And what mother has never felt anxious about an ultrasound? This moment is ideal to get a peek inside the womb and check if everything is going well with the baby’s growth. But this exam has specific purposes, especially when it comes to Doppler ultrasound.
What is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is an exam performed using sound waves. These waves are emitted at an exact frequency and, when they encounter solid structures inside the body, are converted into images1.
At first, ultrasound was only 2D, then became 3D and now 4D. But the most important development in this story is the evolution of Doppler ultrasound2. Fetal Doppler ultrasound checks the blood flow from the placenta to the baby as well as in the baby’s body.
What the Exam Checks
With a kind of virtual coloring in Doppler ultrasound, the doctor can measure the baby’s blood flow, oxygen, and also heartbeats. With this fetal Doppler ultrasound it’s possible to detect possible problems with blood circulation, oxygenation, and also some others such as:
- Growth restriction due to poor blood flow
- Ideal amount of amniotic fluid
- The baby’s cardiac activity and condition
- Proper development of the child’s internal organs
- Possible problems with the placenta and its arteries (including risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes due to exaggerated fetal growth, and some infections).
Main Purpose of Doppler Ultrasound
The main goal of Doppler ultrasound is the growth of the fetus. Most SGA babies (small for gestational age) have an unfavorable diagnosis, as the placenta may not be nourishing the baby according to the gestational age3.
Most of the time, these small babies can be helped if the lack or restriction of weight gain is detected early, through Doppler ultrasound.
When Can It Be Done?
The first Doppler ultrasound can be performed even in the first trimester of pregnancy. This evaluates whether the placental flow is as it should be. This measurement is done through the umbilical cord blood flow and also checks the fetal heartbeat. The veins in the baby’s head are also checked with Doppler ultrasound. At this point, the doctor checks the baby’s oxygenation activity.
How Much Does a Doppler Ultrasound Cost?
Usually, Doppler ultrasound costs a bit more than a standard 2D ultrasound, but is less expensive than a 4D ultrasound, for example. I found price variations in several places, but we can say that it ranges from R$150 to R$450 depending on where you live and the ultrasound clinic you choose.
Doppler ultrasound is also covered by health insurance plans and can be done through the public health system (SUS) if your doctor suspects any problem during pregnancy. However, the wait for this type of exam can be quite long.
Doppler ultrasound saves lives! It checks for any problem that may exist in the pregnancy. Besides checking blood flow, it can also indicate potential prematurity. If you have high blood pressure or suspect preeclampsia this is the mandatory test to check if everything is fine with your uterine arteries and your baby’s growth.
Do not skip the Doppler ultrasound in any way, ask your doctor for it. If you don’t have health insurance, it’s worth making an effort to have the exam at a private clinic. Take advantage of the resources modern fetal medicine has to offer!
See also: 5-Week Ultrasound – Didn’t See the Baby, Now What?
