First timer at Fetal Ultrasound Centre

Dear Mom and Dad…

Congratulations with your healthy little miracle! 😊  We are SO excited for you!!

You are about to embark on a fantastic journey of getting to know your little baby before he/she is even here!  We would love to give you some more information about your time here with us at the Fetal Ultrasound Centre.

It’s an absolute privilege and a joy for us to scan – to show you your baby!!  😊  It is such a fun, happy, special time, but often also nerve wrecking!  Sometimes we need to be reminded that the purpose of a scan is to check for complications and abnormalities; a lot of training, knowledge and experience is needed to do this.  As moms and women with soft hearts, we can understand the trauma when things aren’t going well, and we believe we were placed in this roll specifically for the difficult times.  Our hope and prayers are that you will have an uncomplicated journey!

SO WHY CHOOSE THE FETAL ULTRASOUND CENTRE?

At the Fetal Ultrasound Centre we provide our patients with a professional, informative and memorable ultrasound examination.  We contribute to the early health of your baby by using the latest technology and our extensive knowledge of obstetric ultrasound techniques and fetal pathology to calculate your baby’s risk of having a chromosomal abnormality or fetal anomaly.  In addition to the First Trimester Downs Syndrome risk assessment and Fetal Anomaly scans, we also provide services such as early pregnancy dating, gender determination, growth scans and 4D ultrasound scans.

SO WHAT SCANS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES?

An Early dating scan is recommended to confirm babies due date. This will help us determine when to book your First Trimester Risk Assessment Scan.

Your FIRST BIG or health check of baby is your First Trimester Risk Assessment or Down Syndrome scan (sometimes also called the NT – Nuchal Translucency Scan).

This scan is carried out from 11 weeks to 13 weeks and 6 days. The ultrasound allows a measurement to be taken of the thickness of fluid in an area behind the fetal neck. This area, known as the nuchal translucency (NT) is often larger in a fetus with Down syndrome. Measurement of the crown-rump length (CRL) of the fetus is used to calculate the gestational age of the fetus.

The NT measurement together with a maternal blood test, usually taken between 9 weeks to 13 weeks, is the most important prenatal screening test to determine the risk of the fetus having Down syndrome. (Personalized risk for Down syndrome). 

Personalized risk for Down syndrome

Babies with Down syndrome and heart failure tend to have extra fluid at the back of the neck (arrow).

Only sonographers/doctors with the “Certificate of Competence from the Fetal Medicine Foundation in London” are provided with the Computer Evaluation Program to perform this Down syndrome risk assessment.

Each woman will be given an estimate of her individual risk for Down syndrome in this pregnancy.  This is calculated by considering the age of the mother, measurement of two hormones in the mother’s blood and the scan findings. This test can detect about 90%-95% of fetuses with Down syndrome.

The factors assessed at the 1st trimester NT scan are summarized as:

  • Age of the mother
  • Amount of fluid behind the neck of the fetus (nuchal translucency)
  • Presence or absence of the fetal nasal bone
  • Fetal heart rate
  • Blood flow through the tricuspid valve of the fetal heart
  • Blood flow through the ductus venosus in the fetal liver
  • Presence or absence of any major structural fetal abnormality
  • Level of two hormones (free ß-hCG and PAPP-A) in the mother’s blood

Your doctor will discuss the combined final risk with you at your next visit.  We will talk you through the scan and explain everything on the day as well!

Your SECOND BIG SCAN is your Fetal Anomaly or Fetal Anatomy (sometimes called the “Detail”) scan.  This is the best one!  This scan is done between week 18 – 22. With this scan we check baby from head to toe!! Making sure baby is well developed and abnormality free.

Second Trimester Fetal Anomaly Scans for many couples, the 20 week detailed anatomy scan can be one of the highlights of a pregnancy. It is a wonderful opportunity to see the actual form and movements of your baby. During the scan a specialist sonographer will measure the fetal size, examine each part of the fetal body, determine the position of the placenta and assess the amount of amniotic fluid.

Special attention is paid to the brain, face, spine, heart, stomach, bowel, kidneys and limbs. Finding out the gender of the fetus can be done at this time. Many families are surprised at how much can be seen at this scan. Ultrasound is able to show the anatomy that lies within your baby; because each part of the fetus is carefully examined, this scan can take from 30 minutes to an hour. Whatever your 1st trimester NT scan shows, it is recommended that you have a detailed anatomy scan to confirm normal fetal growth & development. Should any fetal abnormality be detected the significance of the findings will be discussed immediately.

For any further scan related questions please e-mail accounts@fetalultrasound.co.za. or Whatsapp us on 061 540 5657.

We are looking forward to seeing you!!