A first ultrasound can be life-saving for many mothers-to-be.
Although ultrasounds have been used in prenatal care since the beginning, new technology is revolutionizing obstetrical care. Doctors can now use 3D and 4-D imaging capabilities in conjunction with “conventional”2D ultrasound is a way for them to view everything, from a baby’s developing brain to its arms or legs. A fetal heart can be seen up to a dime in size.
These new capabilities could help doctors spot potential problems that could pose a risk to babies.
“Thanks to early detection through prenatal care, medicine can often save at-risk babies who would have been lost a generation ago,”Dr. Jacques Abramowicz is a Frances T. Knight and Lester B. Knight Professor, Director of Ob/Gyn Ultrasound, and Co-Director at Rush Fetal and Neonatal Medicine Center, Chicago. “But we can only make a difference if moms take the initiative to see their doctors and see them early in their pregnancy.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 4,000,000 American women will have their babies this year. Nearly one-third of these will be affected by complications. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration, infants born to mothers who do not receive prenatal care are five times as likely to die and threefold more likely be born with low birth weights than those who have received prenatal treatment.
Prenatal care can provide a variety support services, including counseling and medical care. Ultrasound is often a crucial part of this vital care.
Provide pregnant women “with important information and sometimes an early warning if there could be a bump in the road ahead, ultrasound aids physicians in making better diagnoses, which helps moms make better choices for their babies and themselves,”Janice Blackwell is vice president of Ultrasound Global Marketing for Philips Healthcare.
