What Can An Anomaly Scan Tell Me?

An ultrasound anomaly scan is usually performed between 18 and 24 weeks of your pregnancy. It

can give you a detailed close up view of your baby and check on their health, wellbeing and

development. It's sometimes referred to as the 20 weeks scan or anatomy scan but usually takes

place within a six week window.

Most parents find the experience very reassuring and say it helps them bond with their baby and

feel close to them around the mid-point of their pregnancies.

In a small minority of cases though, the scan may reveal a medical problem, which can be worrying -

but in that event you should be given expert counselling about the significance of the findings and

advice about your options.

What happens during your anomaly scan? To get a good view of your baby the room where you have your scan will be dimly lit. You'll be asked

to lie on a couch and uncover your belly so the sonographer can place some gel on it and use an

instrument called a transducer to get an ultrasound image of your baby. You may need a full

bladder, so may be asked to drink water and not pass urine immediately before the scan.

What an anomaly scan can tell you about your baby · Check for physical abnormalities: Your sonographer will use ultrasound to check how your

baby's brain, spinal cord, heart, kidneys, liver, stomach, arms and legs are developing. It can't

detect all problems though so does have its limitations (for example, although it will pick up

around 90 per cent of Spina bifida cases only around 50 per cent of heart defects will be

detected).i[i]

· Measure your baby's growth: Your anomaly scan will also tell you if your baby's growth is

progressing at a normal rate compared to those expected for your dates. If your baby's growth is

slower than expected it may indicate a medical problem that needs further investigation.

· Tell you your baby's sex: This is optional (some people don't want to spoil the surprise!) and it’s

not always possible for the sonographer to get a clear view of your baby’s genitals anyway.

Which medical conditions can an anomaly scan detect?

In addition to an all over check-up on your baby's anatomy, your sonographer will specifically look

for signs of 11 medical conditions, some of them very rareii[ii]. These include:

· Spina bifida: This is a neural tube defect where the spine doesn't develop properly leaving a gap

in the spine. Around 90 per cent of cases are detected on a scan.

· Cleft lip: This is a gap or split in the lip or palate or sometimes both, which occurs when

separate areas of the face do not fuse properly. It can be corrected by surgery after birth.

· Serious cardiac abnormalities: Around 8 in 1,000 babiesiii[iii] will have a heart defect; many of

these defects can be corrected by surgery after birth.

· Edwards' syndrome (T18) and Patau's Syndrome (T13): These are rare chromosomal

abnormalities.

· Anencephaly: This is a defect in the formation of the skull.

· Diaphragmatic hernia: This is a defect in the muscle separating the chest and hernia.

· Gastrochisis: The baby's intestines stick outside the body through a hole in the belly button and

this requires surgery after birth.

· Exomphalos: This is where the contents of the baby's abdomen herniate through the umbilical

cord.

· Bilateral renal agenesis: This means your baby does not have kidneys. This is extremely rare

affecting 1 in 10,000 babies. Unfortunately there is no treatment and babies affected will die

before they are born.

· Lethal skeletal dysplasia: These are bone growth abnormalities, which cause severe

malformation of the ribs, affecting chest and lung development. Unfortunately babies affected

by this condition usually do not survive.

What happens if there is a problem? Your sonographer is well trained in spotting any potential problems with your baby and will

recommend a medical professional to give you support and information about further investigations

and treatment options. You may then need to see a specialist to discuss what to do next.

Ultrasound Direct Dudley provides private anomaly scans at centres around the UK for £156. The

package includes a 30 minute consultation arranged at your convenience with 4DFREEVIEW scan

with 3D b/w scan prints in a sleeve. Click here to arrange an anomaly scan at a centre near you.

i[i] NHS LEAFLET 'SCREENING TESTS AND YOUR BABY'

http://fetalanomaly.screening.nhs.uk/publicationsandleaflets

ii[ii] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/anomaly-scan-18-19-20-21-weeks-

pregnant.aspx

iii[iii] https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/service/maternity-services/fetal-medicine-unit/checking-for-

adnormalities/