How many months of pregnancy should I check for abnormalities?

The birth of a new life is a great joy for a family, but there are also a lot of worries and anxieties in this process. Deformity is a concern for many families. According to the national eugenics policy, it is legal to check for fetal deformity during pregnancy. Generally speaking, the fetus needs to develop to a certain extent before a malformation examination can be performed. The malformation exclusion examination can be done around 6 or 7 months of pregnancy.

1. Generally, a four-dimensional color ultrasound at 18 to 24 weeks can rule out deformities. For pregnancy check-ups, if conditions permit, it is best to have a check-up once a month. If circumstances do not permit, focused check-ups can be performed. Generally speaking, B-ultrasound has little effect on the baby and can be performed appropriately.

2. Generally, at least 4 B-ultrasounds are required to confirm intrauterine pregnancy at 12 weeks of pregnancy and rule out abnormal pregnancy. At 18-20 weeks of pregnancy, check the gestational age and rule out fetal malformations. At 32-36 weeks of pregnancy, understand the fetal development and rule out fetal malformations again. If the due date has come or has exceeded the due date for 2 weeks but the baby has not been born, another B-ultrasound examination will be performed, mainly to understand the maturity of the placenta, the amount and properties of amniotic fluid, and indirectly understand the function of the placenta, so as to decide whether the pregnancy can continue and the mode of delivery. In addition, other examinations may be needed depending on the situation, such as Down syndrome screening at 16-18 weeks.

3. Fetal malformations can currently be detected at an early stage through some examination methods. Fetal malformation detection is currently mainly done through B-ultrasound or color ultrasound during the 20th to 24th week of pregnancy, when the fetal organs can be clearly seen through B-ultrasound. If ultrasound reveals that the fetus has protruding meninges, anencephaly, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, polynephrosis, or obvious exstrophy, abortion should be performed promptly to avoid delaying the pregnancy until the late stages and causing greater pain to the pregnant woman.

4. Fetal malformations are mainly caused by genetic factors, which are caused by abnormalities in genetic material from the parents. However, in addition to genetic factors, some adverse factors in daily life (such as radiation, drugs, diseases, polluted water, air, etc.) can also cause fetal malformations. Therefore, couples who decide to have children should learn more about pregnancy knowledge to avoid regrets. To sum up, if you want to have a healthy baby, pre-pregnancy check-ups and pre-pregnancy daily life precautions are inseparable.