Your doctor will follow the level of antibodies during the whole pregnancy. If you develop antibodies during a pregnancy, usually the antibody levels are low enough that they may not affect the pregnancy, and are more likely to affect a subsequent pregnancy. Your doctor will test your blood for Rh antibodies early on in your pregnancy and again at 28 weeks if you have a negative blood type. You can lower your risk by getting a special shot at certain points throughout your pregnancy that prevent the development of Rh antibodies. It can cause your body to treat your baby as an invader and create Rh antibodies that may cross the placenta and attack your baby’s red blood cells, a condition known as Rh disease. It can cause a severe anemia in the fetus, and can lead to heart failure, jaundice and severe swelling. When these antibodies come in contact with the baby's blood cells, they attach to them as if they are fighting off an infection. It can cause your immune system to develop antibodies to the positive blood type, therefore, those antibodies will then see the baby's blood as foreign as they cross the placenta. Rh-incompatibility is when you have Rh-negative blood and your baby has Rh-positive blood. Having this more detailed look inside of your uterus can also help your doctor determine when and where you should give birth to help ensure the best outcome for your baby. It can help make sure your baby is getting enough oxygen and developing normally, as well as diagnose any placental problems. If your baby has IUGR, Doppler ultrasounds can be used to measure blood flow and examine his organs, including his brain and liver. IGUR can mean that a baby isn’t getting enough oxygen or nutrients, which may indicate that your baby needs to be delivered preterm, and therefore your ob-gyn may recommend early induction of labor.ĭoctors check for IUGR by measuring your fundal height (the length from the top of your uterus to your pelvic bone) and with ultrasounds. Small for gestational ageĪ baby who’s smaller than expected for his gestational age may have intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), meaning he isn't growing as expected for how far along you are in your pregnancy. If placental problems are the cause, your doctor will follow up with frequent exams to check your baby’s health and how well the placenta is functioning. Doppler ultrasound of the umbilical arteries can help diagnose placental problems that can lead to low amniotic fluid, such as placental insufficiency. Oligohydramnios, or lower than expected levels of amniotic fluid for your baby’s gestational age, may mean that your baby’s placenta isn’t working properly. Because fluid levels are affected by baby’s urinary output in the second half of pregnancy, normal levels are a sign that his bladder, urinary tract, and kidneys are working well. Amniotic fluid helps cushion your baby from bumps and jolts, prevents your baby’s body from compressing the umbilical cord against the uterine wall, and allows for baby’s growth and movement. ![]() It's most often used during the third trimester in women with high-risk pregnancies, including those who have: Low amniotic fluid levelsĪt standard ultrasound exams, your doctor checks your amniotic fluid level. ![]() The results can help your practitioner decide whether your baby should be delivered early or if other medical measures are needed to protect you or your baby. For a transabdominal ultrasound, your sonographer will spread gel on your belly and move a special wand, called a transducer, over your abdomen to find your baby.ĭoppler tests can help your doctor confirm your pregnancy is progressing as expected and diagnose and monitor any pregnancy complications. Doppler ultrasound can be performed during the second trimester anatomy scan to look at your baby’s blood flow. (The machine used to listen to your baby's heartbeat throughout pregnancy – known as a handheld Doppler – also uses these sound waves.) How is a Doppler test performed?Īll modern ultrasound machines have a Doppler function. During a Doppler ultrasound, these sound waves are projected onto a screen, enabling your practitioner to see the flow of blood from the placenta to your baby and in your baby's body. (A regular ultrasound also uses sound waves, but it doesn't show blood flow.)Īs blood cells move through vessels, they cause changes in sound waves. The Doppler test is a special type of ultrasound technique that uses sound waves to evaluate blood flow.
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