Patient's question:
Today I went to your hospital for a prenatal check-up. I had an ultrasound, a urine test, and the doctor told me to come back next June 6th for a fasting blood draw. Is it just a fasting blood draw? When should I do the 4D ultrasound?Doctor's answer:
Generally, it is recommended to have 4 ultrasound examinations:The first one is done in early pregnancy to confirm whether the pregnancy is viable. For those who cannot determine the pregnancy timeline, it can roughly estimate the gestational age.
The second examination is usually performed around 4 to 5 months, primarily to assess the fetal development: checking for congenital abnormalities and monitoring the growth of the fetus.
The third examination is typically conducted around 7.5 months, mainly to check if the (fetal position) is normal. If it is not, corrective measures can be taken at this stage. If the (fetal position) is not corrected until the 8th month or later, it becomes very difficult to fix.
The fourth examination is done near the time of delivery, to determine the (fetal presentation), the maturity of the placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid, and other factors to prepare for childbirth.