When to do a third ultrasound in pregnancy? At what time do 3 ultrasound in pregnancy planned?

Every woman looks forward to the appearance of her baby. But while the baby is still in the tummy, you can already meet with him, at least from the photo. For this, one has only to undergo a planned ultrasound, which will also tell you about the physical condition of the baby. And although there is an opinion that such a study is not too useful for a child, it is still prescribed three times over the entire period of bearing crumbs. What is the third ultrasound used for pregnancy, for what period of time is it necessary to carry out diagnostics? Of this and many more about what is useful and interesting will be discussed next.

A few words about the procedure itself

Ultrasound is deciphered as an ultrasound. To carry out this procedure, a special apparatus is used, which does not bring discomfort to the mother and the future child. It is important to note that this procedure is not harmful from the point of view of the influence of radiation. Scientists have long proven that the procedure is completely safe for both the woman and the baby in the womb. Especially if the research is carried out with the help of new equipment.

Types of ultrasound

Before to understand, on what term do or make 3 US at pregnancy, it is necessary to notice, that there are two basic methods of research:

1. Transabdominal ultrasound. In this case, it is a very ordinary study, when the information transfer sensor is located outside, that is, on the belly of the lady.
2. Transvaginal ultrasound. In this case, the sensor is inserted into the woman's vagina, and thus the necessary information about the fetus is obtained.

It should be noted that these two methods are completely safe. However, transvaginal ultrasound gives more accurate results. But it is also more sensitive.

In addition, there are three-dimensional and four-dimensional studies. The difference is that they give a more accurate photo of the fetus (in the 3D image), and in the early stages can more accurately and at earlier stages determine the various malformations of the child, compared with all the usual ultrasound diagnosis.

Sometimes it happens that a woman is prescribed a doppler ultrasound. What is this procedure? Its main goal is to study the processes of blood circulation in the blood vessels of the baby itself, and in the cord and blood vessels of the placenta. This procedure is very important for the detection of heart defects, various placental abnormalities and problems. It should be said that this study is somewhat more expensive than conventional ultrasound, is conducted mainly on the 12-20th week.

About the number of ultrasound for the entire period of bearing a baby

It's time to figure out at what term 3 ultrasounds are done during pregnancy. It must be said that depending on the clinic where a woman is observed, doctors can recommend doing three to five studies in all 9 months.

1. The first ultrasound is done mostly on the 10-12th week. However, it also happens that this study is already the second. Since the first is done at the 5th-6th week for an accurate determination of the term or even the presence of pregnancy. At this time, the doctor must assess the condition of the fetus and the placenta, exclude the developmental defects of the heart. If the equipment is new, then it is possible to determine in advance the gender of the future crumbs.
2. The second ultrasound is carried out at 19-21 week. In this case, the child's condition is also seen, it is already possible to say exactly who lives in the stomach - a boy or a girl. Again, various malformations of crumbs are excluded. Also estimated is the amount of amniotic fluid, its condition.
3. When is the third ultrasound done during pregnancy, at what time? So, experts advise to conduct this study at about 32-34th week of bearing a baby. There is an assessment of the general condition of crumbs, umbilical cord, placenta. Also, the doctor should correlate the size of the child's head and the mother's birth canal to understand whether during childbirth there will be problems with the passage of the baby through the birth canal.

Most often 3 ultrasound during pregnancy (at what time it is done - figured out) is the last. However, before the birth, when the girl is already in the hospital, another ultrasound can be performed. In this case, doctors additionally look at the location of the crumbs to choose the right tactics for delivery, and also decide whether there will be any complications in the delivery room.

Additional ultrasound

Having figured out at what time do 3 planned ultrasound, as well as the second and the first, it should be noted that there are also unscheduled studies. They are prescribed exclusively by the doctor in certain situations, when additionally it is necessary to assess the condition of the baby, the placenta. So, most often additional ultrasound is prescribed for bloody discharge at different periods of carrying out crumbs, with pain in the abdomen, if the child is too active or very calm in the womb.

Preparation for the procedure

Having understood, on what term do or make the third US at pregnancy (on 30-32th week), it is necessary to understand and how this procedure can be prepared. If, before the first study, a woman has to drink one liter of pure water to fill the bladder, then the second and each subsequent study does not require such preparation. A woman only needs to take a towel with her to wipe the traces of a special gel applied on her stomach. More than a woman will not demand anything.

If the third ultrasound in pregnancy (at what time is carried out - it is understandable) is done by intravaginal method, in which case the bladder should be completely emptied. That is, just before the procedure, the lady will need to go to the toilet.

About the third ultrasound study

Having understood, at what term do 3 planned ultrasound in pregnancy, you need to find out why this procedure is carried out. So, if the mothers consider the second study to be the most important, when it is possible to accurately know the sex of the baby, then the doctors say that the most useful and necessary is the third ultrasound. In addition to the fact that the doctor again examines the baby, the placenta itself is also carefully studied - its condition, pathologies. This is all very important information, because in this case it is possible to predict even the process of delivery of the mother, that is, the doctor is determined beforehand whether there are indications for caesarean section.

What else is so important about the third ultrasound in pregnancy? At what time it is held, we have already found out - at 32-34-th week. And during this procedure, the specialist also evaluates the compliance of the lower placental edge with the opening of the cervix. This measurement is extremely important, because in this case, you can first understand whether there is a threat of bleeding during labor. The doctor also estimates the thickness of the placenta itself, its attachment to the umbilical cord, the size (for example, an increase in the placenta may be an indicator of the inflammatory process).

The doctor also studies the degree of maturation or aging of the placenta. This is an important factor that tells how fast delivery can take place, if the baby has enough time to fully ripen in the womb. Other important factors that will help the doctor to determine the health status of both mother and her future baby are considered.

About the norms

If a woman is interested in the question: "3 ultrasound in pregnancy at what term is better to do?" - It must be answered that everything is very individual. On average, the doctor sends a lady for such a study at the 32-34-th week. But it also happens that the woman on the third ultrasound is sent much earlier, because the first she was appointed at the 5-6th week, and not on the 10-12th, as is usually the case. As already mentioned above, for all studies the doctor sends his patients according to certain indicators. Also it is not necessary to worry, if the doctor appoints additional research. After all, this procedure is absolutely not harmful to my mother, let alone her baby.

Indicators of development

Having figured out what term of pregnancy the third ultrasound is doing, I must also say that the doctors put all the indicators into a special table. Depending on these figures, specialists can also draw certain conclusions about the condition of the baby, as well as the results of future delivery. It is also important to note that deviations in the development of crumbs can be (according to the table), but they do not exceed fluctuations in 1-2 weeks. In the course of his research, the specialist makes the following measurements:

• BPR, that is biparietal size (measurements of the baby's head).
• OJ and OG, that is, the circumference of the tummy and the head, respectively.
• LZR, that is, the frontal-occipital size is measured.

The doctor should also measure the length of the forearms and shoulder of the crumb, the bones of the shin and the bone of the thigh, and also the size of the nose bone.

On the retardation of fetal development

When 3 ultrasound is done during pregnancy (at what time, we know: 32-34th week of bearing a baby), the doctor can draw conclusions about whether the baby has a delay in intrauterine development. This can be evidenced by the figures recorded by a specialist during the research. If the measurements are much smaller than those that should be according to the table, the doctor will be able to preset the above-mentioned diagnosis. However, to confirm it, the woman will necessarily be sent for additional studies, where the blood flow in the uterus, the umbilical cord, the vessels of the fetus should be carefully studied, and the heartbeat of the baby will be carefully listened to.

It is also important to note that there is no need to try to decipher the parameters of ultrasound alone. This is a very complex system, which only qualified specialists understand. And even the necessary numbers, peeped on the pages of medical books and reference books, will not tell about everything that you want to know. After all, it is important for specialists to evaluate both the correspondence of values to each other, their correlation with certain indicators.

About the last ultrasound

As already mentioned above, the third ultrasound may be the last. However, often doctors send a lady for additional research at about the 38th week of bearing a baby. And all in order to accurately determine the date of birth and the degree of maturity of the placenta to delivery.