A sonographer will do an abnormality scan around the 20th week of pregnancy, if necessary. Cleft lip and spina bifida may be seen during an anomaly scan of your unborn child’s body. Your placenta will also be checked by your sonographer. As part of your prenatal treatment, the 20-week scan is a necessity. As a new parent, it’s a great chance to get a glimpse of your baby’s face and discover the gender with anomaly scan, continue reading, and learn more about anomaly scans.
What is Anomaly Scan?
A mid-pregnancy scan, also known as an abnormality scan, examines your unborn child and the lining of your womb in great detail (uterus).
The placenta will be examined by the sonographer during the scan to ensure that your baby is growing properly.
Anomaly scans are sometimes referred to as 20-week scans, however, they may be performed at any time between 18 and 21 weeks.
Anomaly scan cost in Nigeria
Photo credit: MadeforMums
Scanning is generally less expensive in Nigeria, although this depends on the hospital and location. Scanning Cost from costing 3,000 – 5,000 Nigerian Naira.
After my Anomaly scan, what will the sonographer be looking for?
All of your baby’s organs and measurements will be examined by the sonographer. They’ll have a look at the following:
- Arms, legs, hands, and feet of your infant. Fingers and toes are examined by a sonographer.
- The abdominal wall of your kid, to ensure that it completely encloses all of the vital organs in the front.
- How your baby’s skull and brain are formed. Severe brain disorders, which are very unusual, may be seen at this period.
- A cleft lip might be seen on your baby’s face. Inside the mouth of an infant, cleft palates are commonly missed because they are so difficult to detect.
- Baby’s lungs and heart. It is important that the size of the atria and ventricles be equal. Each pulse should cause the valves to open and shut. The main arteries and veins that supply blood to and from your baby’s heart will also be examined by your sonographer.
- In order to ensure that your baby’s spine is properly aligned and that the skin covers it at the back, you should examine it both longitudinally and cross-sectionally.
- The amniotic fluid, the placenta, and the umbilical cord.
- In the womb of your child. A black bubble in your baby’s stomach is a sign that they’ve ingested part of the amniotic fluid they were lying in.
- The kidneys of your baby. Your baby’s kidneys and bladder will be examined by the sonographer to ensure that they are working properly. It should be simple to observe whether your baby’s bladder is empty during the scan. For many months now, your baby has been going potty about every half hour or so.
Most of the time the placenta is at the top of the womb’s back wall, however, it may also be on the front wall (anterior) (or fundus). You may see your sonographer label the placenta as “fundal” if it’s located at the top of the uterus during your ultrasound scan.
If the placenta approaches or covers the neck of your womb, your sonographer will characterize it as low (your cervix). During the third trimester, if the placenta is positioned low in your womb, your doctor may recommend another ultrasound to verify its location. The placenta is likely to have migrated away from your cervix by this time.
There are two arteries and one vein in the umbilical cord, which can be counted, although your sonographer may not. This isn’t something you see every day. The amniotic fluid will be checked to make sure your baby can move freely.
The sonographer will take measurements of your infant’s body during the scan to determine how well they are developing. This is what your baby’s sonographer will be able to see:
- the diameter of the head (HC)
- the circumference of the abdomen (AC)
- length of the thigh bone (femur) (FL)
Your baby’s dimensions should be in line with what’s predicted based on when you’re due. Your 12-week dating scan was when you would have gotten this. An anomaly scan will be used to determine a due date if you are not pregnant at the time of the scan.
Should I go for an Anomaly Scan?
Ultimately, the decision rests with you. Your midwife should provide you with a written explanation of why the scan is being provided, how it will benefit you, and what it can’t.
This will give you enough time to make up your mind about getting the scan or not.
What to expect when going for an Anomaly Scan
If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to view part or all of the 30-minute scan. Your due date and the number of children you are carrying will be confirmed if you haven’t previously had a scan.
Before doing a thorough examination, the sonographer will point out your baby’s heartbeat and other aspects of their body, such as their face and hands. It may be difficult for you to discern your baby’s internal organs since the sonographer will see them as a cross-section.
The scan will show your baby’s bones as white and its flesh and organs as gray and mottled. Your baby’s amniotic fluid will seem dark.
You may be asked to look away from the screen until your sonographer has finished scanning you and then show you more images at the end. You may see the whole scan on a second display at the foot of the sofa at certain institutions.
I’d want a picture of my Anomaly scan if possible
If you want to get a photo of your baby, most hospitals will let you do so. It’s a good idea to double-check this before your appointment and to have some spare cash on hand for payment.
Depending on the hospital, you should expect to pay for a photo of your newborn. You shouldn’t laminate them since they’ll be printed on heat-sensitive thermal paper.
Before the scan, be sure to communicate your preference for the number of images captured by the sonographer.
Can I know the gender of my unborn child with an Anomaly Scan?
If you wish to know the gender of your unborn child, ask the sonographer before the scan begins so that they are aware of your desire.
Some hospitals will not inform you if your kid is male or female. To learn more, consult with your obstetrician or sonographer.