**Reasons for doing ultrasound** Ultrasound is a test during pregnancy for most pregnant women. It uses sound waves to show a picture of the baby inside the womb. Ultrasound helps the radiologist check the health of you and your baby. Ultrasound can be a special part of pregnancy - it's the first time you can see your baby! Depending on the timing and position of your baby, you may be able to see his hands, feet, and other parts of his body. You may be able to tell if your baby is a boy or a girl. ### **What are the reasons for ultrasound during pregnancy?** Using ultrasound, several things can be diagnosed in pregnancy, including: - To ensure pregnancy - To check the age and growth of your child - Examining the baby's heart rate, movement, etc. in the fetus - To check for multiple pregnancy To show defects in your child. Screening means to see if your child has perfect health conditions or not; But this does not mean that you can be sure that your child has a problem or that he is definitely healthy. After the ultrasound, your radiologist may want to do more tests, called diagnostic tests, to see if the baby has a birth defect. Birth defects are health diseases that a baby has at birth. Birth defects change the shape or function of one or more body parts. They can cause problems with general health, how the body looks, or how the body functions. ### **To check the ovaries and uterus** To check for pregnancy complications, including abnormal pregnancy, molar pregnancy and miscarriage. ### **Are there different types of ultrasound?** Yes, the type you get depends on what you need. As mentioned, NT sonography is used for you in the first trimester of pregnancy. While in the second trimester, the ultrasound used is anomalous ultrasound. Transvaginal ultrasound. This type of ultrasound is performed through the vagina. You are in a special place. Your radiologist will insert a thin transducer into your vagina. You may feel pressure in some areas, but this should not cause pain. Your bladder should be empty or only partially full. This type of ultrasound also takes about 20 minutes. In certain cases, your radiologist may use this type of ultrasound to get more information about your baby, including: Doppler ultrasound. This type of ultrasound is used to check your baby's blood flow if he is not growing normally. Your radiologist will use a transducer to listen to your baby's heartbeat and measure blood flow in the umbilical cord and in some of your baby's blood vessels. NT ultrasound, most women in the first trimester and before the 14th week of pregnancy receive detailed information about the status of their fetus using NT ultrasound. In this ultrasound, the fluid behind the fetus's neck is examined. **For more information on pregnancy ultrasounds, you can contact Dr. Seif's radiology and ultrasound center. Dr. Saif's ultrasound center contact numbers: 88553310** ### **Is ultrasound harmful?** Ultrasound is safe for you and your baby when performed by your radiologist. Because ultrasound uses sound waves instead of radiation, it is much safer than X-rays. Researchers have been using ultrasound for more than 30 years and have not discovered any dangerous risks. If your pregnancy is healthy, an ultrasound is good at detecting problems, but not good enough at finding them. Some birth defects may be missed. Sometimes a routine ultrasound may indicate that there is an obstetric condition that is not really there. ### **What happens after the ultrasound?** For most women, the ultrasound shows that the baby is developing normally. Sometimes the ultrasound may show that you and your baby need special care. ### **Conclusion** One of the safe and very appropriate diagnostic methods during pregnancy is ultrasound. But note that choosing the best ultrasound center has a great impact on the accuracy and low error of this examination. https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/ultrasound-during-pregnancy.aspx