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What Do the Terms of Pregnancy Ultrasound Mean?

Many parametric values emerge as a result of the ultrasound examination, which provides information about the development and health status of the baby from pregnancy to birth.

What Do the Terms of Pregnancy Ultrasound Mean?
Posted May 4, 2022

Ultrasound Terms During Pregnancy

Many parametric values emerge after the ultrasound examination, which provides information on a wide range of subjects from the pregnancy process to the birth, from the development of the baby week by week to the health status. It is stated that these terms have different and important meanings. There are a number of ultrasound terms used in ultrasound evaluation of every mother-to-be during her pregnancy. As ultrasound terms during pregnancy and ultrasound terms during pregnancy give. While it is recommended to know the normal values of the terms FTA, GA (ga), GS, BPD, AUA (aua), D, DR and the terms that show the baby's heart rate, the reason for this is the continuous monitoring of the baby's development in ultrasound. While it is stated that there are different parameters in ultrasound apart from these; It is stated that it is useful to know terms such as LMP, CRL, AC, HC and FL.

What Do the Terms of Pregnancy Ultrasound Mean?

What are Ultrasound Terms in Pregnancy? Which term means what?

It is stated that ultrasound terms in pregnancy are important in the follow-up of pregnancy and the development of the baby. The reason for this is to have detailed information about the development of the baby in the mother's womb by checking the normal values of ultrasound terms, while it is stated that pregnancy ultrasound terms are special parameters that should be known. According to this; The meanings of the measurements made by ultrasound during pregnancy and the values obtained are expressed as follows;

  • AC : It means the measurement of the baby's abdominal circumference.
  • AD : It means the diameter of the baby's belly.
  • AFI : It is used to mean that the amount of amniotic fluid can be measured clearly with ultrasound.
  • CRL : It means the bottom and head distance of the baby in the mother's womb. It is stated to be the abbreviated term of Crown Rump Length. It is stated that the clearest information about the development of the baby before pregnancy is seen by looking at this value. It is stated that the current gestational week is the measurement with the least margin of error in the verification by comparing it with the last menstrual period (SAT) of the expectant mother. It is stated that the correct week is determined in pregnancies whose babies are thought to have developmental delay or overdue for mothers whose SAT (last menstrual period) is suspicious or who do not remember the last menstrual period.
  • DD : The value in question gives the estimated date of birth of the baby?
  • EDD : It is the estimated date of birth of the baby and is used in conjunction with other ultrasound terms.
  • EDD (LMP): Date of birth according to the last menstrual period,
  • EDD (AUA): It gives the estimated time of birth according to the measurements of the baby in the mother's womb.

Where is the baby's heartbeat written on the ultrasound paper?

  • FHR - Fetal Heart Rate: ( Heart rate of the baby in the womb ) It is indicated as the value showing the baby's heart rate in ultrasound. It is the value of the heart rate (FHR) of a normal fetus. It is stated that the heartbeat of the baby during the uterine period varies between 120 and 160 beats per minute (bpm). It is stated that the baby's heartbeat can be measured sonographically in approximately the 6th week of pregnancy.
  • EFW : Used with ultrasound measurements and refers to the estimated weight of the baby.
  • FL : It stands for the length of the thigh bone. The femur is the longest bone in the body and is used to have information about the baby's height as of the 4th month of pregnancy.
  • GA (AUA) : What does ga(aua) mean in ultrasound? The question is among the most frequently asked ultrasound terms by expectant mothers. On ultrasound, it is stated that the term GA (AUA) gives an estimated baby age based on ultrasound measurements.
  • GA (LMP) : It shows the time from the last menstrual period of the expectant mother to the day of measurement. This is also called the first age. It means that 20 weeks and 1 day have passed since the last menstrual period of the pregnant woman. In other words, according to this term, it is perceived as we should have a baby at 20 weeks and 1 day.
  • HL : It means the length of the humerus, that is, the long bone of the arm. It refers to the Humerus, which is the long bone of the arm between the Elbow and the Shoulder. It is stated that this is determined to be shorter in babies with Down syndrome.
  • LMP : Although this term is not an ultrasound term in general, it means the first day of the last menstrual period of the expectant mother. This term is often used very often in ultrasound reports. The reason for this is expressed as the day when the egg begins to mature, not the day when the egg, which is stated to be the beginning of pregnancy, is fertilized.
  • VALUE: While the place under the text is expressed as the estimated weight of the baby, the term Range gives the standard deviation. So these numbers show which grams your baby is between.

Ultrasound Terms Dimensions

One of the terms of ultrasound during pregnancy is measurements. While it is stated that these measures are never evaluated alone, the most important thing is to obtain a healthy result by evaluating all the measures together.

  • BPD(BiParietal Diameter): It means the diameter of the baby's head measured between the two ears.
  • OFD (Occipitofrontal diameter): It refers to the anterior and posterior diameters longer than the baby's head.
  • HC (Head Circumference): It means the length of the baby's head circumference. This term ultrasound stands for the baby's head circumference.
  • NT : It means the thickness of the nape of the baby.
  • RV: Refers to the right ventricle of the baby's heart.
  • LA : Refers to the left atrium of the baby's heart.
  • LV : Refers to the left ventricle of the baby's heart.
  • RA : Refers to the right atrium of the baby's heart.
  • AO : It refers to the aorta, that is, the main artery coming out of the baby's heart.

Abbreviated Terms of Doppler Ultrasonography

There are also abbreviated terms for Doppler ultrasonography performed during pregnancy. The meanings of these terms are defined as follows.

  • D : End-diastolic flow rate. It also expresses the velocity of blood flow in the vein at the end of the relaxation phase of the heart.
  • S : It refers to the extreme point of the Doppler waveform. It is also the point where the blood flow velocity is at a large rate.
  • A : Indicates the average blood flow velocity.
  • PI : Pulse indigestion.
  • RI : It is the resistance index.
  • S/D: Expresses the rate of blood flow velocity in systole and diastole.

Your Doctor Will Inform You In Any Negative Situation

The important issue that expectant mothers should not forget about the terms of ultrasound during pregnancy is that all of these measurements are millimetric. For this reason, it is important to keep in mind that your doctor may measure a few millimeters more or less or deviate for a few days while making the measurements. Even one-week deviations are considered normal by experts. You should know that your doctor will definitely inform you if there is any negative situation regarding your baby's development. As stated above, do not forget that the values in question do not make sense on their own, and the most accurate evaluation will be made only by the specialist doctor.