Ultrasound scans

Ultrasound scans have been used in antenatal care for over thirty years and there is no evidence to suggest that they are harmful to you or your baby. Most women whose pregnancy is progressing without complications will be offered a maximum of two to three scans in their pregnancy.

Most scans are performed by a sonographer, who is the health professional trained to use the ultrasound equipment, to take measurements of your baby and to check for major abnormalities. Sonographers are not specialists in obstetrics or fetal medicine, so if something is found you will usually be referred to someone with specialist knowledge.

Below we describe the scans most commonly offered in the UK. Not all hospitals will offer all these scans. Your midwife or doctor will tell you which scans your unit offers.

It is your choice whether to have any scan. Most women are reassured by scans, but it is important to remember that an abnormality can be found at any scan.

Early fetal viability scan (7 – 10 weeks)This scan is performed in the early weeks to confirm the pregnancy. You might be offered a scan if you have had early bleeding or previous miscarriages.

If the scan is performed at 7 weeks and the health professional cannot see your baby’s heartbeat they may ask you to return two weeks later in case your pregnancy is not as far along as you think.

Dating scan (9 – 14 weeks)

At a dating scan, the sonographer will check if there is more than one baby and take measurements. These measurements are used to give you an estimated date of delivery and to tell you how many weeks your baby is. This method of dating your pregnancy has been found to be more accurate than using your last menstrual period. However, a dating scan can never be 100% accurate.

Very occasionally the scan will show that a baby has a major abnormality. This will come as a shock and can be very distressing. Please call the ARC helpline if this has happened to you and you need support.

Nuchal translucency scan (11 – 13 weeks 6 days)

The nuchal translucency or (NT) scan is part of the Down’s syndrome screening programme. The sonographer will make sure your baby is lying in the correct position and measure a small pocket of fluid at the back of the baby’s neck. This measurement is then usually used along with a blood test and your age to calculate a statistical chance of your baby having Down’s syndrome.

If the NT measurement is outside the normal range, which is usually 3.5mm and above, you will be told as this can sometimes be an indicator of a problem in the baby’s development. You will be offered an appointment with a consultant to discuss the possible implications. Although this can be worrying, it is important to remember that many babies whose NT measurement is higher than average are healthy.

Fetal anomaly scan (18 – 21 weeks)

This is sometimes called the mid-pregnancy or 20-week scan. The sonographer will take measurements and check that your baby is developing as expected. The sonographer will look carefully at your baby from top to toe, checking things like the spine and major organs to rule out any major problems. They will usually be able to see what sex your baby is but not all hospitals give this information. You might want to ask before you have the scan if you want to know.

For most parents, it will be a pleasurable experience to see your baby moving about on screen. However, there is the small possibility that the sonographer will find an abnormality. This news most often comes as a shock and it can be very stressful waiting for a follow up scan to confirm the finding. Please feel able to call ARC for support if you find yourself in this situation.

Occasionally, the sonographer will see something called a ‘soft marker’ on the scan. This is a feature picked up by the ultrasound equipment that is not harmful to your baby but can sometimes indicate that there is a problem with your baby’s chromosomes, such as Down’s syndrome. Depending on the type and number of markers, you might be offered an amniocentesis to rule out chromosomal problems. Being told about soft markers can make you anxious. You should be offered an appointment with a consultant to discuss the findings, but please also contact ARC if it would help.

3D/4D scanning

These are not offered as standard within the NHS. They are available privately and are often called ‘bonding’ or ‘souvenir’ scans. Please be aware that although such scans can provide memorable images, there is also the possibility of an abnormality being seen. We would not recommend that you choose to have this type of scan rather than a conventional ultrasound scan, as they are not felt to be as effective in providing medical information.

Also in this section

Ultrasound scans

Dating scan (9 – 14 weeks)

Nuchal translucency scan (11 – 13 weeks 6 days)

Fetal anomaly scan (18 – 21 weeks)

3D/4D scanning