Patient's question:
Patient Gender: Hello,1. My wife had her menstrual period on September 28th. Can an ultrasound at the hospital now detect if she is pregnant?
2. What are the prerequisites for an ultrasound; can an ultrasound now distinguish whether it is an ectopic pregnancy?
3. Does an ultrasound have any effect on the baby in the belly?
Thank you.
Patient Age:
Doctor's answer:
No impact. Generally, 3-5 ultrasound scans are performed during pregnancy. In the early stages of pregnancy, one scan is done to confirm the pregnancy, estimate embryonic development, and diagnose common early pregnancy conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, and various types of miscarriage. In the second trimester, specifically between weeks 22-26, a 4D color Doppler ultrasound is conducted for structural screening to check for gross fetal abnormalities and major organ malformations. In the late stages of pregnancy, the scan focuses on the fetus, amniotic fluid, and placental conditions.