EARLY PREGNANCY SCAN
INTRODUCTION
Routineultrasound examination is an established part of antenatal care if resourcesare available and access possible. In general, the main goal of a fetalultrasound scan is to provide accurate information which will facilitate thedelivery of optimized antenatal care with the best possible outcomes for motherand fetus. The presence of a new life healthily growing inside you is monitoredvia an early pregnancy scan also called the viability or dating scan.
Purposeof early pregnancy ultrasound scan?
Early pregnancy scansare done to confirm a pregnancy and is performed between 6-11 weeks ofgestation. Individuals who perform obstetric scans routinely should havespecialized training that is appropriate to the practice of diagnosticultrasound for pregnant women. Before starting the examination, a healthcareprovider should counsel the woman/couple regarding the potential benefits andlimitations of the first‐trimester ultrasound scan.
Detailsof the Dating Scan:
•to check the baby is growing in the right place, by ruling out ectopicpregnancy.
•to confirm the presence of your baby’s heartbeat.
•an accurate way of predicting your due date and confirming the gestation.
•to check whether you are expecting more than one baby.
•in case of multiple pregnancies, to assess chorionicity and amnionicity.
•to check your baby’s growth and development.
•to check the pelvic organs.
•to check presence of any internal bleeding
Alsogynecological pathologies may be detected during any first‐trimester scan.Abnormalities of uterine shape, such as uterine septa and bicornuate uteri,should be described. The adnexa should be surveyed for abnormalities andmasses.
Isprenatal ultrasonography safe during the first trimester?
Fetalexposure times should be minimized, using the shortest scan times and lowestpossible power output needed to obtain diagnostic information using the ALARA(As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle.
Howare Early Pregnancy Scans done?
Anearly pregnancy scan can be done either transabdominally or transvaginally.Transabdominal early pregnancy scans are performed at 7-11 weeks of pregnancyand are done over the tummy. Commonly these are known as ultrasound scans andis carried out by one of the highly qualified professionals (sonographer) inthe hospital.
Duringthe process, the sonographer will ask you to drink a glass of water for a goodview of your baby (as bladder helps the ultrasound echoes to reach your womb)and lie on the bed. Then some gel will be applied on your tummy and move ahand-held device (transducer) over the abdominal skin to pick up images of thebaby. If the images are not clear, then the sonographer will ask you to go fora transvaginal scan.
Duringthe transvaginal scan, the sonographer places a vaginal transducer comfortably insideyour vagina (after lubricating this with plenty of gel). Once the transducer isinside, sound waves bounce off the internal organs and transmit pictures ofyour pelvis (inside of it) onto a monitor.
Howshould the scan be documented?
Anexamination report should be produced as an electronic and/or paper document.Such a document should be stored locally and, in accordance with localprotocol, made available to the woman and referring healthcare provider.
