The Pros of Ultrasound When it comes to pregnancies, one never knows what to expect. The experience can be exhilarating yet distressing. Will the baby be prone to Down syndrome? Will a cesarean section be needed? The use of ultrasound date back to 1794, Lazzaro Spallanzani, a physiologist was the first to study ultrasound physics by deducing bats using them to navigate by echolocation. In 1826, Jean Daniel Colladon used an under-water Church Bell (early ultrasound “transducer”) to calculate the speed of sound through water to prove that sound travelled faster through water than air. Later in 1915 Paul Langevin, after the titanic sank, invented the hydrophone (1st Transucer) to detect Icebergs and submarines during WWI (Tsung). It wasn’t until
…show more content…
Engineer Tom Brown and Obstetrician Ian Donald developed the first prototype based on a device used to detect industrial flaws in ships. By the end of the 20th century, ultrasounds had become routinely used throughout the developed world (Lewis). Performing an ultrasound is beneficial to upcoming mothers because it helps keep track of the development of the fetus, it could detect miscarriages, and could change a mother’s mind in the case of abortion . Fetal sonograms play a significant role in monitoring whether critical growth is being reached before birth. Although there is no rule in the number of scans a woman should have the process begins in the 1st trimester at about 10-13 weeks into the pregnancy (Woo). There are times where ultrasounds are scheduled earlier in the pregnancy. For example, if the mother presents vital signs such …show more content…
In the article “How Do Doctors Diagnose Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss”, Danielsson explains that ultrasound machines use sound waves through the abdomen or vagina to get a rough image of the gestational sac and developing fetus in the uterus”. Oftentimes a single scan, at the beginning of a pregnancy, will show complications. The author then goes on to explaining what will be viewed when looking for a miscarriage. During the scan, the technician will take measurements of the sac and developing fetus for the doctor to compare with the expected measurements for the gestational age. In addition to taking measurements the technician will also look for a heartbeat. If a heart rate is not found, the sonographer will schedule for an appointment in a few days or within the week (Danielsson). Recurrently babies have not yet developed enough to hear their heart, so waiting for another scan will make all the difference because the technician will be more certain whether there has been a miscarriage or
Engineer Tom Brown and Obstetrician Ian Donald developed the first prototype based on a device used to detect industrial flaws in ships. By the end of the 20th century, ultrasounds had become routinely used throughout the developed world (Lewis). Performing an ultrasound is beneficial to upcoming mothers because it helps keep track of the development of the fetus, it could detect miscarriages, and could change a mother’s mind in the case of abortion . Fetal sonograms play a significant role in monitoring whether critical growth is being reached before birth. Although there is no rule in the number of scans a woman should have the process begins in the 1st trimester at about 10-13 weeks into the pregnancy (Woo). There are times where ultrasounds are scheduled earlier in the pregnancy. For example, if the mother presents vital signs such …show more content…
In the article “How Do Doctors Diagnose Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss”, Danielsson explains that ultrasound machines use sound waves through the abdomen or vagina to get a rough image of the gestational sac and developing fetus in the uterus”. Oftentimes a single scan, at the beginning of a pregnancy, will show complications. The author then goes on to explaining what will be viewed when looking for a miscarriage. During the scan, the technician will take measurements of the sac and developing fetus for the doctor to compare with the expected measurements for the gestational age. In addition to taking measurements the technician will also look for a heartbeat. If a heart rate is not found, the sonographer will schedule for an appointment in a few days or within the week (Danielsson). Recurrently babies have not yet developed enough to hear their heart, so waiting for another scan will make all the difference because the technician will be more certain whether there has been a miscarriage or