During
pregnancy, when can you see if my baby is growing normally?
An
anomaly scan shows whether your baby is developing normally and where
the placenta is lying in your uterus. It is sometimes called your
mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan and must take place when you are
between 18 and 23 weeks pregnant. It is one of the most important
pregnancy scans and helps us find out whether the baby has a
disability or not. Unfortunately however the
anomaly scan is not 100% accurate and couples need to consent
that they understand this.
What
we look for particularly:
- The
shape and structure of your baby's head and brain.
- Your
baby's face to check for a cleft lip.
- Your
baby's spine, both along its length and in cross section, to make
sure that all the bones align and that the skin covers the spine at
the back.
- Your
baby's abdominal wall, to make sure it covers all the internal
organs at the front.
- Your
baby's heart and lungs. The top two chambers (atria) and the bottom
two chambers (ventricles) should be equal in size. The valves should
open and close with each heartbeat.
- Your
baby's stomach and bowels. Your baby swallows some of the amniotic
fluid that he lies in, which is seen in his stomach as a black
bubble.
- That
your baby has two kidneys, and that urine flows freely into his
bladder.
- Your
baby's sex, arms, legs, hands and feet.
As
well as this detailed look at how your baby is growing, we check the
position of the placenta, the umbilical cord and that there's
enough amniotic fluid. During the scan we will measure your baby's
head and abdominal circumference and the length of the femur or thigh
bone.
Some
conditions, including heart defects and bowel obstructions, may not
be seen until later in your pregnancy. Having your anomaly scan will
most likely rule out all these conditions, as the vast majority of
babies are born healthy.
Other
problems may mean a baby needs surgery or treatment after birth, or
even surgery while still in the uterus. There will be a whole range
of people to support you if there is a difficulty.
Consult
your gynaecologist/midwife:
- to
refer you for an anomaly scan
- for
a second opinion, if a concern arose after an anomaly scan
- to
help you decide whether you require additional tests to assess baby
- to
help you decide what to do, in the unlikely event of there being a
problem with baby.
At
Richmond Practice our private consultant gynaecologists and
obstetricians are specialists in fetal maternal medicine. Their
experience includes working in a tertiary referral centre (where
doctors refer at-risk pregnancies or where pregnant couples can go
for a second opinion.) We offer the anomaly scan as part of a
comprehensive package of care available to private patients or to
couples who need help on a one-off basis. We will give you a copy of
the "photo" of baby as a print-out and/or on a USB stick.
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