Pregnancy Scans

An ultrasound is used for pregnancy scans. The ultrasound scan uses sound waves to build a picture of the baby inside the womb. It is completely painless and with no known side effects, and can be carried out at any stage of the pregnancy.

Most women are very excited about pregnancy scans because it gives them a glimpse of their babies. However, the scan may detect serious abnormalities, and therefore Dr Essel will advise women to be prepared for such kind of information. A scan tells the gynaecologist and obstetrician, the measurements of the baby, whether he or she is growing as the expected and accurate date of the expected baby birth.

The procedure is carried out by a specially trained person called a sonographer. It is done in a dimly lit room so that the sonographer can get good images of the baby. The sonographer will instruct you to lower your skirt or trousers below your hip and raise your top to your chest. The sonographer will apply ultrasound gel on your tummy, making sure there is good contact between the machine and your skin.

The sonographer then passes a handheld device called a probe on your tummy, which sends ultrasound waves and picks them when they bounce back. A black and white image of the baby appears on the ultrasound screen. The sonographer will allow you to see the images and then examine them. This procedure will take around 20 minutes.

The pregnancy scans are done at two key stages:

The dating scan, 11 – 14 weeks. This first scan will examine whether the baby is growing and developing as expected. It will also show whether you are expecting one baby or more, and by examining the size of the baby, it will give an accurate due date of delivery.
The anomaly scan, 18 – 20 weeks and six days. This scan will assess whether or not the baby has developed, and that all is well. Risks of developing, medical conditions or abnormalities are identified at this stage.

There are different types of pregnancy scans, such as:

2D scans
3D scans
4D scans

Results of the scan and any advice required are available immediately after the scan.

FAQ

The procedure usually takes between twenty and thirty minutes.

Multiple ultrasound examinations throughout pregnancy are unlikely to harm the developing foetus in any way.

Transvaginal ultrasounds are most commonly utilised in the first trimester of pregnancy. If a transabdominal ultrasound did not provide adequate information, this sort of ultrasound might be used. Transabdominal ultrasonography is a type of ultrasound used to examine the inside by moving a transducer over your abdomen.