This ultrasound test, also referred to as an anomaly scan, gives you a close-up look at your growing child and is standard procedure for all Australian pregnant women. We at Spectrum advise scheduling your morphology scan after 19 weeks of pregnancy.
At this point, the doctor and sonographer can examine the baby’s anatomy, including the head/brain, face, heart, stomach, kidneys, bladder, spine, and limbs. They can also measure the length of the cervix, the placenta’s relationship to it, and the fluid surrounding the baby.
It is believed that this is the best moment to see the baby’s anatomy, enabling precise evaluation of the limbs and internal organs. If an anomaly is discovered, the time of the scan also permits further testing.
Even with our practice’s highly skilled medical staff and cutting-edge equipment, ultrasonography is not always able to identify all possible defects in babies. Certain anomalies, such certain heart problems and intestinal abnormalities, are only noticeable later in pregnancy. Certain disorders, such cerebral palsy and chromosomal abnormalities, are completely undetectable. While this scan gives you and your doctor peace of mind, it does not ensure that your pregnancy will be trouble-free or that your baby will be normal.
Your bladder’s fluid acts as a “window” to improve scan pictures. Additionally, it lets you see your baby, uterus, and cervix more clearly by pushing the uterus (womb) up from your pelvis and intestines out of the way. We recommend that you drink half a litre of water and empty your bladder one hour before your appointment. You should attempt to avoid emptying your bladder until after your session; it doesn’t have to be so full that it hurts.
Ultrasound is safe, yes. The use of ultrasound scanning dates back more than 50 years. Instead of using ionising radiation, like in CT scans and x-rays, they employ sound waves. Long-term research has demonstrated that an ultrasound scan done before to delivery has no negative effects on the unborn child. Normal growth and development, normal hearing and vision, and a normal range of academic achievement have all been seen during follow-up.
Usually, everything may be evaluated in a single scan, but in 5–10% of cases, a second scan may be required later that day or on a different day when the baby is larger or in a different position.
