Level 2 Ultrasound: What to Expect & Why It's Important

Question
Doctor,
I am 7 weeks pregnant; and have some questions about level 2 ultrasound. Can you please answer these -

1. What is a level 2 ultrasound and why is it done?

2. When is it normally done? ie. at how many weeks of pregnancy is it normally done?

3. Are there any side-effects like harm to the baby, etc.. because of the level 2 ultrasound?

4. In which patients do you normally suggest doing a level 2 ultrasound?

Thanks so much doctor.

Answer
A level 2 sonogram is merely a more careful and more detailed obstetrical sonogram. We ask for a level 2 ultrasound for a diabetic, a patient who had cardiac problems in a previous child, anytime we have any doubts about the placenta or the cardiac outflow tracts or the brain, or the fetal kidneys, in any patient with suspected chromosomal abnormalities, etc. There are absolutely no side effects or any harm to the mother or the baby with a level 2 ultrasound. I usually ask for it at 20 weeks gestational age, but it can be done at any time during the pregnancy, especially if we are trying to rule out any IUGR (intra uterine growth restriction). Why do you ask?