Evaluation of Embryonic Cardiac Activity, Heart Dimension, Chest Dimension and Some Fetal Movements during 8th - 16th Weeks of Pregnancy Using Ultrasound

The high resolution, safety and ease performance make ultrasound (U/S) the procedure of choice for routine ultrasonography, in the first half of pregnancy as a standard of obstetric care. The aims of this study were to evaluate the activity of the heart muscle (HR), heart dimension (HD), chest dimension (CD), as well as to assess some of the embryonic movements of the fetuses from 8 weeks 16 weeks of pregnancy. This descriptive cross section study was performed in the ultrasound departments in five big Khartoum State hospitals during September 2007 till October 2009.522 early pregnant mothers (aged 19 - 30years) who were chosen randomly, were interviewed by the investigators, and data was collected by using a well prepared questionnaire. In addition, Every participant was examined with U/S, which was supplied with the Doppler mode, and recording of Crown Rump Length (CRL), Heart Rate (HR), (CD), (HD) of the fetus was performed. Moreover, some movements of the fetuses were also recorded (punching, kicking, and rolling over of fetuses). This study highlighted the strong correlation between heart beats of the fetuses and (HD) (particularly in fetuses with (HR) above normal), CD, Gestational Age (GA) in weeks, and different fetal movements within the uterus. Also, the study showed that there was a relationship between the high abnormal heart activity and abortion in pregnant mothers. In addition, depressed mood of the mother had an increased effect on fetal heart rate. The study recommended that Color Doppler ultrasound should be an integral part of the routine fetal heart rate for helping to short the scanning time and improve reliability or exclude abnormalities. Sonographers should increase their knowledge of various genetic and environmental factors (as maternal depression) that may disturb normal development of the embryo. They also should be sufficiently trained on early characterization of multiple pregnancy, early diagnosis of lethal abnormalities, and screening of chromosomal defects.