Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman’s life: pleasant, sensitive, full of hope and joy. This time of waiting for the baby’s birth is special for every pregnant woman. That is why every mother wants to be sure the baby is healthy.

Ultrasound in pregnancy is the best and safest method of modern prenatal medicine.

Ultrasound in the first trimester of pregnancy is a very valuable examination method for assessing the condition of the embryo and its normal development.

With the help of ultrasound, it is possible to monitor the intrauterine state of the fetus and the dynamics of development. 

This method allows ruling out serious fetal abnormalities and determine the risk of chromosomal pathologies.

The ultrasound screening in the first trimester of pregnancy also allows assessing the functions of the uterus, cervix and ovaries and determining the causes of vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain (if any).

To confirm fetal implantation, we recommend the first ultrasound at 5-7 weeks.

This is important in order to understand whether the embryo has correctly attached to the uterine cavity, to establish the exact gestational age and to estimate the size of the fertilized egg and embryo and the number of embryos. A fetal heartbeat can be detected at 6 weeks.

Ultrasound is included in the first pregnancy screening at 11-13 (+6 days) weeks.

This ultrasound is very important and is performed for:

• assessment of fetal motor activity and heartbeat;
• crown-rump length and biparietal diameter measurement to confirm the normal fetal development;
• measurement of the nuchal translucency and nasal bone (important markers to detect chromosomal abnormalities);
• assessment of the structure of internal organs, spine and brain;
• location of placenta, its thickness and structure;
• measurement of blood flow in the uterine arteries;
• measuring the length of the cervix to rule out the risk of cervical insufficiency (when cervix shortens, weakens or opens too soon during pregnancy).

Transabdominal ultrasound before 12 weeks is performed with a full bladder. This is necessary for better visualization of the fetus and pelvic organs. In this way, the doctor will be able to obtain the most reliable results.

It is not necessary to fill the bladder during the examination in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.

Ultrasound in the 2nd trimester is included in the second pregnancy screening (18-22 week ultrasound).

The correspondence of fetal development to the gestational age is assessed and a detailed examination of organs and organ systems, in particular the heart and brain, is performed at this stage.

This ultrasound is used to assess the following:

• motor activity of the fetus;
• fetal heartbeat;
• detailed assessment of the development of internal organs according to the gestational age;
• ruling out the developmental abnormalities with late manifestation;
• amount of amniotic fluid;
• localization of placenta, its structure and thickness;
• cervical length.

Ultrasound in the 3rd trimester is performed at 28-32 weeks of pregnancy and allows determining:

• baby position in womb (longitudinal or transverse lie; cephalic or breech presentation);
• amount of amniotic fluid;
• fetal size;
• blood flow in the umbilical cord and uterine arteries;
• risk of preterm birth and late preeclampsia;
• state of the cervix;
• a birth method.

If abnormalities in the development of the fetus or the condition of the mother, pregnancy complications or complaints are detected, the doctor can prescribe unscheduled additional ultrasound screenings to assess the dynamics and predict possible consequences.

Apart from routine ultrasounds, it is important to see a doctor for additional examination if there is lower abdominal pain, bleeding or no fetal movement.

We are waiting for you in our Berehynia Medical Center for a top quality ultrasound screening during your pregnancy with expert class equipment and trained health professionals.