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You will be offered two ultrasound screening scans. One between 11 and 14 weeks and a second between 18 and 21 weeks.
Scans are not 100% accurate. Sometimes your baby can have health conditions that cannot be picked up by a scan. Ultrasound scans are safe for mother and baby. For most people, having a scan is a happy experience, but that is not true for everybody. Screening scans look for issues and check if your baby is growing well.
As with everything these scans are a choice, you do not have to have these scans.
NHS Grampian is happy for you to bring someone to support you during these scans. Young children may not be allowed in with you as they can distract the sonographer. It is a good idea to check beforehand. The scan does not hurt at all, but the gel can be cold. Sometimes the sonographer may need to press on your tummy firmly if some parts of your baby are difficult to see.
Dating scan
Your first screening scan is offered between 11 and 14 weeks. You will be asked to drink some water an hour before the early pregnancy screening scan. Having water in your bladder will help the sonographer to see your baby more clearly.
This scan
- Checks your baby’s heartbeat, growth and development
- Estimates the stage of pregnancy
- Confirms whether your are having one baby or more
- Gives the nuchal translucency measurement used in screening for genetic conditions
If an issue is found at this stage, your health professional will discuss it with you at the time.
Anomaly (detailed) scan
This scan is offered between 18 and 21 weeks. It is sometimes known as a fetal anomaly scan or a detailed scan. It will look for lots of things about your baby’s health. Most women find their baby is healthy and developing well. But sometimes the sonographer finds an issue – usually these are minor, but some are serious. This scan is used to look for health conditions affecting the development of the baby’s
- Brain
- Spinal cord
- Bowel
- Kidneys
- Arms and legs
- Heart
Some health conditions may not be picked up by the anomaly scan. If the sonographer thinks there could be an issue, they may ask for a second opinion from another health professional. If this happens, they will tell you what they are checking for, but they may not be sure yet. If no issues are found at this scan, you will probably not need another scan during your pregnancy. However, you may be asked to come back another day for a repeat scan if the sonographer has not been able to see your baby clearly.
Finding out the sex of the baby is not the purpose of the scan unless there is a medical reason for doing so. Often it is impossible to tell because of the position of your baby. IT is not completely reliable and can sometimes be wrong.
You do not need a full bladder before this scan but drinking a glass or two will help the sonographer.
