Patient's question:
Now I am 13 weeks pregnant. When I first confirmed the pregnancy, the HCG levels measured in my blood were 52.07 and 62.7, which were very low. I have not experienced any bleeding, and the doctor said that low HCG levels increase the risk of miscarriage. I have been doing bed rest at home without medication. I had two normal ultrasounds, but the doctor said it is not advisable to have further ultrasounds recently, as it may be harmful to the baby. I need to wait until after 16 weeks to have another ultrasound. The number of ultrasounds during pregnancy is limited. In these days, how can I know if the baby is growing well? I have searched for a lot of information online, and many people have experienced fetal demise. Some of them only found out after building their medical records at 12-13 weeks that their babies had stopped growing at 7-8 weeks. Since frequent ultrasounds are not recommended, what can I do to know if the baby has stopped growing or is developing normally? What is the earliest way to self-diagnose fetal demise?Doctor's answer:
Generally, it's fine to have an ultrasound every week, and it won't interfere with the fetus. It is recommended to have a transvaginal ultrasound at a local, reputable hospital. Ultrasound is the most direct and effective method to confirm how the fetus has stopped developing. Don't worry too much or be afraid. During the home rest period for fetal preservation, you can eat more soy products, such as soy milk and tofu, which are beneficial for fetal growth and development. However, avoid spicy and irritating foods.