What
is it?
Ultrasound in pregnancy is an examination of the
baby using safe sound waves.
The
Early Scan
The early scan will confirm that you are pregnancy.
It is also important to confirm if it is a multiple
pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside
the womb which is serious). |
| |
| Miscarriages
are also diagnosed at this time. This scan is
important to establish accurately the age of the
fetus and the expected date of delivery |
| |
The Detail Scan
This scan is done at 20 weeks. At this time the doctor
will check thoroughly for abnormalities and a large
number of abnormalities can be detected from the brain
to the feet. The accuracy is as high as 90% and of course
there will be a few abnormalities that are not possible
to diagnose. All doctors here are specially trained
in this field.
Other information that can be obtained are the position
of the placenta, the adequacy of the amniotic fluid,
the umbilical cord and the sex of the baby.
Sometimes due to the position of the fetus it may
not be possible to see all of the features in which
case you will be asked to return for a repeat scan.
Special
Scan
In
special cases you may be asked to go for special,
scan to rule out abnormalities. Special scan
include Doppler studies of the umbilical vessels
to asses the health of the fetus. |
• |
Colour Doppler is done for
smaller vessels eg assessment of the brain as
well as for the Heart. |
• |
Biophysical to assess the
health of the fetus. |
•
|
Vaginal ultrasound to assess
miscarriages, ectopics and the placenta. |
| 3d
Colour Scan |
|
This is a special
scan which uses a special computer technology
to give you a 3 dimensional view of the fetus
and its features. This is also dependent of the
position and the activity of the fetus. |
4d
Colour Scan |
|
This is 3D scan that is live
as in you will see the fetus in 3D that is actually
mobile on the monitor. |
Is scanning safe?
Ultrasound have been around for almost 30
years and there has been no reports of risks to the
mother and/or fetus
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