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How Many Ultrasounds Have You Had?

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There’s quite a bit of discussion about ultrasounds going on right now. Although the recommendation for the number of ultrasounds during an uncomplicated pregnancy is two, an increasing number of women are having three or more. Ultrasounds are safe for both mom and baby, but extra ultrasounds across a large group of pregnant women can add up to quite a bit in medical costs. Another problem that could result from too many ultrasounds is increased anxiety over test results, particularly when something appears to be wrong in one ultrasound, and then fine in the next. Typically, a healthy pregnant woman … Continue reading →

Measuring the Fundal Height

At each prenatal visit, your doctor will take a measurement that is also known as the fundal height. This is the distance between the pubic bone and the top of the uterus. A steady increase in the fundal height at each prenatal visit is an indication that the baby is growing normally. The fundal height is used to estimate the size of the fetus. This is used to estimate the age of the baby. About mid pregnancy, the measurement of the fundal height corresponds to the number of weeks of the pregnancy. For example, at 28 weeks of pregnancy, the … Continue reading →

What is a Single Umbilical Artery?

In a normal umbilical cord, the cord has three vessels. Two of the vessels are arteries and one is a vein. In some cases, only one artery develops in the cord. This is known as a single umbilical artery. This is actually the most common irregularity of the umbilical cord. A single umbilical artery is present in about one in one hundred births. For some reason, it is most common in white women than in other ethnic groups. It is also more common in multiple pregnancies. A single artery is more likely to occur if the mother is over the … Continue reading →

Chorionic Villus Sampling

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that is useful for detecting certain genetic disorders. The test is used for the same reasons an amniocentesis may be done. The main advantage of CVS is that it can be done much earlier than an amnio. CVS tests can be done as early as the eleventh week of pregnancy. During the test, a sample of the chorionic villi is taken. The chorionic villi sample can be taken abdominally or vaginally. The sample will be sent out and will grow in a lab before the results are read. You will get the … Continue reading →

Nuchal Translucency Screening

The Nuchal Translucency Screening is a test that can help determine your baby’s risk of having certain birth defects, most notably Down’s Syndrome. In addition, the test can show certain heart defects and other chromosomal abnormalities. This test is most often done on mothers who are considered at increased risk due to advanced maternal age. If you are offered this test, it’s important to understand that this is a screening test. It does not give a definitive diagnosis, but shows that a baby may be at increased risk of having certain abnormalities. A combination of ultrasound and a blood test … Continue reading →

Ultrasound: Your First Peek at Your New Baby

About 70% of all pregnant women have an ultrasound during their pregnancies. The technology is considered to be safe and many doctors do one routine ultrasound at about eighteen or twenty weeks of pregnancy. The test may be done at other times, if a complication arises. Although most consider the test safe, some are not convinced. I will address this side of the issue in a separate blog early next week. Your doctor can gain a surprising amount of information from the ultrasound. In early pregnancy, it can be used to diagnose problems with vaginal bleeding, confirm pregnancy and detect … Continue reading →