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During the pregnancy, it is recommended that you have at least 3 ultrasound check-ups in order to timely monitor the fetal growth and development, to determine the progression of the pregnancy and to discover fetal anomalies.
One of the most memorable moments in your life is the first time you see and take a shot of the unborn baby in the womb. With the ultrasound check-up, the future parents can see their baby, its face, the way it opens its mouth or moves its arms and legs. The ultrasound check-ups help us monitor the fetal growth and development, to determine the progression of the pregnancy and to discover fetal anomalies on time.
The most advanced ultrasound equipment offers us the chance to discover possible fetal anomalies sooner and with more certainty than ever before. Ultrasound check-ups are not harmful in any way, neither to the expecting mum nor to the developing fetus. Ultrasound waves do not have ionizing or cumulative effect and they last only during the examination. It is for this simplicity, mildness and high diagnostic efficiency that ultrasound is so widely used in medicine, especially in the OB/GYN field.
The check-up is done via a vaginal probe and/or an abdominal ultrasound through the front abdominal wall. The first ultrasound check-up should be done around week 13 and we would focus on checking whether the fetus is settled in the womb, whether the fetus is alive and thriving according to the pregnancy period. It is especially important to rule out any signs of chromosomal anomalies.
Should there be abnormal buildup of fluids at the back of the fetus’ neck, it shows a disruption in the lymph circulation and, in most cases, it indicates to Down syndrome – a condition that occurs in 1 in 700 newborns. We could then do a prenatal blood test on the mother’s blood to analyze the DNA. This test is 99.9% accurate and it nor only confirms or rules out Down syndrome, it can determine the baby’s gender.
The Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is usually associated with developmental delays, mild to moderate intellectual disability, and characteristic physical features.
The second examination is done abdominally, through the front abdominal wall. It is best to be performed as a 2D ultrasound check-up in week 20. If possible, it could be combines with a 3D XI doppler check-up or a 5D ultrasound, because the findings would be indisputable. In week 20 we should be able to rule out most of possible abnormalities and chromosomal irregularities at that point of the pregnancy. The third ultrasound check-up should be done between week 30 and 32, if possible, combined with a doppler examination. This would provide us with viable information about the growth of the fetus and the thickness of the placenta, whether it is providing enough oxygen and feed for the fetus and whether the fetus is developing and growing appropriately for this point of the pregnancy. Giving birth to an underweight newborn carries certain risks. Thus, it is necessary to pay special attention to the babies with slower intrauterine development. The most common reasons for such a condition are genetic factors, cardiovascular anomalies in the fetus, twin pregnancy, intrauterine infections, the mother’s diet, the expecting mum’s underlying conditions, smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, or pregnancy when the mum has higher blood pressure and corporal swelling.
A 5D check-up with the Samsung UGEO WS80A with Elite ultrasound machine is the latest, most sophisticated technological breakthrough in the field of medical diagnostics.
By using the 5D ultrasound we can discover anomalies a lot sooner and with greater certainty. We can detect anomalies in the nose and face area and a clipped lip. The 5D ultrasound machine offers us the chance to check-out the baby’s brain and internal organs, very similarly to a CT scan or an MRA. The multiple scans and the opportunity to analyze them afterwards enhances the precision and the diagnostic possibilities, and the use of the color doppler and/or pulse doppler proves indispensable in monitoring the uteroplacental blood circulation. With the doppler options, we can detect abnormalities or delay in the growth and development of the fetus very early on and very precisely.
Ultrasound diagnostics cannot be overrated because, even in the most skillful hands, it still has its limits. That is why we sometimes do additional examinations such as the chromosome test and examination of the amniotic fluid.
– The chromosome test i.e. biochemical screening and the examination of the amniotic fluid i.e. amniocentesis are the most common additional examinations we might do. Biochemical screening is a noninvasive method. We would draw some of the pregnant patient’s blood and we would check 3 biochemical markers: alpha-fetoprotein, beta – choriogonadotropin and estriol in the mum’s serum. These examinations can exclude the possibility of Down syndrome by 65%, depending on the expecting mum’s age. The result is not a certified confirmation but a calculated probability for certain anomalies and irregularities.
– Amniocentesis is done between week 15 and 17 of pregnancy. Unlike the biochemical screening, amniocentesis is an invasive method because we use a special needle to enter the womb and extract some of the amnionic fluid, which contains shed skin cells of the fetus. We would check the karyotype of these cells, if it is normal, the pregnancy would continue normally. If there are any irregularities, the pregnancy might be cut short. The risk from the amniocentesis is under 1% for the mum and the fetus. If the pregnant patient is over 35 years old and her partner is over 40 years old, we advise checking the chromosomes and maybe then amniocentesis.
Chorio-biopsy is performed earlier than the amniocentesis, between week 9 and 12.
– It is an invasive method, performed similarly to the amniocentesis, but the material that we would be sampling and testing the chorionic villi. The benefits from the CVS are that is done earlier and the results are swiftly ready, so should there be any irregularities, the termination of the pregnancy is much easier. The peril for the mum and the baby is around 1% and the expecting mum should strictly adhere to the instructions and advice given by the attending gynecologist and regularly come to the advised check-ups.