PREGNANCY (1)

 WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ULTRASOUND SCANS ? 

Early Signs of Pregnancy: What to Look Out For ?

Dr. Claude Allouche, Gynecologist Grossesse 1 engl signes et echo bon
Ahuza Clinic, Raanana
058 726 02 64

🤰 Early Signs of Pregnancy: What to Look Out For ? 

Pregnancy is a unique experience, and the early signs can vary widely from one woman to another. Some might not feel any changes, while others experience noticeable symptoms, sometimes even before a missed period.

🌟 Common Early Signs of Pregnancy

1️⃣ Missed Period (Amenorrhea)
A missed period is often the first noticeable sign, but it isn’t always definitive. Stress, irregular cycles, or lifestyle changes can also cause delays.

2️⃣ Nausea and Vomiting (Bkhilot vehakaot בחילות והקאות)
Morning sickness, triggered by hormonal changes, is common early on. It typically subsides by the second trimester and may include heartburn and bloating.

3️⃣ Tender and Sensitive Breasts
Hormonal shifts can make your breasts feel sore or sensitive to touch.

4️⃣ Fatigue
Feeling unusually tired? Early pregnancy often brings a need for extra sleep due to increased progesterone levels.

5️⃣ Sensitivity to Smells
Certain odors—like coffee, perfume, or spices—may seem stronger or unpleasant, a result of heightened estrogen levels.

6️⃣ Emotional Sensitivity
Mood swings and unexpected tears are normal, driven by hormonal and emotional changes.

🔍 Confirming Your Pregnancy

✅ Home Urine Test (bdika be'itit בדיקה ביתית)
Detects the HCG hormone in morning urine with ~95% accuracy.

✅ Blood Test (beta HCG בטה)
Confirms pregnancy and measures hormone levels.

✅ Ultrasound
Performed after 6 weeks to confirm the pregnancy location, number of embryos, and gestational age.

💬 Have questions or concerns? Consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice and support.

#PregnancyJourney #EarlySigns #MomToBe #Herayon

 

 

PREGNANCY : WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ULTRASOUND SCANS?

 

PREGNANCY: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ULTRASOUND SCAN?

Ultrasound scans are key prenatal diagnostic tools in pregnancy follow-up. They help to determine:

  • Implantation of the pregnancy
  • Gestational age
  • Fetal morphology, growth, and vitality
  • Placental location
  • Gender (although this is not the primary purpose)

In Israel, ultrasounds are performed by gynecologists, sometimes specializing solely in gynecological-obstetric ultrasound, or by ultrasound technicians specializing in obstetric ultrasound, authorized by the Misrad Abriout (Ministry of Health).
In France, they are performed by gynecologists, radiologists, physicians, or midwives who have obtained a university degree in obstetric ultrasound in addition to their initial degree.

1/ First-Trimester Ultrasound

This ultrasound is ideally performed at 12 weeks of gestational age (GA) (between 11 and 13+6 GA).
In Hebrew: shkifout orpit (שקיפות עורפית).

It is essential because it allows:

  • Accurate evaluation of gestational age by measuring the embryo from head to foot (crown-rump length, CRL),
  • Verification of pregnancy implantation in the correct location within the uterus,
  • Determination of the number of embryos (single or multiple pregnancy),
  • Assessment of the baby’s vitality (heart activity, in Hebrew: dofek דופק),
  • Measurement of nuchal translucency as part of screening for Down syndrome and other abnormalities, integrating the mother's age and the results of a blood test performed simultaneously.

Coverage: This first-trimester ultrasound is covered by koupot holim in Israel and by social security in France.

2/ Second-Trimester Ultrasound (Morphological Ultrasound)

This ultrasound is performed around 22 GA (between 20 and 24 GA).
In Hebrew: skirat maarekhot meukheret (סקירת מערכות מאוחרת).

It serves to:

  • Examine the baby’s and uterus's anatomical structures to detect potential malformations,
  • Perform measurements to estimate the baby’s weight and verify vascularization of the uterus, placenta, and umbilical cord to ensure proper oxygenation.

However, even with a careful examination by a competent ultrasound specialist, some malformations might not be visible.

Coverage: This morphological ultrasound is covered by koupot holim in Israel and by social security in France.

3/ Early Morphological Ultrasound

In Hebrew: skirat maarekhot moukdemet (סקירת מערכות מוקדמת).

In Israel, an intermediate morphological ultrasound is proposed between 14 and 16 GA.
This ultrasound allows for:

  • An early morphological examination to detect potential malformations,
  • Determination of the baby's gender, most often at this stage.

Coverage: This early morphological ultrasound is optional and not covered by the koupot holim. In France, it is not routinely offered unless there is a pathology.

4/ Third-Trimester Ultrasound

Performed between 30 and 34 GA, this ultrasound aims to:

  • Assess the baby’s growth by measuring its head, abdomen, and femur, which allows for a weight estimation,
  • Check the baby’s presentation (head down, breech, transverse),
  • Locate the placenta to rule out conditions like placenta previa,
  • Monitor the amount of amniotic fluid,
  • Evaluate fetal vitality through active movements and fetal tone.

In France, this ultrasound is also used for a final morphological analysis to detect malformations missed earlier. In Israel, this is not done systematically, since two detailed morphological ultrasounds have already been performed at 16 and 22 GA.

5/ Additional Ultrasounds

  • Additional ultrasounds may be performed during follow-up visits if the obstetrician-gynecologist has an ultrasound machine.
  • These are not always necessary, especially in the absence of pathology, as fetal growth can be evaluated clinically.
  • Note: Ultrasound-based fetal weight estimation is imprecise due to the calculation model (head, femur, abdomen) and measurement inaccuracies.

#Pregnancy #Ultrasound #PrenatalCare #Gynecology #Obstetrics #Morphology #FetalGrowth #Placenta #NuchalTranslucency #DownSyndromeScreening #FetalHealth #PrenatalDiagnosis #FirstTrimester #SecondTrimester #ThirdTrimester #Midwives #Radiologists #Gynecologists