Benefits of Ultrasound
Having a baby is one of the most precious things on earth. While we all expect our newborn to be healthy upon birth, monitoring their progress and checking for any issues before your due date is essential. This can be accomplished with a pregnancy ultrasound.
Want to know the sex of your baby? Need to monitor your baby’s health? Whatever the case may be, choose Peace of Mind Imaging for a trusted pregnancy ultrasound in Strongsville, OH.
In this post, we’ll discuss the advantages of having an ultrasound during pregnancy.
Confirming the pregnancy
Many people choose to get an ultrasound to check if they’re pregnant in the first place. Patients may show symptoms of being pregnant, but they need confirmation from a professional. Here at Peace of Mind Imaging, we can determine if you’re pregnant in a matter of minutes. Furthermore, our imaging experts can also perform other tests to ensure your pregnancy is running smoothly.
Knowing the gestational age
Another reason to get an ultrasound is to determine the gestational age of the developing fetus. While a typical pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, delivering your baby anywhere from 37 to 41 weeks is common. This is referred to as a term pregnancy.
Knowing the gestational age of the fetus gives specialists an understanding of the growth of your baby, which will be measured against professional growth charts. This is to confirm the normal development of the fetus and baby. The gestational age will then be verified after understanding the mother’s last menstrual period, which helps to confirm the due date and ensure everything is on track.
Identifying potential issues
A leading advantage of having an ultrasound during pregnancy involves identifying any issues or observations that need medical attention. One of which could be having multiple pregnancies, such as twins or triplets. While these types of pregnancies do happen occasionally, they carry unique risks that require close monitoring.
Parents may also want to screen for congenital anomalies or genetic issues. If these problems are detected, parents will have to make the difficult choice of terminating the pregnancy or keeping the baby. Understanding this information can help prepare your family for whatever lies ahead.
Checking for problems with the placenta
Pregnancy does come with risks, one of which involves issues with the placenta. In fact, during pregnancy, the position of the placenta is incredibly important.
An imaging specialist can check for the following conditions:
Placenta Previa
One issue that pulls up on an ultrasound is placenta previa, which is when the placenta lies too low in the uterus. Unfortunately, this can cause the placenta to actually cover the cervix. While this issue can resolve itself over time, things may not improve, potentially leading to traumatic bleeding while in labor.
Vasa Previa
This condition happens when the blood vessels of the baby are too close to the cervix. Unfortunately, these vessels aren’t protected by the placental tissue or umbilical cord, which could lead to rupturing when a mother’s membranes rupture. In this case, the mother may need a cesarean section delivery or extensive time in the hospital during the pregnancy.
Placenta Accreta
Placenta accreta is a condition that occurs when blood vessels and other areas of the placenta grow too far into the uterine wall. This can cause significant blood loss while in labor.
Placenta Increta
This happens when the placenta grows into the muscles of the uterus, which can cause serious problems.
Placenta Percreta
Placenta percreta is a condition in which the growing placenta penetrates the uterine wall.
Monitoring fetal growth
Throughout your pregnancy, ultrasound is a great way to understand your baby’s growth. If things don’t look normal, professionals can spot this early on and determine the proper course of action.
Reassuring parents
All in all, ultrasounds during pregnancy help to ease worries and provide peace of mind to parents and loved ones. While pregnancy can be challenging, ultrasounds can confirm your baby is in good health and is progressing properly.
Peace of Mind Imaging in Strongsville, OH
Whether it’s checking the gestational age or looking for any areas of concern, there are several reasons to get a pregnancy ultrasound. After all, you want to do what’s right for you and your baby. Here at Peace of Mind Imaging, we want the absolute best for you and your new creation of life. For a dependable pregnancy ultrasound in Strongsville, OH, contact us today to make an appointment!
