46 February 2014 www.womanthismonth.com Although many women are aware that an ultrasound is a routine part of pregnancy check-ups, very few know its frequency, results and significance. Dr Roland Moawad, consultant obstetrics and gynaecology and foetal medicine at Royal Bahrain Hospital sheds light on the matter. FASHION Understanding Ultrasound Scans Dr Roland Moawad LIFESTYLE | ask the doctor Q: When should an ultrasound be done during pregnancy? What is its purpose in each stage? A: There are few stages in pregnancy when an ultrasound should be done. These are: • Very early pregnancy (6-7 weeks): This is essential for documentation of viability and gestational age, but more importantly for the assessment of the continuity of pregnancy. • At 12 -14 weeks: This is called the genetic ultrasound. At this stage, the ‘nuchal thickness’ is measured, which can give us information on whether the baby is chromosomally normal or not. Other foetal parameters that are evaluated are the nasal bone, the ductus venosus and the maxillary length. This is one of the most important scans for a pregnant woman. • 20-22 weeks: By this time, the foetus is well developed and most of its organs, from head to toe, can be seen and examined for possible anomalies. • 28-36 weeks: This exam will evaluate the foetal growth. Q: Do ultrasound scans have side effects? Should I avoid unnecessary ultrasounds? A: Ultrasound scans have been shown to be free of foetal or maternal side effects. It has also shown that even when done routinely and for no medical reasons, it can detect many abnormalities, which if left undetected could result in catastrophic effects on the mother or the foetus. After more than 60 years of use, the ultrasound has never been associated with any untoward effects for the mother or the foetus. Some authorities in various parts of the world are quite opposed to the unnecessary ultrasound as a majority of pregnant women expect to see their foetus on every prenatal visit. This practice, however, has never been reported to cause any harm. High risk pregnancies that may cause a significant risk to the foetus, or even the mother, may benefit tremendously by frequent ultrasound scans. Q: What is the importance of recent ultrasound techniques, such as vaginal ultrasound, 4D ultrasound and Doppler? A: Vaginal ultrasound is sometimes the nightmare of pregnant women. However, it is becoming increasingly obvious that it is the only technique to make certain very through this procedure. The most important aspect that pregnant women should understand is that vaginal ultrasound is extremely safe in pregnancy, and will, in no way, interfere in the foetal development. Since the development of 4D ultrasound, there is not a single pregnant woman who does not wish to see her baby in 4D or ‘a colour ultrasound’. There is no doubt that these pictures can be breathtaking. Parents should understand that results do not depend on the operator, but on the position of the foetus. Other techniques, such as Doppler, colour Doppler and biophysical profiles, are certainly essential in management and evaluation of high risk pregnancies. They should be performed if and when the occasion arises. Call 17 246-800.
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