confirm the due date and try to hear the baby’s heartbeat. The first scan is also the appointment to confirm how many babies the mother-to-be is expecting.
The ultrasound will be conducted internally since the fetus is only about 2 centimeters long during this first appointment. The procedure is not as invasive as a pelvic exam, but it is not what most people think of when they envision an ultrasound.
Second Sonogram
The second sonogram is a nuchal translucency screening or a genetic screening ultrasound, and it is optional. At this appointment, doctors will look for indicators of chromosomal disorders.
Basic Anatomy Scan Ultrasound
The third scan is the basic anatomy scan, and this is the scan that parents generally look forward to and what most people usually associate with the idea of having an ultrasound. The third sonogram is a transabdominal ultrasound, and it is performed at five months or 20 weeks, and this is a complete look at the fetus. The objective is to confirm that the baby is developing at the proper and expected rate and all of the organs are present and in the correct locations.
During the basic anatomy scan, the technician applies gel to the patient’s midsection and glides a handheld transducer device over the stomach area. The gel helps the soundwaves travel through the skin, and the transducer sends the images to equipment that shows the images on a display. This scan usually takes at least 45 minutes, but it can take a few hours if the little one is not cooperating.
The technician is looking for several specific things during the basic anatomy scan. The baby’s gender will be identified, and the technician can reveal this information if the parents want to know. Some of the fetus’s body parts that are observed, measured, and possibly documented during the scan include:
- Arms, legs, feet, and hands
- Chest, heart, stomach, kidneys, bladder, and diaphragm
- Head and face
- Spine
- Umbilical cord
- Amount of amniotic fluid
- Size, shape, and location of the placenta
3D and 4D Scans
More detailed images are available during a 3D and 4D scan. A 2D sonogram image is black-and-white and shows a profile image. A 3D sonogram image is more like a regular photo, and it offers facial features, allowing the parents to get a greater sense of their little one’s appearance. If you want to have an even better idea of what your little one is like, then the 4D scan is the best option since it shows movement. You get the same level of detail in the 3D image, but it is video, so you can see the baby actually moving.
Be Prepared
Pregnancy is exciting and nerve-wracking, and amazing all at the same time. While sonograms provide medical professionals with crucial information, the scan can also be an opportunity to see your little one for the first time. It can be scary, but it is also wondrous, and when you understand what to expect, it can make the entire experience much easier.
