There are times when a woman cannot remember exactly when she had her last menstruation. Therefore, the most accurate way to determine the duration of her pregnancy is only with the help of ultrasound.
Among all the modern diagnostic methods that determine the gestational age, only ultrasound examination makes it possible to accurately determine the age of the fetus.

Why do you need to know the exact date of conception? The most important reason for this is a woman going on maternity leave.. The expectant mother is sent to it at 7 and a half months. To avoid any difficulties, you should have a doctor’s certificate indicating the exact period of the woman’s interesting situation.

If a woman goes for an ultrasound examination for the first time in order to determine the exact date of birth in the last trimester, then the possibility of error will increase significantly. This is due to the fact that the development of all children is different. Consequently, by the time she needs to go on prenatal leave, it must be known exactly how many weeks she is before giving birth.

The question of how long a pregnancy is is of concern not only to expectant parents. For doctors who are responsible for the health of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, it is even more important. A specialist in an antenatal clinic needs this data to determine whether the fetus is developing correctly and whether the entire process of developing a new life is proceeding normally.

How is the gestational age determined? How accurately does this data reveal the birth of new life? One way to determine this can be the words of the woman herself. Every representative of the fair half knows how many days have passed since the last menstruation and almost always remembers exactly the first day of the last menstruation. It is from this day that the doctor begins to count the duration of her pregnancy. This is the so-called obstetric method of determination.

If a woman was planning to become a mother and measured basal temperature or folliculometry, then the data she received can be very helpful to the doctor.

If conception is suspected, the woman comes monthly for an appointment at the antenatal clinic, where the doctor examines the woman, and if the uterus is enlarged, it is assumed that pregnancy has occurred. The entire period of gestation for the expectant mother is determined by the period of her interesting position according to the height of the uterus (for this purpose, the volume of her abdomen is measured), the size of the pelvis is also important.
But all these indicators are not considered one hundred percent accurate.

A more accurate method for determining the period of an interesting position is ultrasound examination. At twelve to fourteen weeks, all women preparing to become mothers are sent for an ultrasound. At this time, it is possible to see whether the fetus is developing correctly. When determining the period in the first three months, it is not always possible to see many important details; diagnosis in these cases is carried out strictly according to indications.

Until the tenth week, the period is determined by the size of the embryo. This is due to the fact that in the first months all embryos develop equally. During this period it is difficult to make a mistake; the error usually does not exceed several days. And in the second trimester, development becomes individual for each individual fetus.

If you go for ultrasound diagnostics immediately after fertilization, then even the most cutting-edge device will show absolutely nothing. You can contact a specialist no earlier than a week after the delay. First, the woman must be examined by a gynecologist. Only he can decide whether there is a need to undergo an ultrasound at such an early stage.

The fact is that transabdominal ultrasound examination at this stage will not give any results. In this case, the diagnostic procedure is carried out using a special sensor, which is inserted into the vagina. Only in this way is there a chance to examine the embryo.

At such early stages, transvaginal examination is carried out only in cases of urgent need, for example, there are serious suspicions that the fetus is not developing in the uterus. Also, diagnosis and determination of the fetal term in the early period using ultrasound are necessary during in vitro fertilization, when it is necessary to check whether it was successful.

It must be remembered that pregnancy can be easily interrupted in the first months, so such procedures should be approached with caution if you want to give birth to a child.

So when can you go for an ultrasound examination for a reason? When can the “age” of the fetus be accurately determined? How many times should a woman go for ultrasound diagnostics to determine her due date? If in the first week after fertilization you can’t see anything for sure, then already in the third week you can determine pregnancy with one hundred percent accuracy.

Why is ultrasound diagnostics carried out at various periods to determine the lifespan of the embryo and fetal development:

• in the fifth to eighth week, an ultrasound confirms the presence of the embryo in the uterus and where it is attached. During this period, it is already possible to calculate his heart rate and visualize how he moves. Determine the thickness of the layer of the uterus that will subsequently become the placenta;
• in the tenth to twelfth week you can accurately determine the “age” of the fetus and whether it is developing correctly. At this stage, the due date is determined. The doctor assesses the width of the collar zone. At this time, most of the possible pathologies and developmental anomalies are already visible. If its indicators are within the normal range, this indicates normal development of the fetus in genetic terms;
• The twenty-second to twenty-fourth week is the best time to exclude malformations and calculate the day of birth. The volume of water around the unborn child, development and size of the fetus are also assessed.

If any abnormalities are suspected, the woman is referred for genetic consultation. If the unborn baby can be examined from all sides, the gender can be determined with one hundred percent accuracy;

• The thirtieth to thirty-second week is the most suitable period for assessing the activity of movements of the unborn child. During the study, you can see whether the baby is developing correctly and whether he is mobile. It is also determined whether the blood flow to the placenta and the main reproductive organ of the expectant mother is intense. If the baby is entwined with the umbilical cord or is positioned incorrectly in the uterus, the specialist may prescribe an additional ultrasound before the birth. At this time, they decide which type of delivery is most suitable in a particular case (the woman herself will give birth or the child will be born by caesarean section).

Accuracy of ultrasound diagnostics in determining gestational age

If a woman has a regular menstrual cycle, that is, twenty-eight days of the calendar, then the data on the expected period of the fetus, obtained by ultrasound, coincides with the first day of the last menstruation. If these indicators still do not coincide, then ultrasound diagnostics should be used. This is due to the fact that fertilization often occurs fourteen days after the first day of the last menstrual period.

It happens that the determination of the period of an interesting position based on the size of the uterus does not coincide with the data obtained from an ultrasound examination. This depends on the individual characteristics of the pregnant woman, but this information is still taken into account. Also, the development of the fetus itself may not correspond to the usual time characteristics. In this case, ultrasound diagnostics can put everything in its place. These discrepancies can be fourteen days in the thirtieth week and 21 days in the 36th to 40th weeks.

Nature is more cunning than all possible calculations, so even ultrasound cannot show one hundred percent accurate date of birth. Even if the expectant mother knows when fertilization occurred, an ultrasound examination provides data that is fourteen days ahead of this date. It turns out that ultrasound cannot give the exact date of birth, but it calculates the due date more accurately than all other methods.

The day of birth is calculated based on 38 weeks. But a normal pregnancy lasts 38-40 weeks, that is, again, plus or minus two weeks: there are women who give birth at 39 or 40 weeks. Gestation lasts forty weeks according to ultrasound, 38 according to gynecologist estimates. Normal birth occurs at 40 weeks on an ultrasound scan or on the first day of the last period - ten days after the date. Even if the due date is calculated correctly, birth may occur earlier due to medications, illnesses of the expectant mother, injuries and stress.

A pregnant woman should be examined with ultrasound four times during her entire happy period. If there is a suspicion of spontaneous abortion, the procedure is performed more often. But isn't ultrasound harmful for a woman and her unborn baby?

The harm from ultrasound has not been proven, but there is also no data on its complete harmlessness. Not a single newborn baby suffered from the ultrasonic waves to which it was exposed in the womb. But no one knows what will happen to these children and their descendants in thirty, fifty or more years. Therefore, it is not recommended to increase the number of visits to the ultrasound diagnostic room without serious reasons. It is necessary to immediately appear for a diagnostic procedure, which is carried out using ultrasonic waves, if the expectant mother’s well-being has sharply deteriorated, bloody discharge from the vagina has appeared, and there has been no movement for a long time.

For what reasons may an ultrasound not show an embryo in the uterus?

It is not uncommon for a woman to experience all the subjective signs of pregnancy with a positive test, but an ultrasound examination did not confirm the fact of future motherhood.

This can happen for the following reasons:

• if a woman came for a diagnostic procedure earlier than necessary;
• the study was carried out transabdominally;
• outdated or insufficiently accurate ultrasound machine;
• insufficient qualifications of the doctor who performed the diagnosis;
• at the time of the procedure, a spontaneous abortion had already occurred (which is not uncommon in the early stages).

It is worth considering one more important detail. The viability of sperm is 72 hours. Therefore, it is impossible to say exactly when fertilization occurred. This means that during ultrasound diagnostics the gestational age will be determined with an error of two to three days.

It should be remembered that you should not take risks and undergo diagnostics in a multidisciplinary clinic where there is no high-quality equipment and competent specialists. It is better to contact a specialized institution, where research is carried out by experienced specialists using modernized and precise equipment.

It is equally important to consider that the question of how many times you need to go for an ultrasound examination should be decided only by a doctor.

How to accurately determine the gestational age using ultrasound and CTE

In fact, calculating the gestational age by week is important not only for the expectant mother, but also for the doctor. The timing of tests and screenings depends on this. In addition, a comparison of the gestational age and the size of the baby indicates its development and the absence of pathologies.

The most accurate method is ultrasound, but for the first time it is done only after the 10th week, if there are no indications for an earlier ultrasound examination.

Therefore, the gynecologist first determines the period using other methods.

1. used by many expectant mothers. To do this, you need to know the date of ovulation during the last menstruation, and calculate the gestational age from it. The method is quite accurate, but not always a girl will be able to correctly calculate the day of ovulation. If you are wondering how to determine the gestational age with an irregular cycle, this method will not suit you.
2. In this case, try . To do this, subtract three months from the first day of your last period and add seven days. This will be the estimated date of birth, from which you can calculate your current due date. This Naegele formula is used by gynecologists when calculating the period of pregnancy, but does not provide absolute accuracy.
3. She will tell you how to accurately determine the gestational age. Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that is found in the body only of pregnant girls. While expecting a baby, its level increases every week, and therefore it is possible to determine the due date quite accurately. To do this, you need to donate blood from a vein. However, this method is usually used when doctors have doubts about the safe condition of the fetus. If you want to find out your gestational age purely out of curiosity, use other methods.
4. For example, you can find out the due date by fetal movement. However, this is only possible after 18 - 20 weeks, which is when the girl begins to feel movements. And by this time the gestational age will already be known by ultrasound.
5. In addition, a gynecologist will be able to answer your question during the examination. He will determine the gestational age by measuring the length of the uterus. So, at 4-5 weeks the uterus usually reaches the size of a chicken egg, and by 10 weeks - a woman’s fist.

How to determine gestational age using ultrasound

We have already talked about how a gynecologist determines the gestational age during an examination. However, the accuracy of the calculations depends on many factors, including the doctor’s experience. The most reliable way to find out the due date is to calculate the gestational age using an ultrasound.

In the absence of special indications, the expectant mother will come for the first ultrasound at about 10 - 12 weeks. At this time, the first screening study is carried out to find out whether the fetus has developmental abnormalities.

Is it possible to accurately determine the gestational age using an ultrasound? Yes. You just need to do this exactly for a period of 10 to 12 weeks. The fact is that at this time all children in the womb develop equally. After 12 weeks, individual growth characteristics come into play: some babies grow a little faster, others a little slower. Therefore, at a later date, calculations will not be so objective. How accurately does an ultrasound determine the gestational age - accurate to within a few days? It is worth noting that the ultrasound method is the most objective and accurate, because modern devices have gone far ahead of those that were used at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries.

Now let's talk about how doctors determine the gestational age using ultrasound. Using a special sensor, the doctor scans the uterus in various projections and takes the necessary measurements. In each projection, he measures the fetal coccyx-parietal size (CPR): the distance from the child’s parietal bone to his coccyx. It is from the CTE that the doctor will be able to calculate the gestational age. Each term has its own CTR: the higher it is, the longer the term. So, at 5 weeks the coccygeal-parietal size of the fetus corresponds to 5 mm, and at 12 weeks - 52 mm.

Currently, the possibilities for diagnosing pregnancy and determining the expected date of birth (EDD) are very diverse. Methods for establishing the fact of pregnancy are divided into: objective and subjective, invasive and non-invasive. But it’s worth stopping at a method that will not harm the unborn baby. Ultrasound fully meets this requirement. Ultrasound is a non-invasive method based on the reflection of ultrasonic waves in the body's media. N How accurately can you determine PPD and gestational age using ultrasound? Is it possible to reliably find out the date of birth using an examination? Let's look at all these questions in this article.

When and why is ultrasound performed?

The first ultrasound screening (10 - 14 weeks) has the following goals:

• accurate detection of intrauterine pregnancy;
• calculation of traffic regulations;
• confirmation/exclusion of multiple pregnancy;
• search for developmental defects.

The second ultrasound screening (20 - 24 weeks) performs the following tasks:

• assessment of the degree of fetal development;
• identification of fetal malformations;
• measurement of amniotic fluid volume;
• assessment of the structure and location of the placenta.

Fetometric parameters of a screening study in the II and III trimesters:

• biparietal head diameter;
• fronto-occipital size of the head;
• Head circumference;
• transverse abdominal size;
• abdominal circumference;
• length of the femur.

The third ultrasound screening (32 - 34 weeks) is carried out for the following purposes:

• diagnosis of fetal position (presentation);
• additional assessment of the placenta;
• Calculation of the estimated date of birth.

Establishing the gestational age using ultrasound

It should be remembered that ultrasound is safe for the unborn child and his mother and has no restrictions during pregnancy. It is important that at different stages of pregnancy the doctor has access to different information about the unborn baby. The gestational age is determined according to established parameters. That's why three-time screening was developed.

From the 4th week of pregnancy, an ultrasound specialist can already see the body of the embryo. Thus, from 4 weeks you can accurately determine whether pregnancy has occurred and roughly call it PDR.

First, to estimate the gestational age, you can calculate the size of the fertilized egg. Due to greater variability in values, this parameter is less accurate. The coccyx-parietal size (CPR) is one of the first indicators of fetal growth; it is measured by the length of the body from the crown to the coccyx and is a more accurate value.

In the second half of pregnancy, the following parameters are measured to determine its duration:

1. Biparietal size of the embryo's head.

This indicator is used as an auxiliary parameter in clarifying the gestational age. If the BPR goes beyond acceptable limits:

• The doctor studies other parameters to rule out pathology. We can talk about a large fetus if all indicators are above normal for two or more weeks. It is possible that the child is growing spasmodically if other fetometry values ​​are within normal limits.
• Large deviations from the norm often indicate a brain tumor or cerebral hernia.
• Your expected due date may come sooner than expected.

2. Abdominal circumference.

The indicator is measured at the level of the fetal liver. With pathological values, it can act as an indicator of intrauterine hypoxia and, consequently, growth retardation. In this case, the due date may be delayed.

3. Length of the femur.

From the 13th week of gestation, the baby's long bones become visible on ultrasound, so the length of the femur is measured. The femur is the most accessible tubular bone. The length of the bone is normally proportional to other parameters. Thus, you can accurately find out and calculate whether the unborn baby is developing evenly.

Determining the expected date of birth

The normal length of pregnancy is 40 weeks or 280 days. It is impossible to say exactly the date of birth of a child. Doctors calculate only the approximate date of birth. Childbirth that occurs between 37 and 42 weeks is called urgent (that is, it is a birth that occurred on time). But for each child the period of maturation is individual. For example, at 37 - 38 weeks a newborn may still be premature, and at 41 weeks it may already be postterm.

Date of birth is only an approximate indicator

Methods for calculating the maximum allowance:

• According to ultrasound data. The first screening test is carried out at 12-14 weeks. At this time, you can say with 100% certainty whether pregnancy has occurred or not. Calculation of the maximum period is carried out at a later date, starting from the 2nd trimester. The degree of reliability of the PDR will depend on how accurately the parameters are calculated.
• According to the degree of maturity of the cervix. This method is relative, since only the degree of maturity of the cervix can be assessed, but not the exact date of birth.
• Colpocytological test. By collecting cells from the cervix, their qualitative and quantitative composition is examined using microscopy.
• First day of last menstruation. 280 days are added to this day and the due date is obtained at 40 weeks.
• Ovulation day. The first day of the expected menstruation is 14 days + 273 days. Many women have irregular periods, so the method is relative.
• Day of expected fertilization. The method is reliable only in the case of IVF. Calculation: date of conception minus 90 days.
• The day the baby first moves. Calculation: for primiparous women, 20 weeks are added to the date of the first movement, for multiparous women - 22.
• The day of maternity leave. If the vacation begins at 30 weeks, then another 10 weeks are added.

The importance of accurately calculating gestational age

Determining the timing of pregnancy is of clinical importance and allows:

• carry out the necessary studies in a timely manner (for example, timely find out the level of AFP in the mother’s blood serum, amniotic fluid);
• diagnose intrauterine growth retardation.

To determine the gestational age, the results of the woman’s examination are based on the results of the examination, taking into account:

• size of the uterus;
• height of the uterine fundus;
• ultrasound results.

Conclusion: why is prenatal diagnosis needed?

Prenatal screening is used to carefully monitor the development of the unborn baby in the womb; it includes biochemical studies and ultrasound diagnostics.

During ultrasound diagnostics, a specialist will be able to carry out accurate fetometry of the main dimensions of the fetus (measurement of the anatomical structures of the child before birth), which were mentioned above. Such diagnostics are used to determine the exact duration of pregnancy and calculate the PDR. The parameters to be taken into account change with increasing gestational age.

Additional features of the technique:

• clarification of the child's gender;
• taking into account the peculiarities of organ development;
• the ability to calculate the circumference of the head, chest, abdomen.

It is generally accepted that during a normal pregnancy, its average duration in the population is about 280 days, if we count from the first day of the last menstruation which is called "obstetric gestational age". This calculation is used to determine the timing of prenatal leave and the expected date of birth, as well as to estimate the size of the fetus according to ultrasound data during pregnancy more than 12 weeks.

To determine the expected date of birth, according to the obstetric period, from the date of the first day of the last menstruation according to the calendar count back three months and add 7 days. However, it should be borne in mind that the expected due date is not a fixed date. This is just a certain period of time, amounting to ± 10-12 days, when labor is most likely to occur. The fact is that the gestation period for each woman in each of her pregnancies is strictly individual, varying within certain limits around an average duration of 280 days.

Sometimes they use the so-called calculation "embryonic period" pregnancy from the moment of conception, which is often almost coincides with the date of ovulation. The fact is that a woman’s menstrual cycle (the period from the 1st day of one menstruation to the 1st day of the next menstruation) lasts on average 28-30 days. During the first half of the menstrual cycle, a follicle matures in one of the ovaries, and ovulation occurs on days 14-15. In this case, a mature egg is released from the follicle. Taking into account that a mature egg is capable of fertilization within 2 days after ovulation, and sperm have fertilizing activity within 4 days after ejaculation, the total period of the most probable possibility of conception is about 6 days. The embryonic period is shorter than the obstetric period by approximately 14 - 15 days .

In clinical practice, doctors mainly use the calculation of the “obstetric period”, since most pregnant women know well when the first day of the last menstruation was, but not all of them have a clear idea of ​​the date of conception.

It is also possible to determine the gestational age by the size of the uterus and the movement of the fetus. However, these criteria are not precise, as they have a pronounced individual character. The fact is that the size of the uterus at the same stage of pregnancy varies widely among different women, which does not allow us to estimate the gestational age of each individual patient with an accuracy of up to a week.

The sensation of fetal movement is also very subjective and depends on the sensitivity threshold of each woman. So some women may, for example, begin to feel fetal movements from 18 weeks, while others only from 22 weeks. But in fact, the fetus begins to move from 7-8 weeks.

Quite typical and widespread is the misconception is that ultrasound is used to determine the gestational age. This doesn't actually happen. In the process of this study, another equally important question is solved - for what period of pregnancy are the fetal sizes obtained during the study typical, provided that the expected period of pregnancy is known, which, in turn, is calculated from the first day of the last menstruation or from the date of conception. Therefore, if in some observation, for example, it is known that the expected gestational age is 32 weeks, and according to ultrasound data, the size of the fetus is characteristic of a gestational age of 29 weeks, then no one will argue that the gestational age is 29 weeks and not 32. It will it was concluded that there is a delay in fetal size by 3 weeks, which will require a more in-depth examination to determine the reasons. In addition, in dynamics, ultrasound assesses the rate (speed of fetal growth) in accordance with the gestational age.

During the normal course of pregnancy, which occurs in most patients, the size of the fetus and the gestational age coincide, which creates a false assumption that ultrasound can determine the gestational age.

It is also important to take into account the following circumstances: up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the length of the embryo (its coccygeal-parietal size - CTE) and the average internal diameter of the ovum are assessed using ultrasound, the correspondence of the measurement results to the gestational age is assessed using tables calculated for the “embryonic period” ", which is 2 weeks less than obstetric.

At a later date, ultrasound is used to compare the results of fetal measurements using ultrasound. tables calculated for obstetric period(from the first day of the last menstruation).

If the doctor who conducted the study up to 12 weeks did not make an adjustment by 2 weeks for the obstetric period, then discrepancies of 2 weeks may arise between the gestational ages that were suggested by ultrasound data before 12 weeks and after. In reality there is no difference. You should only add 2 weeks to the result obtained before 12 weeks, if this has not been done.

Thus, the gestational age in weeks is determined only on the basis of a set of data, including the date of the last menstruation, the date of conception, dynamic ultrasound results, and data on the rate of fetal growth.

Ultrasound diagnostics is very widely used in gynecology and obstetrics. The embryo (fetus) floats in the amniotic fluid, and ultrasound penetrates well through the aquatic environment. In places where tissues change density, it is refracted and reflected, which is perceived by the sensor, which sends and receives waves and transmits them to the monitor screen of the ultrasound machine in the form of an image.

– one of the most informative methods for diagnosing pregnancy itself, its localization and the development of the baby.

• Where to perform ultrasound examination
• Is ultrasound harmful for a child?
• How often can you do it
• How far along will pregnancy show?
• Minimum period for determining pregnancy
• What ultrasound should be done for diagnosis?
• Determination of gender

In civilized countries, often practicing gynecologists have their own portable or stationary ultrasound machine and, if necessary, can examine a pregnant woman immediately at the appointment. They look at how the child is developing, see if there are any anomalies in his development, and clarify the timing. With the help of modern devices, you can do an ultrasound and get maximum information about the course of pregnancy:

• • do Doplerometry (assess the quality of blood flow from mother to child, the functioning of the circulatory system in the fetus itself, look at the heart, large load-bearing vessels and vessels going to the brain);

• obtain three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) images of the fetus.

Where to do an ultrasound

It needs to be done where there is expert-class equipment and where there is a highly qualified sonologist (ultrasound doctor). Unfortunately, there are much more good equipment for ultrasound diagnostics than good specialists. Therefore, you need to set a goal in advance and find out where high-quality diagnostics are carried out.

High-resolution devices allow Doppler measurements and transform waves into three-dimensional or four-dimensional stereo images. This allows you to clearly see the fetus, examine its front part of the head, fingers and toes, and examine the features of the umbilical cord attachment.

3D and 4D ultrasound imaging is a meaningful image for mom and dad-to-be. And everything that the doctor needs to see to assess the course of pregnancy can be done using a conventional ultrasound machine.

It is useful to introduce dad to his future baby, in this case 3D and 4D devices help to do this in the best possible way.

Is it harmful to the fetus?

Pregnant women often ask whether ultrasound is harmful during pregnancy. Ultrasound waves have a physical effect on cells, so it is impossible to say that ultrasound during pregnancy is completely harmless. The waves emitted by the sensor lead to an increase in the temperature of the tissues and their fluctuations. Modern ultrasound equipment has very low power.

This is precisely controlled by manufacturing companies. The device operates in pulse mode. The overall impact of ultrasonic waves during diagnosis is minimized. In addition, ultrasound propagates over a surface area. The larger the surface, the less the influence of ultrasonic waves. That is, the longer the gestational age, the safer their effect on the fetus.

How often can you do it

In the early stages, when the embryo is very small, there is more power per unit surface. Therefore, sonologists recommend not to overuse ultrasound at the beginning of pregnancy and do it infrequently: only for strict indications. If the time frame is long, then the fundamental importance is lost; you can do ultrasound as much as needed.

When is an ultrasound done?

There are certain periods when ultrasound must be done:

• The first time when you need to do an ultrasound is -. At this time, you can quite clearly examine the embryo, determine the heartbeat, study the head and its structure, face, limbs, see where the placenta is attached, and determine the size. Based on certain criteria, one may suspect Down syndrome or serious developmental defects (cleft lip, malformations of the kidneys, heart, arms, legs, etc.).
• The next time when you need to do an ultrasound is -. At this time, all organs of the fetus, heart, liver, kidneys, brain structure, and face are clearly visible. At the same time, the gestational age is clarified, it is determined whether the fetus is developing correctly and whether it is not lagging behind in its development.
• The last time a mandatory ultrasound is done is during the period. This time it is determined how the fetus lies (head down or pelvic end). You can determine: its size, assess how large it is, whether its development corresponds to the gestational age, study the structure and degree of maturity of the placenta, features of the amniotic fluid, and identify developmental defects that were not previously noticed.

An ultrasound should be done when it is needed and as many times as needed according to indications. In some situations, for example, during a complicated pregnancy, ultrasound has to be done much more often. There is no need to be afraid of ultrasound during pregnancy. Nowadays, women are already giving birth who were themselves once the objects of ultrasound examination (when they were in their mother’s belly). No negative or harmful effects following ultrasound examinations have been observed or scientifically confirmed.

Today, ultrasound diagnostics is considered absolutely harmless. But there is no point in doing an ultrasound like this, just in case. Perhaps over time there will be more accurate data on its effect on the child, because ultrasound diagnostics have only been carried out for about 60 years.

Determining pregnancy in the early stages

Unfortunately, the embryo is not always . Ultrasound in the early stages to determine pregnancy allows you to see where the pregnancy is developing - in the uterus or outside it. Occurs when or within the abdominal cavity. The listed complications have dangerous consequences for the mother and require urgent surgical intervention.

At what stage will the test show pregnancy?

An ultrasound will show pregnancy at term, starting with a delay of 1-1.5 weeks. Before the 7th day of a missed period, you should not do it, because an ultrasound examination will not show pregnancy. Day 7 is the minimum period for determining the presence of pregnancy, since the day of conception is not precisely known.

You can see the fetal heartbeat. The embryo itself is barely noticeable, but the heartbeat is visible, and the localization of pregnancy in the pelvis is also visible. In fact, multiple births (twins) are immediately determined.

In the early stages, an ultrasound will immediately show a non-developing or frozen pregnancy, which are diagnosed quite often. Natural selection exists, and low-quality embryos are rejected by the maternal body in the early stages (before). Less commonly, the embryo is rejected at a later time. And in these cases, ultrasound helps. It is possible to diagnose a “non-developing pregnancy” if such signs are visualized on the screen.