- November 24, 2024
An early pregnancy reassurance scan is done in the early stages of the pregnancy, between the first 6 to 10 weeks. It is an ultrasound scan that helps to confirm the pregnancy while also giving important information to the parents and the doctors. Having an early pregnancy reassurance scan has a lot of benefits for the mother’s health and wellness.
In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of having early pregnancy reassurance scans, when it becomes necessary, and also explain the process. Let’s begin your journey towards a healthy pregnancy.
A] Reasons to Consider an Early Pregnancy Reassurance Scan
1. Confirming a Healthy Pregnancy
One of the key reasons for an early pregnancy reassurance scan is to confirm the pregnancy. Home pregnancy tests can sometimes give a false positive result. Confirming the pregnancy by doing a scan does help here.
2. Identify Twin Or Multiple Pregnancies
Pregnancy can be full of surprises for the expecting parents. One of such surprises is the possibility of having more than one foetus in the uterus, i.e., twins. Early pregnancy reassurance scans detect the number of embryos present in the mother’s womb. The detection of having more than one baby is huge news for parents. Having twins also require a different healthcare approach.
3. Detecting the Baby’s Heartbeat
By the sixth week of the pregnancy, the baby would have a stable heartbeat of 100 to 160 times a minute. Early pregnancy scans detect this and allow parents to listen to it for the first time. This is a very emotional step for the parents.
4. Accurate Dating of the Pregnancy
The type of prenatal care and frequency of visits to the doctor depend on the age of the embryo. Accurately dating the gestational age of the embryo helps your healthcare providers to schedule your appointment accurately & provide the necessary prenatal care at the right time. It also helps to establish an estimated due date for the baby and determine if the delivery is prolonged.
5. Detect and Avoid Early Pregnancy Complications
One of the most common reasons doctors might suggest you have an early pregnancy reassurance scan is to detect any pregnancy complications.
6. Checking For Ectopic Pregnancy
An ultrasound scan helps to identify the positioning of the foetus. In a normal pregnancy, the foetus begins to form in the uterus. However, in an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilised egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube. This is a risky development that can harm the expecting mother and is treated as a medical emergency. Early detection of ectopic pregnancy helps to avoid unnecessary complications.
B] Who Should Consider an Early Pregnancy Reassurance Scan?
- High-Risk Pregnancies: Early pregnancy reassurance scans are suggested to women with a history of miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies. If you have experienced complications with your pregnancy before or have had early miscarriages, early pregnancy reassurance scans are a must. Early scans help doctors monitor these conditions and provide necessary treatment to prevent them.
- Experiencing Symptoms of Complications: An early pregnancy scan is highly recommended if you are experiencing pregnancy complication symptoms like severe cramps, bleeding, or a sharp pain. Early scans access the position and health of the foetus, ensuring that everything is normal. Doctors can provide timely intervention if issues are detected, ensuring a healthy pregnancy. Doctors may also suggest medical termination of pregnancy if the mother’s health is in jeopardy, like in the case of molar and ectopic pregnancy.
- Expecting Twins or Multiples: The prenatal care for signal foetus pregnancy and multiple foetus pregnancy looks very different. Hence, if you or your partner have a family history of twins or multiple pregnancies, having an early pregnancy reassurance scan is crucial.
C] What to Expect During the Scan?
1. Preparing for the Scan
Early pregnancy scans can be done through two methods, abdominal ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound,but the preferred route is transvaginal route. There is not much special preparation required for the scan; however, you may bring your partner along with you for emotional support.
2. The Procedure
A health care provider will insert a lubricated, wand-like device called a transducer into your vaginal canal,which is safe & completely painless. The transducer sends sound waves into your body, which bounce back and are converted into images on a computer monitor.Image of the fetus can be seen on the monitor.
Conclusion
Early pregnancy reassurance scans are a crucial part of a healthy pregnancy experience. They help to confirm your pregnancy, inform you about multiple pregnancies, and assess the foetus’s health. Expecting parents can learn a lot with early pregnancy scans and is highly recommended to women experiencing symptoms of complications or with a history of miscarriages.
If you are expecting a baby, we highly recommend you get a pregnancy reassurance scan at Nurturing Petals Hospital & Fertility Centre in Andheri/Sakinaka/ Mumbai. Get in touch with us today!
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