The overall health of the pregnancy: Problems with the placenta or amniotic fluid may mean that the pregnant woman needs to switch to a provider specializing in high risk pregnancies.Whether the fetus is developing normally: The healthcare provider can identify whether the baby is likely to need medical care right after birth.The 18-week ultrasound provides many important pieces of information, including: development of the placenta, including whether it is in the right place.signs of cleft palate and other genetic anomalies.development of organs, such as the kidneys, lungs, and intestines.development of the heart, including whether the heart has four chambers.genital development and the sex of the fetus.The doctor or technician will check a range of factors during this ultrasound, including: The provider may ask the woman to move, drink water, or use the bathroom to encourage the fetus to change positions.
Learn more about transvaginal ultrasounds here.Īn ultrasound at 18 weeks usually takes longer than earlier ultrasounds, which doctors use to date the pregnancy. Sometimes, the provider also inserts the transducer into the vagina to get a clearer picture. They apply a gel to the lower portion of the stomach and rub the transducer over the area to create clear images. In most cases, people do not need to do anything special to prepare for an anatomy scan.ĭuring an 18-week ultrasound, an ultrasound technician or a doctor uses a transducer, which looks like a remote control. Based on how long it takes the waves to return to the ultrasound machine, the machine can determine how far away various body parts are and render a picture displaying this information. Parts of the body, including the developing fetus, send these sound waves back.
Ultrasounds work by sending sound waves into the body.
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