Anomaly scan report analysis is a process of examining the results of an anomaly scan to assess the growth and development of the baby.
This article will provide an overview of what to expect from an anomaly scan report analysis and how it can help to inform decisions about pregnancy care.
What is checked on the anomaly scan?
An anomaly scan, also known as a 20-week ultrasound, is a prenatal ultrasound done between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy.
It examines the fetus’s physical growth and can spot significant anatomical defects as well as some congenital diseases.
A 2D, 3D, or even 4D ultrasound will be used by the healthcare provider to obtain pictures of the fetus inside your uterus.
The sonographer will take measures to ensure the fetus is developing proportionately to its age.
In an anomaly scan report analysis, there are a bunch of different measurement values that help conclude if the baby’s growth and development are according to the gestational age.
The important things that the anomaly scan report checks are:
- Brain
- Heart Rate
- Face
- Spine
- Amniotic fluid/liquor
- Placenta placement
- Baby’s weight
- Baby’s body parts (hands, legs, lungs, stomach, kidney, etc.)
- Cervix length
- Umbilical cord
- Fetal activity
What are normal measurements in an anomaly scan?
There are a few measurements of the fetus that are taken during the anomaly scan.
So for the anomaly scan results to be normal, the measurements should be appropriate to the gestational age of the baby.
The measurements are as follows:
Biparietal diameter (BPD):
The diameter between the two sides of the head is measured and the value is called BPD.
Head circumference(HC) :
The head circumference, or HC, is the size of the fetus’s head.
Abdominal circumference (AC):
This is yet another important measurement in the anomaly scan
Femur length (FL):
This measures the body’s longest bone and shows how long the fetus has grown.
Anomaly Scan Report Explained
Sample anomaly scan report from Jammi Scans is displayed below:
1. Basic details:
The anomaly scan report has a few of the basic details, like the mother’s age, marital status, blood group, height, weight, etc.
2. Measurements:
Apart from these basic details, the anomaly report has a table of all the measurements that are discussed above, like the BPD, HC, AC, and FL.
Placenta:
Other important information that is present in the anomaly scan report is the placement of the placenta (posterior placenta, anterior placenta, fundal placenta, and lateral placenta) and the umbilical cord, which should ideally have 2 arteries and 1 vein.
3. Heart rate:
Since anomaly scans can monitor the heartbeat of the baby to check for any issues, the report has details of the fetal heart rate too.
For a 20-week-old fetus, the ideal heartbeat should be around 110 to 180 BPM.
4. Cervix length:
Apart from these details, the report has the cervix length, which should ideally be around 30-40mm or 3-4cm during the 20th week of gestation.
5. Fetal anatomy:
The anomaly scan report analysis also provides information called fetal anatomy, which reads the size of the baby’s head to detect any chromosomal abnormality.
The head size should be normal for the baby to have a very low chances of having any chromosomal abnormalities.
6. Spine:
Neural tube defects are one of the common conditions all babies are checked for.
The anomaly scan determines if the fetus’s spine is normal and if there is a sign of neural tube defects.
7. Body measurements:
The anomaly scan also checks the baby’s spine, face, lungs, stomach, kidneys, bladder, etc. and makes sure that they are all normal.
8. Liquor:
The amount of fluid present in the womb that surrounds the baby is called liquor or amniotic fluid that helps with the baby’s lungs, digestive system, and muscles development.
Considering the values in the above report by considering the values given, we can conclude that the anomaly scan report analysis is normal and the chances of the baby having any abnormality is very low.
Question to ask in an anomaly scan report
Here are a few questions to ask in an anomaly scan session:
1. Brain: Ask the sonographer if the baby’s brain activity is normal and there are no defects.
2. Abnormalities: Since anomaly reports can detect chromosomal abnormalities, ensure that there is no trace of chromosomal abnormalities.
3. Spine: Ask the doctor if the neural tube is normal and if there is no defect found.
Heart rate: Ask about the baby’s heart rate and if it is normal.
4. Amniotic fluid: Ensure if the amniotic fluid level in the womb is normal as it helps the baby’s lungs, digestive system, and muscle development.
5. Growth of the baby: Another important question to ask in an anomaly is if the baby’s growth is aligned with the gestational age.
The fetus needs to have certain growth during each week and one needs to ensure if the growth is normal.
Conclusion
Anomaly scans around 20 weeks of gestation is an important scan and is advised to not miss the scan. The report is expected to be normal, with low chances of abnormalities.
Ensure to ask the above-mentioned questions during the scan to ensure the baby’s growth and development is normal.
If you are looking to take an anomaly scan or any gynecology consultations, feel free to visit Jammi Scans, T Nagar. Jammi Scans is a woman-centered scanning center with expert sonographers, gynecologists, and fetal medicine experts to guide you throughout.
Chennai Women’s Clinic is now Jammi Scans
