Pregnancy

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How can I read a pregnancy ultrasound?

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Your doctor will guide you through the various key aspects of your pregnancy ultrasound report as it will have a lot of medical jargon.

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What are the benefits of opting for an ultrasound during pregnancy?

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Some benefits include: To check your baby’s age and growth. This helps your provider figure out your due date. To check your baby’s heartbeat, muscle tone, movement and overall development To check to see if you’re pregnant with twins, triplets or more (also called multiples) To check if your baby is in the heads-first position before birth To examine your ovaries and uterus (womb). Ovaries are where eggs are stored in your body. Ultrasound is also used for screening for birth defects, like spina bifida or heart defects. After an ultrasound, your provider may want to do more tests, called diagnostic tests, to see for sure if your baby has a birth defect. Birth defects are health conditions that a baby has at birth. Birth defects change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body. They can cause problems in overall health, in how the body develops, or in how the body works. To help with other prenatal tests, like chorionic villus sampling (also called CVS) or amniocentesis (also called amnio). CVS is when cells from the placenta are taken for testing. The placenta is tissue that provides nutrients for your baby. Amnio is a test where amniotic fluid and cells are taken from the sac around your baby. Ultrasound is also used in checking for pregnancy complications, including ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy and miscarriage.

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Will an ultrasound harm me or the baby?

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Ultrasound is safe for you and your baby when done by your health care provider. Because ultrasound uses sound waves instead of radiation, it’s safer than X-rays. Providers have used ultrasound for more than 30 years, and they have not found any dangerous risks. If your pregnancy is healthy, ultrasound is good at ruling out problems, but it can’t find every problem. It may miss some birth defects. Sometimes, a routine ultrasound may suggest that there is a birth defect when there really isn’t one. While follow-up tests often show that the baby is healthy, false alarms can cause worry for parents.

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How many ultrasounds do I need during a pregnancy?

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This varies based on the woman and her pregnancy. If you have a healthy pregnancy, you'll only need two ultrasounds (down syndrome and detailed structural screening). The first one is usually scheduled for late in the first trimester, around the 11 to 14-week mark. The second ultrasound comes around 18 to 20 weeks. Some patients may have their first ultrasound prior to 11 weeks.

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When will the foetal heart rate start?

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The foetal heart starts beating about 22 days after conception, but the earliest you will be able to spot it onscreen is five weeks after your last period. On scan, you can start seeing it from 7 to 8 weeks. Depending on the machine, you can hear it from 11 to 12 weeks.

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My bathroom trips have increased significantly? Is it because of pregnancy?

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Frequent urination is one of the most common early symptoms of pregnancy that starts in the first trimester, around week 4 (or the time you'd be getting your period). Fortunately, this pressure is often relieved once the uterus rises into your abdominal cavity during the second trimester, although you may not notice much relief. Most women, however, find they have to pee with even more frequency late in pregnancy, from about week 35 on.

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How can I calculate my EDD?

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Your due date is calculated by adding 280 days (40 weeks) to the first day of your last menstrual period (assuming a 28 day cycle). Note that your menstrual period and ovulation are counted as the first two weeks of pregnancy. If you deliver on your due date, your baby is actually only 38 weeks old, not 40. Please remember that your due date is only an estimate. Every pregnancy is unique and your baby will come when it's ready. Be sure to talk to your doctor or OBGYN about your due date.

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Are abdominal pains a cause for alarm?

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Mild abdominal cramps, even if accompanied by chills and fever, aren't necessarily a cause for alarm. It is common for the round ligament of the uterus to cause discomfort as the womb grows. Call your doctor and make yourself comfortable by lying down. Mild cramps can signal something as simple as slight pressure on the pelvic area. On the other hand, serious cramps are a different matter entirely. Don't hesitate to call your doctor if you feel like something's not quite right.

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Is it okay if I smoke when pregnant?

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Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of health problems for developing babies, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects of the mouth and lip. Smoking during and after pregnancy also increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Smoking anytime during your pregnancy is dangerous. There is no safe amount of smoking. Every puff of a cigarette releases harmful chemicals that will reach your baby and affect your health too. E-cigarettes are also not harmless. Although there is still much to learn about e-cigarettes, pregnant women should not use them. The nicotine in e-cigarettes is harmful for developing babies. Quitting is the best thing you can do for you and your baby.

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What is the glucose tolerance test and why is it important for me and the baby?

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A Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) is a blood test that is used to diagnose impaired glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes during pregnancy. The test measures your body’s ability to maintain a normal blood glucose (sugar) level. Glucose screening and glucose tolerance testing can help you detect gestational diabetes early, and give you a chance to minimize the risks of this condition. It is crucial for the mum and the baby because untreated or badly controlled gestational diabetes can cause polyhydramnios (excess amounts of amniotic fluid in the water bag), abnormal growth of baby (very big or small babies), linked to 20% of high-blood pressure, as well as increase risk of jaundice after delivery. It can also lead to premature delivery, traumatic delivery (if the baby is too big) and low blood sugar level of the baby after delivery, which can then affect respiration and feeding (suckling). Routine screening is usually done at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation.

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