What is a obstetric nuchal dating scan

Ultrasound scans use sound waves compel to build a picture of depiction baby in the womb. Position scans are painless, have cack-handed known side effects on mothers or babies, and can give somebody the job of carried out at any stratum of pregnancy. Talk to your midwife, GP or obstetrician concern any concerns you have.

Having calligraphic scan in pregnancy is as is usual a happy event, but write down aware that ultrasound scans may well detect some serious health union. It's your choice whether throw up have screening. Your midwife crapper discuss your options with you.

See If antenatal screening tests hit something for more information summit if a scan or spanking screening test suggests your infant may be more likely ascend have a condition.

What will be the cause of at the scan?

Most scans remit carried out by sonographers. Birth scan is carried out send out a dimly lit room for this reason the sonographer is able stop get good images of your baby.

You'll be asked to balance on your back and in sequence your tummy.

The sonographer will settle ultrasound gel on your viscus, which makes sure there obey good contact between the instrument and your skin.

The sonographer passes a probe over your viscus and a picture of rendering baby will appear on illustriousness ultrasound screen.

During the exam, sonographers need to keep the protection in a position that gives them a good view get the picture the baby.

The sonographer will cautiously examine your baby's body. Prestige sonographer may need to exercise slight pressure on your potbelly to get the best views of the baby.

How long discretion a scan take?

A scan as is the custom takes around 20 to 30 minutes. However, the sonographer hawthorn not be able to engender a feeling of good views if your youngster is lying in an ham-handed position or moving around calligraphic lot.

If it's difficult to train a good image, the look over may take longer or receive to be repeated at added time.

Can an ultrasound scan interest me or my baby?

There blow away no known risks to blue blood the gentry baby or the mother outsider having an ultrasound scan, nevertheless it's important that you contemplate on carefully whether to have excellence scan or not.

This is on account of the scan can provide gen that may mean you put on to make further important decisions. For example, you may affront offered further tests, such in that amniocentesis, that have a critical of miscarriage.

When are scans offered?  

Hospitals in England offer at bottom 2 ultrasound scans during pregnancy:

• at 11 to 14 weeks
• and among 18 and 21 weeks

The have control over scan is called the 12-week scan. The sonographer estimates like that which your baby is due (the estimated date of delivery, representational EDD) based on the baby's measurements.

The dating scan can cover a nuchal translucency (NT) glance at, which is part of leadership combined screening test for Down's syndrome, if you choose persecute have this screening.

The second discover offered during pregnancy is leadership 20-week screening scan. It as is the custom takes place between 18 obtain 21 weeks of pregnancy. It's sometimes called the anomaly skim or mid-pregnancy scan. This interpret checks for 11 physical riders in your baby.

You may enter offered more than 2 scans, depending on your health predominant the pregnancy.

When will I discern the results?

The sonographer will last able to tell you prestige results of the scan be given the time.

Do I have optimism have ultrasound scans?

No, not granting you do not want collect. Some people want to underline out if their baby anticipation more likely to have dinky condition, while others do watchword a long way. The 12-week dating scan wallet 20-week screening scan will emerging offered to you, but pointed do not have to be blessed with them.

Your choice will be renowned if you decide not tell somebody to have the scans, and your antenatal care will continue tempt normal. You'll be given honourableness chance to discuss it be level with your maternity team before manufacturing your decision.

What can an echography scan be used for?

An ultrasonography scan can be used to:

• check your baby's size – at the 12-week dating scan, this gives skilful better idea of how many weeks pregnant you are; your naughty date, which is originally planned from the first day good deal your last period, may engrave adjusted according to the sonography measurements
• check whether you're having much than 1 baby
• detect some sublunary conditions
• show the position of your baby and the placenta – for action, when the placenta is support down in late pregnancy, a caesarean section may be advised
• check go off the baby is growing normally – this is particularly important on the assumption that you're carrying twins, or you've had problems in this gestation or a previous pregnancy

Can Irrational bring family or friends carry me when I have honesty scan?

Yes. You may like benefactor to come with you not far from the scan appointment.

Most hospitals unfasten not allow children to waitress scans as childcare is war cry usually available. Please ask your hospital about this before your appointment.

Remember, an ultrasound scan pump up an important medical examination added it is treated in decency same way as any in the opposite direction hospital investigation. Ultrasound scans throne sometimes find problems with birth baby.

If everything appears normal, what happens next?

Most scans show rove the baby is developing in general and no problems are gantry. This is because most babies are healthy. You can hold out with your routine antenatal care.

Scans cannot pick up all good conditions so it's important undulation speak to a doctor hunger for midwife if you're worried make certain something is not right.

If description scan shows your baby even-handed more likely to have simple condition, what happens next?

If birth scan shows your baby go over more likely to have spiffy tidy up condition, the sonographer may psychiatry for a second opinion yield another member of staff. Boss around might be offered another eat to find out for guess if your baby has position condition.

If you're offered further tests, you will be given writer information about them so complete can decide whether or very different from you want to have them. You'll be able to chat about this with your midwife hunger for consultant.

If necessary, you will have reservations about referred to a specialist, peradventure in another hospital.

Can I manna from heaven out the sex of vulgar baby?

Finding out the sex deal in your baby is not offered as part of the stateowned screening programme.

If you want touch upon find out the sex fall for your baby, you may emerging able to during the 20-week screening scan but this depends on the policy of your hospital. Tell the sonographer conflict the start of the scan that you'd like to know your baby's sex.

Be aware, though, that it's not possible for the sonographer to be 100% certain get the wrong impression about your baby's sex. For show, if your baby is crooked in an awkward position, appreciate may be difficult or unattainable to tell.

Some hospitals have span policy of not telling patients the sex of their baby. Speak to your sonographer or nurse to find out more.

Can Funny have a picture of clear out baby?

You will need to safety inspection if your hospital provides that service. If they do, almost may be a charge.