18 - 24 weeks of pregnancy
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Too much information? Click here for a quick guide to Anomaly Scans.
What is an Anomaly Scan?
When can I have an Anomaly Scan?
Why is the Anomaly Scan important?
How accurate is an Anomaly Scan?
What will I see at the Anomaly Scan?
How does the Anomaly Scan work?
Are there any other reasons to have an Anomaly Scan?
Is there anything else I should know about the Anomaly Scan?
Why should I have my Anomaly Scan at The London Ultrasound Centre?
How do I book an Anomaly Scan?
What is my next scan?
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What is an Anomaly Scan?
Sometimes known as a Fetal Anatomy Scan or 20 Week Scan this scan is where the sonographer or consultant is able to examine the anatomy of your baby in great detail.
It is usually the next chance after the 12 week Nuchal Scan to carefully check on growth and development.
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When can I have an Anomaly Scan?
The Anomaly Scan can be performed from 18 to 22 weeks however some consultants believe that it is best performed between 22 and 24 weeks because the views of your baby are often of greater clarity. The later time also allows the operator to perform some additional analysis.
The reason the Anomaly Scan isn't performed earlier in the pregnancy is because all your baby's internal organs aren't fully formed.
After 24 weeks a full anatomical examination may not be possible because your baby will often adopt a less helpful position to obtain clear views.
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Why is the Anomaly Scan important?
The Anomaly Scan is important because it is the best opportunity during your pregnany to examine all the anatomy of your baby in great detail.
It is critical that any abnormalities are detected at this stage so that a management plan can be formulated for the remainder of the pregnancy, for the delivery and if necessary after your delivery if post natal treatement is required.
It also allows the parents sufficient time to prepare or make difficult decisions on rare occasions where a severe abnormality is discovered
If you are having your scans on the NHS this is usually the last scan that you will have in your pregnancy.
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How accurate is the Anomaly Scan?
The accuracy of the Anomaly Scan mainly depends on how clearly the sonographer or consultant is able to see the necessary parts of your baby's anatomy.
One way to think of the Anomaly Scan is as a big checklist for the operator to complete in order to sucessfully perform the appointment.
It is for this reason that sometimes you may have to be scanned on several attempts and walk around in between to encourage your baby to move into a better position.
Therefore the accuracy of the Anomaly Scan is dependent on the sonographer or consultant's ability to complete every item on the list.
Your baby's growth and a well being assessment are also part of the examination.
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What will I see at the Anomaly Scan?
During the Anomaly Scan our sonographer or consultant will spend the majority of the appointment looking at various anatomical details that may not be immediately recognisable to the untrained eye.
This can be a confusing or unnerving experience for the parents, which is why all operators at The London Ultrasound Centre will explain what they are looking at as they scan your baby.
Parents shouldn't hesitate to query what they are seeing on the screen.
The Anomaly Scan is performed in conventional 2D ultrasound so that internal organs may be examined. It is not possible to scan in 3D or 4D nor would it offer any greater accuracy or detail.
During the Anomaly Scan your baby can be seen in its infant form and is the usually the time at which most parents really start to relate to their unborn child on the screen.
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How does the Anomaly Scan Scan work?
During the appointment our sonographer or consultant will:
- Show your baby’s heart beating and check the rate
- Check growth by measuring the head, waist and thigh bone (femur) of your baby
- Look at your placenta and the amount of fluid around your baby
- Examine the structure of your baby’s organs in detail (a checklist of over 30 items)
All the measurements and images will be digitally transferred to our Fetal Database and added into your pregnancy record for comparison with earlier and subsequent later scans.
You will receive a comprehensive medical report detailing the health,
growth and well being of your baby. A separate copy will be forwarded
to your GP, Midwife or Obstetrician.
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Are there any other reasons to have an Anomaly Scan?
No, not really. The Anomaly Scan is a quite specific appointment and you will have only the one with each pregnancy.
However sometimes parents come to see one of our Fetal Medicine Specialists seeking a second opinion on a condition that has been diagnosed in an earlier Anomaly Scan.
In this situation a routine Anomaly Scan is insufficient to fully examine your baby in detail and so we would book you in for a Fetal Medicine Consultation which includes a detailed Anomaly Scan.
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Is there anything else I should know about the Anomaly Scan?
We are happy to provide gender identification during this appointment at no extra cost. A 4D Sneaky Peek is also possible.
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Why should I have my Anomaly Scan at The London Ultrasound Centre?
Having your Anomaly Scan at The London Ultrasound Centre ensures you will receive an accurate and detailed scan performed by an accredited expert, on the highest resolution ultrasound machine currently available during an appointment with a sensible timescale.
In the rare occasion that a fetal anomaly is detected by our sonographer during the Anomaly Scan you may be referred to one of our Fetal Medicine Specialists.
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How do I book an Anomaly Scan?
For prices and to make a booking please see our online booking website.
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What is my next scan?
If you are having private maternity care the next scan(s) you may expect in your pregnancy are Welfare Scans.
If you are having your scans on the NHS this is usually the last scan that you will have in your pregnancy.
You may also consider having a 4D Baby Scan from 24 weeks.
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