The first ultrasound in pregnancy is usually performed between the 8th and 10th week, and that is the time the pregnancy is usually diagnosed. That is called the 9 week ultrasound! Then the doctor does a detailed ultrasound followed by an inquiry over the last period date to determine the pregnancy flow, trimesters periods, and the probable date of delivery. It is not recommended to do the ultrasound before the 8th week of pregnancy, because then you will most likely not hear the baby’s heartbeat. The first expert ultrasound can be done between the 11th and 14th weeks of pregnancy.
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What Is a 9 Week Ultrasound Like?
Ultrasound can usually be performed at any private doctor’s office or at a local hospital. The pregnant woman is supposed to lie comfortably on her back during the ultrasound examination. Then the doctor, with the help of the gel he applied to her stomach, uses a hand-held device that slides more easily over the abdomen and improves the transmission of sound waves into the woman’s body.
Sound waves reflect various surfaces inside the pregnant woman’s body – including the baby – as vibrations. Echoes are converted into electrical signals that are projected as images onto a viewing monitor. Abdominal ultrasound does not pose any risk to the pregnant woman or baby. In fact, there are many benefits to checking your baby’s development during pregnancy.
If there is a need for an ultrasound examination in early pregnancy, the doctor will use a vaginal probe that he inserts into the vagina. This procedure will allow the doctor to see the pregnant woman’s uterus through the cervix. The same method can also be used later in pregnancy to locate the placenta if it is above the cervix or to measure the length of the cervix. Vaginal probes can cause a feeling of pressure for any woman, but they do not negatively affect the pregnancy. However, classic ultrasound is more widely used and the vaginal examination occurs every second or third control, or at the times when the first ultrasound could not offer full prospects on movements of the baby and her position in the womb.
What to Expect During and After the First Ultrasound?
Ultrasound in the first trimester can check the baby’s heart rate, size, the condition of the umbilical cord, and placenta. Doctors can also easily find out whether the pregnant woman is carrying one or more babies at the starting point of an ultrasound.
After doing the first ultrasound additional check-up or so-called ‘ultrasound biometrics of the fetus’ takes place. This is the method of measuring certain anatomical structures, comparing with standard values for a certain age of the pregnancy, and assessing whether the fetus corresponds to the size of the pregnancy.
An ultrasound at the start of the second trimester (around the 18th week) can show details about the baby’s head, face, spine, heart, abdomen, and limbs.
During each ultrasound examination, the doctor carefully looks for physical characteristics that may indicate any abnormalities. Especially after the start of ultrasounds in the second trimester, it is recommended to do additional screenings and if legally authorized to end the pregnancy if there is a life-threatening condition detected.
However, ultrasound itself cannot detect all the defects that can be expected after birth, and even regular ultrasound checkups do not guarantee giving birth to a healthy baby. Still, ultrasound is one of the oldest and still most widely used diagnostic tools that can help determine if pregnancy and the baby are developing in the right direction.
Week 9 of Pregnancy and What Else Can Ultrasound Detect on Your Baby?
Probably it is exactly around the same time as the 9-week ultrasound that many women start to feel that they are pregnant for real.
Changes that are still invisible yet highly felt send the message that the body with it its cells and parts is in one completely different state now.
You may monitor details on the pregnancy app and see that your baby doubled in size when compared to the week earlier, yet your baby is as per measuring by fruits only the size of a cherry or one piece of grape.
However, zoomed ultrasound at 9 weeks of gestation can show that your baby’s eyelids are formed, fused, and fully covering the eyes that won’t open till the 26th or 27th week of pregnancy. The separation of fingers and toes becomes clearly visible, and muscles are developing in the arms and legs to the extent that small movements are now possible. Genitals are also beginning to form although it is not possible to determine the sex of your baby by ultrasound just yet.
You may live this period with full excitement, trying to show and share with everyone your baby’s first ultrasound because it still just seems unbelievable that the small, not clearly shaped creature on that black and white piece of paper is simply your baby that once you will hold in your arms.
Around this time, you may start to notice first changes in your body weight especially if you did not face much morning sickness and your appetite increased even for a bit. You may be advised to put a break from the gym or hard training during the first 12 weeks, as well as to be careful if you see any trace of bleeding in any color because bleeding does not always mean instant miscarriage. Moreover, it can be an admonishment to your body to put a break for a while and focus on saving the pregnancy only.
Why Is an Ultrasound Important in Pregnancy?
The American College of Gynecologists suggests that every woman should undergo at least once any type of ultrasonic procedure that will provide insight into the fetus at least once during the pregnancy, although it is not mandatory to do it.
There are registered cases in which some moms have been on many diagnostics and ultrasound consultations during the whole period of pregnancy and yet the pregnancy ended with the stillbirth or undiscovered anomaly. No matter how much the ultrasounds have ameliorated during the last 30 years and the presence of colorful ultrasound and ultrasound such as Doppler; no ultrasound can give you a 100% guarantee that everything will end as expected and exactly around fulfilling the circle of exactly 40 weeks.
Still, ultrasounds can improve many doubts, they can make you feel more positive and relaxed because their accuracy still prevails. Doctors monitor pregnancy in several ways, and the combination of clear ultrasound accompanied by the generally good condition of the mother, biometrics figures of baby, strong heartbeat, and adequate position of the baby – may result in most the cases with happy birth.
High-risk pregnancies are the ones that require multiple and frequent ultrasounds to stay aware of factor changes (how does high blood pressure of mother affects baby’s heartbeat, did the diabetics from mother go through the cord on the fetus) and similar.
In normal pregnancies, it is not required to put extra waves on the children if 9-week and 18-week ultrasounds have passed alright.
As mentioned already each ultrasound is mainly there to spot something that each parent wants to avoid (abnormalities, genetic diseases, cancers) and by any chance, even with public or private insurance policies, no couple should avoid the check-ups and ultrasounds during the first trimester. Because maybe that single 9-week ultrasound can be decisive and prevent you from bigger pain or loss if some malformation was not detected on time.
Say “YES” to a Healthy and Safe Pregnancy by Having a 9th-Week Ultrasound Scan
You may feel shy about doing your first TSV (transvaginal) scan, you may look for how to prepare for visiting the doctor’s office for this check-up but by now you should be extremely happy that you reached the third month of pregnancy and you should try to clear all the question marks that stayed in your head over the subject matter of ‘How is baby?’ and ‘How will I do it?’.
The doctor will definitely explain to you much, give all the required guidelines and be almost like your first friend during the journey called pregnancy.
Adequate preparation for the pregnancy followed by consumption of healthy foods, vitamins, and check-ups including ultrasound during the first trimester are fundamental parts of a healthy and safe pregnancy.
A 9 week ultrasound will take around 15-20 minutes of your time, but after being done with it your worries will be half taken away and you will be able to cherish your special condition even more.
This ultrasound is extremely important to rule out the worst and you should definitely go for it, whether alone, with a partner, or accompanied by your closest friend.
Be the kind of mother who will be devoted from the first weeks and do not neglect the professional knowledge and assistance because as time goes on you will realize how smart it was to follow all the steps on the medical side as well.