Once you’ve managed to get pregnant, you will find yourself swelling one more ways than one. First, your body will begin to expand, but this isn’t the only transformation, which will occur. Also, your excitement will swell exponentially.
You’ll find yourself getting into the role of a mother and already looking forward to the future. One of the most exciting moments you will ever experience is first seeing your baby boy or girl. This will occur with the utilization of an ultrasound. Within this guide, you will learn precisely what ultrasounds are, their benefits and what you should expect, during the 7 week ultrasound.
What Is Ultrasound?
First and most importantly, you should familiarize yourself with the basics regarding the ‘ultrasound’. What is it and what will it do for you? Well, in laymen’s terms, this technology is capable of providing you with a picture of your toddler. Generally, this system can be utilized for various other purposes, but it is most commonly used to assist in the identification of the child’s gender. Although some parents prefer to wait, learning the gender ahead of time will give you ample time to prepare.
How It Works
The ultrasound is considered to be entirely safe, so parents should not feel uncomfortable, when under going a screening. The system makes use of sonography and sound waves to construct ultrasound images of inside the body. The transducer instrument emits a very low sound, which cannot be distinguished by human ears. The information is then transmitted back to the ultrasound machine and used to formulate an estimation of the size and shape of organs, tissues and growing babies.
As a parent, or soon to be parent, you will be able to see this information on a computer screen. If you’re lucky, you’ll even be able to catch a glimpse of your children’s initial movements. Once the process is over, the parent will be able to acquire photographs of the ultrasound data, which can then be shown off to their friends and family members.
Benefits
Doing an ultrasound during your 7th week’s pregnancy is entirely common, because the technology itself is so beneficial. This will become evident, when you scour through and familiarize yourself with the ultrasound benefits, which have been listed below.
- Typically painless and do not require any medical injections or incisions or any kind
- No need to be exposed to any harmful radiation
- Works better for identifying soft tissues than X-Rays
- Readily available and much less costly than the alternatives
Ultrasounds have been utilized for an extensive period of time and they’re incredibly popular even today.
Why Is It Ordered During the First Trimester?
All ultrasounds ordered during the first trimesters are considered routine. This non-invasive exam is utilized to detect pregnancy and miscarriage, especially if the female is exhibiting vaginal bleeding. Most obstetricians normally wait until the mother has reached her seventh week of pregnancy, before scheduling this test. The main reason for this is because after this period, the fetus’ heartbeat can be detected via the sonogram. Also, pregnancy after seven weeks will most often continue, lowering the risk (97%) of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage).
The ultrasound is also a very handy tool to help obstetricians determine the actual due date. This helps to prepare to every type of scenario, even multiple births.
Different Types of Ultrasounds
Most often than not, the obstetrician will schedule the mother for a Doppler ultrasonography. This is a non-invasive test that utilizes a transducer or device that looks like a computer mouse to gently move across the mother’s tummy. This test is also utilized for detecting deep vein thrombosis and etc.
- 3D Ultrasound – is another prenatal ultrasound that will display the baby’s features more clearly. It is becoming extremely popular for this very reason, plus it gives the obstetrician a clearer view of the fetus’ internal organs and body surface.
- Transvaginal – is not as commonly utilized, as the other options. It is more often utilized to detect ovarian, cervix, and uterine cancers.
Preparing For An Ultrasound
Before picking up the phone and scheduling your appointment, you should know precisely how to prepare for your upcoming ultrasound. Generally, your doctor will want you to abstain from food and drinks for several hours, before the appointment. You may also be required to drink a couple glasses of water in the hours leading up to the screening. Typically, the doctor will prevent you from using the bathroom, in order to keep your bladder full.
Remember that undressing is sometimes a necessity, so you should wear comfortably clothing, which can be easily removed upon your arrival. In many cases, the ultrasound technician will be able to perform the test, without the need to take off your clothing, but you should be prepared nonetheless.
What To Expect
Once you’ve hit the 6 or 7 week mark, it is generally wise to head to your primary doctor’s office and acquire an ultrasound. Many mother believe that they’ll be able to undergo an abdominal ultrasound at this stage, but this is not the case. In order to fully see the child at seven weeks, the mother will most likely need to undergo a trans-vaginal ultrasound. During this examination, your doctor will inspect a number of different elements, including the sac size and baby size.
During this time, your doctor will also inspect your ovaries. This is a precautionary measure and helps to identify cysts or other potential abnormalities, which could negatively impact the child’s development. At this stage, you will most likely be able to see the child’s heartbeat and the doctor will also be able to measure the child’s head.
Overall
When it comes down to it, many doctors prefer to wait until 10 weeks to acquire the first ultrasound, but it is more than possible to undergo your initial screening at 7 (maybe 8 or 9) weeks. During this screening, you will be able to determine the child’s current size, as well as witness his or her heartbeat. Just remember that the ultrasound isn’t just a sight show. It is also pertinent for identifying potential abnormalities and deformities, which could be problematic for the child! Whether you go at 7 or 10 weeks, the ultrasound is truly a necessity and should not be avoided.
