There are three trimesters in pregnancy and each trimester holds its importance in the birth cycle of a child. It is essential to get various scans and health check-ups performed during the nine month period to ensure that the baby’s growth is normal and on track. An anomaly test or scan is conducted in the second trimester of pregnancy predominantly to track the growth progress of the foetus.
During the scan, the sonographer (the person who performs the test) checks the overall growth of the baby’s organs and the formation of the body structure to ensure that the growth is normal. Let us understand more about anomaly scan and also answer FAQs in detail.
An anomaly scan, also known as the ultrasound level II, is a mid-pregnancy scan that takes a closer look at your baby and the uterus (womb). In this scan, the sonographer can see whether the baby is developing normally and will also check the position of your placenta, the umbilical cord, and amniotic fluid around the baby. This scan is also known as morphology scan or 20-week scan. It is important to note that the purpose of this scan is to check your baby’s health and not to determine the gender of the baby.
As mentioned above, an anomaly scan is performed to determine the growth and health of your child. It is not mandatory to get this scan done, but it is highly recommended to monitor your child’s growth. Getting an anomaly scan procedure done is also an opportunity for the parents to see their child in the womb and have some beautiful memories to carry home.
An anomaly screening is done in the second trimester of pregnancy. This is when you are around 20 weeks into pregnancy. It can be done anytime between 18th and 23rd week of pregnancy. This 18 – 23 weeks pregnant ultrasound test helps ensure that the child’s growth is normal and all critical organs are developing correctly.
Getting an anomaly test during pregnancy is a normal process, and this does not require any special preparation. Here are a few tips that can make the scan quick, comfortable and efficient:
The anomaly scan or the ultrasound scan uses sound waves to produce images inside the body. The sonographer will apply a water-based gel on the part which needs to be scanned and will use a transducer to collect the sound waves that bounce back. These waves will be used by the computer to create an image of your child. Usually, there is no radiation exposure in this process as the examination does not use ionising radiation. The scan does not hurt.
The anomaly scan takes about 20 minutes to complete, and the sonographer will usually allow you to have a look at the scan and point out to different parts of the child’s body as well as the heart-beat. The sonographer will not disclose the gender of your baby as India’s laws on pre-natal diagnostic techniques prohibit hospitals from doing so.
The primary purpose of the scan is to ensure that the baby is growing well without abnormalities. The anomaly sonographer looks for the following things during the scan:
The sonographer will usually take anomaly scan measurements of the following:
Unlike X-rays, the ultrasound anomaly scan does not use ionizing radiation and hence is not harmful to the mother or the baby. Also, the sonographer takes precautions to ensure that the mother is comfortable during the scan.
The application of gel and usage of the transducer could make the scanning process a little uncomfortable, but it is not harmful or painful to get the scan done.
The principal purpose of anomaly scan is to allow the sonographer to monitor the growth of the baby and determine the health of vital organs of the body and the structure of different body parts. The scan is used to identify and assess any significant abnormalities that the child may have in any of the body parts. Getting a mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan is recommended to monitor the well-being of the child.
The focus is usually on organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys, spinal cord and placenta placement in the womb.
Anomaly scan results indicate the progress of the child in the womb and help in determining the growth graph of the child. The results will either show that the child is developing normally and as per the usual pace or it will throw up abnormalities if any. In case of defects, your doctor will discuss the corrective action that can be taken to solve any deviations of the child from regular growth graph.
There is a list of observations that the sonographer makes while doing the scan and covers the baby from tip to toe. The foetal abnormalities detected might be normal ones that can be treated after your child is born. If they are severe, they will require immediate action.
Here are some of the abnormalities that can be detected in anomaly scan:
A mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan is very important as it will help determine the growth of the child and aid in early detection of abnormalities that the child might be developing. The anomaly scans are usually accurate and present a clear picture. However, it is not always necessary that scan is 100% accurate and shows correct results at all times.
This is because it is difficult to determine abnormalities in the baby, especially in the vital organs, and an anomaly scan may or may not show up the same. A sonographer may also need to scan the abdomen multiple times to get a clear picture of the baby. Usually, the parents are also asked to give consent of their understanding that results of the scan being performed might not be 100% accurate.
Once again, it is essential to understand that an anomaly scan report is not always 100% accurate and the observations might not always be correct. Also, note that the chances of identifying a severe problem at this stage are rare. However, in case a problem is spotted, you will be given advice on how to deal with it and the steps you must take. In case any problem is identified, you can expect the following next steps:
Seeing your baby taking shape inside your womb is a unique experience for parents. In most cases, you are allowed to take your partner along with you to witness this moment. The diagnostic centres performing these scans usually offer pictures and video copies of the scan for you to carry back as memories.
Getting an anomaly scan is always advised as it plays a very important role in ensuring that the child’s growth is normal.