Doppler scans are a particular kind of ultrasound that employ sound waves to measure the blood flow via the placenta, umbilical cord, various body components of your unborn child, and the arteries supplying blood to your uterus (womb).
Usually, a growth scan with doppler will be suggested by your physician to check the blood flow around various organs in your unborn child’s body, including the brain and heart.
This helps demonstrate whether the placenta is providing them with all the oxygen and nutrients they require.
Is the growth scan and Doppler scan the same?
No, a growth scan is typically performed in the final trimester of pregnancy to assess the fetus’s size as well as other factors including amniotic fluid.
The necessary number of growth scans may vary from patient to patient and depend on the clinical condition of the patient.
At about 28 weeks, the initial growth scan is usually carried out. The outcome of this scan is used to decide whether more scans are required.
What is a doppler scan?
A Doppler ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic test that uses circulating red blood cells to reflect high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to monitor blood flow through your blood vessels. Normal ultrasounds make images using sound waves, but they cannot show blood flow.
The blood flow via the umbilical cord and other fetal organs, such as the liver and brain, is monitored using Doppler scanning. This test checks whether the placenta is feeding the fetus enough nutrients and oxygen. This scan is typically performed in conjunction with the growth scan.
How is a Growth scan with Doppler done?
You can be recommended for growth with Doppler scan if the baby’s growth is a cause for worry. In this scan, the baby’s femur length, head, and belly circumference measurements, and estimated amniotic fluid volume.
An ultrasound probe will be used to do an external ultrasound examination of your abdomen. Both you and your baby can feel completely secure and at ease.
Your body receives sound waves from the ultrasound probe. Moving blood cells in blood vessels cause the sound waves to reverberate, returning to the probe where they can be picked up.
The direction and speed of blood flow are determined by the computer by measuring the difference in pitch (low or high sounds) between sound waves that are sent into your body and their echoes.
The following information is provided when a growth scan with a doppler scan is performed:
Why are doppler and growth scans done together?
One of the most critical issues in pregnancy is poor fetal growth. A growth scan can verify that the placental and fetal circulation, as well as the growth, have been normal.
A Doppler test will be used to evaluate the blood flow to and from the placenta. If your first growth scan ends up with some complications, you can combine your second growth scan with a doppler scan to get a clear picture of the health of your unborn.
Which week is best for growth and doppler?
A growth scan with a doppler scan will be usually recommended between 36 and 40 weeks of pregnancy. If there are any pregnancy-related issues or health issues, your doctor might suggest them in the early stage of your pregnancy itself.
Also, the doppler scan is a kind of screening test that is very rarely suggested in the first trimester of pregnancy to identify the genetic and cardiac problems in your unborn. Always heed your doctor’s recommendations regarding the frequency and location of these scans.
Is a doppler scan safe during pregnancy?
You are always in safer hands when you reach out to a well-trained professional for any kind of scan. A Doppler scan, when performed by a qualified ultrasound specialist/gynecologist, helps to provide a clear image of your baby’s health and wellness.
Chennai Women’s Clinic is now Jammi Scans
