Kiambu District Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. James Kariuki has urged expectant women to consider proper antenatal health care, especially ultrasound sessions for better fetal health.
While in an interview in his office, Dr. Kariuki said that expectant mothers should consider ultrasound sessions within the first and second trimester for better monitoring of fetal health, to avert dangerous medical situations that might be brought about by pregnancies.
He continued to say that ultrasound examinations do not use ionizing radiation like those in x -rays, thus there is no radiation exposure to the mother or the baby.
“Ultrasound is the preferred imaging modality for the diagnosis and monitoring of expectant women and unborn babies,” said Dr. Kariuki.
The doctor commented that the procedure is a non-invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and efficiently monitor a mother’s reproductive health and it plays a major role in fetal development and screening for potential problems.
Some of the vital signs that ultrasound helps to establish includes, the fetal heartbeat, check for multiple pregnancies, diagnose ectopic pregnancies and analyze abnormal growth, the doctor reckoned.
The doctor noted that through the procedure there have been increased chances of early detection of multiple pregnancies before 24 weeks gestation and was associated with a reduction in the incidence of labor induction for post term pregnancies.