Let us discuss in depth what does anomaly scan detect.
Around the middle of your pregnancy, you may have a scan known as an anomaly scan.
This gives a closer look at your baby and uterus. An Anomaly scan detects whether your baby is developing as expected and looks at where the placenta is located.
What does Anomaly Scan Detect?
An anomaly scan aims to detect rare conditions that may be present while getting a comprehensive look at the fetus. This includes checking for abnormalities in the brain, spine, and heart.
If any abnormalities are detected, your doctor will discuss the significance of these findings with you and provide further counseling if necessary.
Can anomaly scan detect birth defects?
A 20-week anomaly scan detects potential birth defects and abnormalities. It can pick up on things like cleft lip/palate, spinal defects, clubfeet, and major heart defects. Additionally, it can also help indicate chromosomal disorders like Down syndrome.
Anomaly scan is becoming increasingly important as the accuracy of tests continues to improve. With the introduction of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing, the 20-week scan can help give parents peace of mind or an early heads-up about any potential health risks their child may face.
Which conditions can be seen on the scan?
There are several conditions that doctors are on the lookout for during these scans. Some of these conditions can be treated after the baby is born. However, in rare cases, the condition may be so severe that the baby does not survive.
If the condition is treatable, it is important to know in advance so that the hospital team can make sure your baby has the right care as soon as they are born.
Some conditions are easier to spot than others. And some conditions are very difficult to see at all. The majority of conditions on this list are rare.
Can birth defects be missed on ultrasound?
Yes, although very rare, it is a possibility. There can be a multitude of reasons for this such as your baby’s position during the scan not being ideal, which could have impacted the quality of the images.
If you’re overweight, that could also be a factor. And if you have fibroids, they may block the view for your sonographer. In most cases, when such things happen, the sonographer will ask you to take another scan after a few days time, just to be sure.
Conclusion
The Anomaly Scan is an important procedure that helps you determine the health of your child while it is still in the womb.
It also gives you the opportunity to be prepared in case the doctors find any defects or abnormalities, thus making sure you are able to give your child the best possible care at all times, starting from the moment of its birth.
