We all dream to endure and give birth completelyhealthy child. But, unfortunately, the wrong way of life, poor nutrition, heredity, terrible ecology and many other factors can affect the development of the fetus. And, as a result, babies appear, who sometimes do not live up to one year. Ectopic, false pregnancy, tumors (malignant and benign) - all this poses a danger to the life of the girl. To avoid such risks, the doctor can prescribe a pregnant woman a lot of tests, including ultrasound. Sometimes women are afraid to go through such studies, because they believe that this can harm a future child. In fact, there is nothing wrong with that. The main thing is not to be afraid. 
What is an ultrasound study?
Ultrasound (ultrasound or echographicstudy) is often prescribed to the fair sex in the early stages of pregnancy (in this case it is about the first trimester). This is necessary to identify some hidden pathologies and anomalies that either present a threat to the life of the mother, or affect the normal development of the fetus. The most preferable time for performing ultrasound at this stage is the period from the 7th to the 14th week. Before, it does not make sense to do this, since the device may simply not see the child. By the way, abroad, doctors generally do not register women whose pregnancy period is less than a month, since before this time a girl may have a miscarriage. 
Why pregnant women need to do ultrasound
Many of the fair sexI wonder what the apparatus can show in the first trimester, if the embryo is just beginning to develop. But after all, it's not for nothing that doctors send for examination of future mothers. So, let's figure out what tasks ultrasound can solve in the early stages of pregnancy, and also why it is not worthwhile to delay the visit to the doctor. Echographic research helps:
- to reveal pregnancy (the fetus was fixed in a cavity of a uterus);
- to confirm that it is developing;
- to reveal ectopic pregnancy;
- To estimate, whether the size of a fetal egg corresponds to term of prospective pregnancy (gestational age is usually calculated from the first day of the last monthly);
- to determine a multiple pregnancy, if this is the case;
- To determine what wall of the uterus was attached to the chorion (subsequently, the placenta will form from it);
- to study the structure of the fetus (measuring the size of the coccyx, the thickness of the collar space to eliminate gross malformations of the fetus, etc.);
- to reveal the signs indicating the wrong development or the presence of complications in pregnancy (local increase in the tone of the uterus, the presence of a hematoma, etc.);
- The study of the yellow body, which plays a big role in maintaining pregnancy;
- to assess the condition of the appendages for the detection of the two-horned, saddle-shaped uterus, fibroids and other pathological conditions if the woman had not previously performed an ultrasound.
Conducting ultrasound in early pregnancycan be carried out transabdominal (the fruit is seen through the stomach with a filled bladder) or transvaginal (through the vagina) sensor. In the latter case, the accuracy of the study is increased. In addition, transabdominal ultrasound is contraindicated in urinary incontinence, diseases of the genitourinary system (cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis in the stage of exacerbation). Plus, this contributes to throwing microorganisms into the overlying departments. If the ultrasound beam is dosed accurately (taking into account the period of pregnancy), then this type of research is not of particular danger to either the mother or the fetus. Therefore, do not be afraid of ultrasound, follow prejudices, postponing the visit for later. By the way, you have to resort to this procedure two more times - in the second and third trimesters. 
Decipher the tests correctly
Determine whether there is an embryo (the so-called babyup to the 8th week of its development) in the uterine cavity, on a good ultrasound machine is possible already from the 5th-6th week. In parallel, the doctor evaluates his heart activity. To do this, he records the heart rate. Normally they range from 110 to 130 beats / min. If the blows occur much less often, that is, they become less than 100 beats per minute, it is necessary to urgently turn to the gynecologist. Since this may indicate a possible abortion. Also an unfavorable sign is the finding of the fetal egg in the lower part of the uterus. This indicates that at any time a miscarriage may occur. Urgent treatment is required, if the heart still beats at the fetus - then the child can be saved. If there is no tap, then this indicates an undeveloped pregnancy, which is no longer maintained. There is only one way out here - an artificial interruption. To detect early developmental defects, incompatible with life, it is necessary to carefully study the anatomy of the fetus. Up to 11 weeks, the so-called physiological hernia of the anterior abdominal wall can be maintained, at which the intestine is outside. Until 11 weeks, this is normal and is regarded as an ordinary stage of development of fetal organs and systems. Therefore, in this case, do not panic. However, if such an anomaly persists after this time, then dynamic observation is required here. From the 11th to the 13th week, it is important to assess the size of the collar zone. If it is more than 3 mm, you will need to do some research in the second trimester to completely eliminate the developmental fetus. Such symptoms are characteristic, for example, of syndrome and Down's disease. In the second trimester, ultrasound and prenatal screening are performed, for which blood from the vein is taken and certain indicators are examined. It is very important to evaluate the yolk sac in the process of ultrasound examination in the early stages of pregnancy, as it ensures the normal development of the baby. The yolk sac is a thin-walled, round-shaped formation that is inside from the 6th to the 12th week. It's bad if after the 8th week its size is less than 2 mm or more than 5.5 mm, and also when it disappears before 12 weeks or is saved later. In this case, such an anomaly is regarded as an unfavorable sign. Most likely, this indicates a non-developing pregnancy and requires timely treatment. Increase in the tone of the uterus and the presence of a hematoma (blood clots between the placenta and the wall of the uterus) - all this is regarded as a sign of a threat of miscarriage. In this case, urgent medical attention is required. If the time does not go to the hospital, then the mother and the child may die. Thus, ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy gives very important information that allows timely detection of possible complications and prevent their development. That, in turn, will ensure in the future the birth of a healthy baby and give you the happiness of motherhood. Please note: these days, all pregnant women of the fair sex are sent to the echography. Therefore, do not worry and panic before receiving the test. After all during this period it is very important to keep mental and physical balance. And then everything will be fine in your life.
