Anomaly Scan

What is an anomaly scan?

This is a thorough ultrasound scan of the baby's anatomy and takes up to half an hour. The scan checks for a wide range of abnormalities that can be seen with ultrasound. It should be kept in mind that ultrasound is not able to identify all abnormalities.

The structure of the head, heart, abdomen, internal organs, umbilical cord, limbs, and spine is carefully assessed in addition to measurements to check baby's growth. The position of the placenta and the fluid around the baby is also assessed.

The anomaly scan usually takes up to 30 minutes. During the appointment our sonographer will:

• Show your baby's heart beating
• Look at your placenta and the amount of fluid around your baby
• Examine the structure of your baby's organs in detail
• Check your baby's growth and development

You will receive a detailed report for your doctor/midwife, as well as several prints of the scan.

When should I have an anomaly scan?

We perform anomaly scans between 20 and 24 weeks of pregnancy, but ideally between 20 and 22 weeks of pregnancy.

What happens during the anomaly scan?

The sonographer will carefully examine your baby's body. Having the scan does not hurt, but the sonographer may need to apply slight pressure to get the best views of the baby.

Please do not worry if the sonographer is quiet during the anomaly scan, as it is a very detailed scan, which requires a lot of concentration. Once they have taken all necessary measurements, the sonographer will then explain the results to you.

What abnormalities can be diagnosed?

A wide range of abnormalities affecting the development of a healthy baby can be diagnosed, including:

• Cardiac abnormalities (in which the chambers of the baby's heart, or the blood vessels connected to the heart, fail to develop normally, such as "hole in the heart")
• Spine and head abnormalities (in which the bones of the spine or skull fail to develop normally, such as spina bifida)
• Genetic conditions (in which the baby inherits abnormal genes from one or both parents)
• Chromosomal abnormalities (in which the baby has too many or too few chromosomes, such as Down syndrome)

It is important to realise that the anomaly scan cannot guarantee that your baby is going to be completely healthy.

Limitations of the Anomaly Scan

During the Anomaly Scan our sonographer will look at various anatomical details that may not be immediately recognisable to the untrained eye. This ultrasound scan is very accurate but unfortunately it cannot diagnose 100% of abnormalities.

Each woman also needs to understand the limitations of the scan:

The image quality may be compromised by a number of factors, such as:

• increased maternal body mass index
• the presence of uterine fibroids/abdominal scar tissue
• abnormal levels of amniotic fluid
• the baby lying in a sub-optimal position