Ultrasound at 20 weeks of gestation, what can be seen?

Ultrasound examination during pregnancy is not only done to find out the gender of your baby, but also to see the baby's overall condition. You can do the first ultrasound when you reach 6-8 weeks of pregnancy, but the 20th week is the most appropriate time to do an ultrasound examination. Why is that?

Overview of the ultrasound examination

Ultrasound is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to describe the development of the fetus as well as the reproductive organs of a pregnant woman. During an ultrasound, gel will be applied to your stomach, and the doctor will move a scanning stick called a transducer over your stomach. This transducer will send high-frequency sound waves to your uterus, which will then return a signal to a machine that will convert it into an image. You can see a picture of the fetus in your womb on the monitor screen.

According to gestational age, you can use ultrasound for various purposes, both medical and non-medical purposes, such as to see the sex of the baby and what it looks like in the womb.

What can be seen during the 20th week ultrasound?

The goal of doing the ultrasound at week 20 is to see all fetal anatomy and determine if everything looks normal. The doctor will determine the number of babies you are carrying. What you can know from this ultrasound is usually the size of the fetus, such as the size of the head, abdomen, the shape of the hands and feet, the brain, and the bones to assess whether the baby's growth and development is correct according to the estimate and the gestational age. it is about 25 cm long from head to heel and weighs about 315 g. ”At this point, although the fetal organs are still not fully ripe, they are all formed. This includes all the pathways for blood vessels to enter and exit the heart, as well as the routes of blood vessels from the heart to the lungs and vice versa, ”said Bart Putterman, MD, a women's health specialist at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women in Houston quoted from Parents.

Then, a fetal scan at week 20 can also look for things that could not be seen on previous scans, such as spinal cord abnormalities, brain defects, heart defects, and diaphragmatic abnormalities. The doctor can also find out the position of the fetus in the womb, whether the position is breech, transverse, head down (cephalic), or normal position. During the scan, normally the fetus will also show active movements.

The picture of the uterus, placenta, and the condition of the amniotic fluid can be better observed at this time. The length of your placenta will be measured whether or not it is far from the cervix, so that it doesn't block the birth canal during labor. Cervical measurements and images are also taken to see if there is a risk of preterm labor. In addition, a uterine scan at week 20 can also help the doctor diagnose any problems with the mother's ovaries or uterus, such as tumors, and whether you need other tests, such as amniocentesis.

Overall, having an ultrasound at week 20 can help your doctor determine whether your birth went well or not and whether your baby is healthy or not.