Antenatal ultrasound – Its utility and limitations

Each year in India, roughly 30 million women experience pregnancy and 27 million have a live birth. Of these, over 100,000 women and one million children die within 4 weeks of birth annually. A significantly larger number of neonates suffer morbidities consequent to abnormal antenatal events. Proper antenatal care goes a long way in ensuring the obvious goal of pregnancy: a healthy mother and a healthy baby. Ultrasound now occupies a niche role in reducing morbidity and mortality, both for the mother and the neonate, because of its role in diagnosing leading causes of maternal, neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. These include maternal hemorrhage, toxaemia, malpositions, birth defects, low birth weight, situations that predispose to birth asphyxia and events that lead to prematurity. Access to primary, secondary and tertiary care reduces morbidity and mortality in all socioeconomic population groups. This review assesses the role of antenatal ultrasound in reducing morbidity and mortality in the neonate and infant.