A fetal ultrasound, also known as a sonogram, is an imaging study that uses high-frequency sound waves to create a picture of the baby inside the uterus, according to MayoClinic.com. Physicians commonly perform an ultrasound in the first trimester and again sometime between 18 and 20 weeks. An abnormal fetal ultrasound can often cause many women to panic unnecessarily.
Function
In the beginning of pregnancy, physicians commonly use fetal ultrasounds for a number of reasons. The National Institutes of Health explains that early ultrasounds can help confirm a pregnancy, determine the age of the fetus, determine the fetal heart rate, identify multiple pregnancies and identify potential problems with the placenta, cervix, uterus and ovaries. Physicians use fetal ultrasound between weeks 13 and 14 in order to look for characteristics for Down syndrome and ultrasounds between weeks 18 and 20 to look for congenital malformations as well as determine fetal growth and development and to monitor the progress of the pregnancy.
Testing
During the procedure, the woman will lie down on the examination table. The technician or physician will squirt a clear, water-based gel on the belly and pelvic area to help with the conduction of the sound waves. A small instrument called a transducer will then move over the belly and pelvic area. A standard fetal ultrasound is usually painless but a woman may experience some discomfort if the physician requires her to have a full bladder for the procedure. The ultrasound commonly takes about 20 minutes.
Abnormal Result
Many different conditions can cause an abnormal fetal ultrasound. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that abnormal results can occur due to birth defects, multiple pregnancies, miscarriage, a pregnancy occurring in the fallopian tube, placental problems, too much or too little amniotic fluids, problems with fetal growth as well as reproductive abnormalities not related to the pregnancy.
Follow-Up
Physicians will often perform further tests to determine the specific diagnosis. Physicians may want an amniocentesis. During an amniocentesis, the physician removes a sampling of amniotic fluid in order to detect chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, neural tube defects such as spina bifida and genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Women may also undergo blood tests, fetal monitoring and, in some cases, require a hospital stay until the cause of the abnormal results is determined and, if possible, resolved.
Consideration
An abnormal fetal ultrasound does not necessarily mean a fetal demise. In many cases, women will require additional monitoring throughout their pregnancy due to placental issues or problems with amniotic fluid. When an abnormal ultrasound leads to a diagnosis of a chromosomal abnormality or neural tube defect, women may want to consult their physicians as well as specialists to determine what these conditions mean for them and their babies.
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