|
| |
|
Healthy foods with low calories are easy to find because the front of the lable will say things like ... - Jim O'Neill |
| |
|
Are you planning to breastfeed your baby but not sure how to start? Perhaps you're already breastfee ... - Gary Hendricks |
| |
|
On October 22, 2004, President George Bush used his legislative power to sign into law the Anabolic ... - Bob Howard |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Menopause is a natural life process for women. It usually occurs in your early or mid-forties, and, ... - Birgit Jurock |
| |
|
It's 8 in the morning. Your kid complains of headache, fatigue, body pain and fever. "No more excuse ... - Andrew Taylor |
| |
|
Children with obesity problems are growing in number. Adults have the responsibility to do all they ... - Charles Kassotis |
| |
|
Discover these 3 miracles of regularly fitting yoga and meditation into your life. - Jeff Smith |
| |
|
Losing weight is one of the most popular New Year?s resolutions each year. We all start with great i ... - Susanne Myers |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| Author: Yvonne Lapp Cryns |
The journal, Obstetrics and Gynecology, estimated that over half of all pregnant women in 1990 had undergone diagnostic ultrasound, yet research published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that 80 percent of all pregnant women are very low risk and do not need ultrasounds. The unnecessary ultrasounds cost about $1 Billion per year.
Any woman who is told she needs an ultrasound should ask about the potential benefits of the test and the risks of the procedure. She should ask if the results of the ultrasound will affect her care she would otherwise receive and how. If the result of the ultrasound will not affect her care, she may question the need for the test at all. Only after being completely informed about the need for the test, the benefits, and the risks, should she sign a consent for the procedure.
USES OF ULTRASOUND
According to the ACOG patient education flier, "Ultrasound is not necessary for every woman or in every pregnancy." It is, however, being used more often as a standard procedure for every pregnant woman. Some common uses include diagnosing and detecting uterine or ectopic pregnancy, noting pelvic inflammatory disease, cysts, tumors uterine cancer, endometriosis and congenital abnormalities.
Ultrasound may compare fetal age and weight, note the placement of the placenta, amount of amniotic fluid that is present and diagnose certain birth defects such as neural tube defects. Ultrasound is used during an amniocentesis to verify the baby's position to be sure that the needle is placed properly. Some physicians use ultrasound for estimating the fetal weight. This is not a very accurate measurement unless numerous criteria and scans are checked. Head circumference is one measurement. However, incases of gestational diabetes, it is inaccurate because these babies gain the additional weight on their bodies only.
Ultrasounds are frequently used to date pregnancies. According to Otto and Platt, 1991, in the first trimester the error range is +5 days, in the second trimester it increases to +8 days and if done in the final trimester it is +22 days. |
Author Bio:
Yvonne Lapp Cryns is the owner of Midwives .net - www.midwives.net Yvonne is the co-founder of Nursing Programs Online at www.nursingprogramsonline.com and a contributor to The Compleat Mother Magazine at www.compleatmother.com . Yvonne is also a law school graduate, a registered nurse and a Certified Professional Midwife. |
| You can also reach this article by using: pregnancy, giving birth, woman giving birth, pregnancy symptoms, pregnancy tips, symptoms of pregnancy |
|
|
|
|
