Types and Importance of Prenatal Scans

Prenatal scans are a vital part of your routine obstetric check-ups, offering valuable insights into the health and development of your baby. These scans help your doctor ensure your pregnancy progresses normally and identify potential concerns early on. While some scans are standard for all pregnancies, others may be recommended if you have a high-risk pregnancy. In a typical, healthy pregnancy, you’ll usually undergo three key scans, one early on, followed by detailed scans around the 12th and 20th weeks. However, if there’s an increased risk of complications such as preterm delivery, your doctor may schedule additional scans to monitor your baby’s growth and well-being closely.

The first scan is a truly special moment; it offers the first glimpse of your baby, turning the idea of pregnancy into a beautiful reality. But beyond the emotional joy, this scan also plays a crucial role in confirming important details like the baby’s heartbeat, the due date, and the overall health of your pregnancy. Let’s take a closer look at the types of prenatal scans and what each one helps to detect.

First Scan – Between 6 and 8 Weeks

• It confirms that your pregnancy is in the uterus and not in the fallopian tubes.
• It checks for the presence of the yolk sac and foetal pole to establish the age of your pregnancy.
• It checks if it is a single or multiple pregnancy.
• It establishes the Estimated Due Date.

NT Scan – Between 11 Weeks and 13 Weeks 4 Days

• This risk assessment scan checks for the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities. The risk is greater if you are 35 years or older and a Nuchal Translucency (NT) scan is taken.
• If you are at risk of pre-term labour, you will be advised to undergo a Cervical length scan.
• Uterine blood flow will also be measured to check if you are at risk of developing pre-eclampsia, which could lead to placental insufficiency and poor foetal development.

Second Trimester Scan (Anomaly Scan) – Between 18 Weeks and 22 Weeks

• To check the physical development.
• To check the skeletal system, brain, and heart systems.
• To check for placenta praevia, where the placenta occurs over or near the cervix.
• To check the amount of amniotic fluid.
• Best Before 20 weeks.
• 7% of anomalies can be detected.

Third Trimester Scan (Growth Scan) – 24-28 Weeks and 32-36 Weeks

• To check foetal development, head and abdominal circumference and femur length are measured.
• To estimate the date of delivery and the weight of the baby.
• To monitor the heartbeat.
• To check the position of the baby.
• To asses total fluid volume.
• To check the position and function of the placenta.
• Follow-up Scan.

Scan After the Due Date

If you do not go into labour after the due date, then a scan is done to assess the fluid volume and flow through the cord to determine the risk of foetal distress when contractions are induced. If you are pregnant and have any doubts about your scans, schedules, and prenatal care, contact us for a thorough understanding of your pregnancy and a safe and full-term birth.