The Anomaly scan is one of the most important ultrasounds you will have during your pregnancy. It is usually performed at around 20 weeks, when all your baby’s major organs will be visible. We will perform a thorough check for conditions, measure your baby’s growth, and make sure the placenta is healthy. If you haven’t already had a sexing scan, then we’ll also be able to tell you if your baby is a boy or girl.
The anomaly scan is recommended for all women at 20-24 weeks of pregnancy. At this stage in your baby’s development it is possible to see detailed pictures of the head, brain, limbs, spine and major organs. We can therefore check that everything is developing as expected and detect any abnormalities. We will also measure your baby so that we can see how much he or she has grown since the last scan and check the cervix, placenta, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord.
The Anomaly scan is usually the most detailed health check that we will perform during your pregnancy. Although it can’t detect all kinds of abnormalities, it can provide a lot of information about your baby. It can also be very reassuring to hear that everything is looking good on the scan.
If you haven’t had a scan since the nuchal ultrasound, then you will be able to find out your baby’s gender during the anomaly scan. You will also be able to see how much your baby has grown and changed since your last ultrasound. By 20 weeks your baby is fully formed but only measures about 25cm from head to heel. Babies are already very active at this stage, so you may see him or her moving around during the scan.
We can perform your anomaly scan at our ultrasound clinic in Cheshire. You should book your anomaly scan for between 20 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. It’s easy to make an appointment at a time that suits you using our simple online booking system.
Some early pregnancy ultrasound scans are performed using a transvaginal probe technique. This technique is used to view the pelvic anatomy optimally, as the ultrasound probe can transmit safe ultrasound waves more directly to the pelvic area. In later stages of pregnancy, it may be advised to perform a transvaginal ultrasound scan to have a closer look at a baby’s anatomy, or to assess the maternal cervix.
There is no clinical risk associated with performing a transvaginal ultrasound scan. Transvaginal ultrasound scans can safely be performed during episodes of vaginal bleeding.
It is important that you understand the procedure that is associated with this examination.
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