What Does a Second-Trimester Level B Ultrasound Scan Examine?
B-ultrasound examination is a commonly used method in clinical medicine, especially after a woman becomes pregnant. Basically, she needs to go to the hospital for a B-ultrasound examination every month to determine the fetal development. However, the type of B-ultrasound examination required may vary depending on the specific issue. For instance, second-level B-ultrasound is also a common method. What does second-level B-ultrasound mainly examine?
For example, the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, uterus and its appendages, bladder, etc. B-ultrasound can detect lesions with densities different from normal tissues, such as calcification and cysts. If it is used for gynecological examination, B-ultrasound can provide information about the cervix, uterus, appendages, and pelvis.
Second-level B-ultrasound examination during pregnancy is a grading based on the placental sonogram observed, representing placental growth. However, it cannot be equated with placental function. It suggests that the placenta is not yet mature and can continue to be observed. The grading of the placenta indicates its maturity. Normal early pregnancy often manifests as grade 0, which is the growth stage of the placenta. In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, as the placenta matures, it develops from grade I to grade III.
The placenta serves as a nutritional transfer station between the mother and the fetus, providing the nutrients necessary for normal fetal growth and development and eliminating metabolic waste. Its function is divided into three levels: 0-1 indicates good placental function; 1-2 indicates normal placental function with slight decline; 2-3 indicates decreased placental function affecting normal delivery. The function of the placenta decreases as the fetus matures in the late stages of pregnancy. Generally, by the time of childbirth, most pregnant women have a placental grade of around 2-3, which is a normal phenomenon that does not affect the fetus and does not require early delivery. Since the fetus has already developed maturely, cesarean section can be performed if desired.