Is
my baby growing as it should?
The
growth scan, which is sometimes called the wellbeing scan or
positioning scan, takes place when you are between 23 and 40 weeks
pregnant. It checks how well your baby is growing and their position
in the uterus (womb).
During
the scan we:
- measure
the baby's head, abdomen and thigh bone
- assess
the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby
- observe
the baby's activity
- measure
the blood flow in the umbilical cord using Doppler ultrasound
- record
the position of the placenta.
The
measurements of the head, tummy and leg allow us to estimate fetal
weight. We plot all the measurements on a chart against the normal
range and this enables us to assess the fetal growth. Your baby is
likely to be an average size if the measurements are all within
normal limits. If concerns arise from the results of this scan, you
will have the opportunity to discuss their implications with our
consultant obstetrician.
Because
babies grow at different rates from week to week, a series of scans
can be more helpful than just one. You may want, or need, a series of
extra scans to track and monitor the growth and wellbeing of your
baby. This may be because you had complications in a previous
pregnancy, or have a medical condition such as diabetes or high blood
pressure. We also offer extra scans if you are expecting twins.
The
baby's position usually becomes stable from 37 weeks onwards. Hence
we can perform a scan to determine the position at this stage. If the
scan reveals a breech position we can then discuss options open to
you such as external cephalic version (ECV) or caesarean section. ECV
is the act of turning the baby by hand. Your baby is breech when
their bottom, foot or feet, instead of their head, leads the way out
of the uterus.
Consult
your gynaecologist / midwife:
- prior
to any ultrasound examination for discussion
- if
you have any doubts of the necessity of any scan
- if
you have concerns of your baby's well-being at any stage of your
pregnancy.
At
Richmond Practice our consultant gynaecologists and obstetricians
offer growth scans as part of our pregnancy/maternity services. Their
experience includes working in a tertiary referral centre (where
doctors refer at-risk pregnancies to or where pregnant couples can go
for a second opinion.)
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