Pregnancy scans

There’s nothing quite like the moment you watch your baby first move during the ultrasound scan. A scan can give you and your healthcare professional a good idea of your baby’s development and could also reveal any more serious issues. Learn more about the different scans and what they reveal.

Scans are used to monitor your health and your baby’s development throughout pregnancy. Some are routine, some are optional, others are advised for certain circumstances. Read about the scans you can expect, what they detect and how they are performed.

Scans in pregnancy

Throughout your pregnancy, you’ll usually be offered at least two scans; the first is a dating scan at 12 weeks and the second an anomaly scan at 20 weeks to check that your baby is developing healthily. Additional scans may only be advised if your doctor thinks it’s wise to keep a closer eye on developments for a particular reason.

The scans described in this article are performed using ultrasound. This involves your sonographer moving a hand-held device over your belly, which transmits a black and white image to a screen. You may be asked to prepare for the scan by drinking a lot of water, as a full bladder helps to push your uterus forward, enabling the sonographer to see more detail.

If you’re ever unsure what a test is for or have a question about it, your doctor will be able to talk you through the details. Our Careline team of experienced mums and nutritionists has plenty of advice to offer too. Call us on 800 6458 6262 (UAE)/ +971 4 420 9489 (Other countries) between the hours of 9am and 6pm Saturday to Thursday.

Early pregnancy scan

You may be offered an early scan between 6 and 10 weeks if you have a history of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, or if you’re experiencing pain or bleeding. The scan will check how far along you are, measure your baby and check their heartbeat. A regular ultrasound is unlikely to offer a clear enough picture at this stage, so it may be performed using a small probe in your vagina.

Dating scan

This is when you’ll get the first glimpse of your baby. During the 10 minute scan, your sonographer will take measurements to determine your baby’s due date and age. They will check if there is more than one baby, if there are any obvious abnormalities, the condition of your ovaries and your baby’s heartbeat.

It can be an exciting and sometimes emotional experience as your baby appears before you. If your hospital offers such a service, you may be able to buy a printout of the image of your baby for a small fee.

Nuchal translucency (NT) scan

A Nuchal fold scan assesses your baby’s risk of having chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’s Syndrome. The Nuchal Scan is not yet available in all NHS hospitals, so it is usually performed privately between 11 weeks and up until 13 weeks, 6 days.

During the scan, a measurement is taken of an area at the back of your baby’s neck known as the ‘nuchal area’. The test also takes into consideration age, weight, height, BMI and blood tests. The result will be a probability rather than a definitive answer, so you may need an amniocentesis test to properly confirm it.

This test may lead to you having to make difficult choices. Your doctor will be able to talk through the reliability of the test and the implications of potential results.

20 week scan

Offered routinely on the NHS to everyone, your 20 week scan allows for a thorough check of your baby’s development. Your sonographer will measure your baby’s head, abdomen and thigh bone to make sure they are growing and developing well.

Also referred to as the anomaly scan, it lasts around 15-20 minutes. By this stage in your pregnancy you should be able to see your baby’s limbs and movements. This can be an exciting moment and one you can treasure with a printout. Your sonographer may also be able to see the sex of your baby so let them know if you’d prefer to find out or not.

They will be checking:

• For cleft palate or any obvious brain problems.
• The alignment and development of your baby’s spine
• The size and shape of your baby’s heart
• Structual defects within your baby’s heart
• Your baby’s hands and feet
• Their stomach, kidneys and bladder
• The position of the placenta, the umbilical cord and your amniotic fluid levels

If anything revealed on your 20 week scan needs looking at a little more closely, you’ll be offered another scan and will be referred to a specialist.

Growth scan

Growth scans are ultrasound tests that are advised if there is any concern about your baby’s growth or development. Your doctor will be able to explain why you are being offered one.