Table of Contents
What is NT Scan?
NT scan is a sonographic procedure that helps us rule out the risk of any chromosomal abnormality in the baby.
NT is the Nuchal fold thickness, which is the subcutaneous space at the back of the neck of the baby.
Baby’s position for NT Scan
To undergo this scan, the head should be in line with the spine, and the fetus should be in a neutral position.
The dimensions may be erroneously increased when the fetal neck is dislocated, and they may be erroneously decreased when the neck is flexed.
Does the NT scan depend on the baby’s position?
The fetal neck position has an impact on the nuchal translucency measurement.
The measurement can go up by 0.6 mm when the fetal neck is extended and down by 0.4 mm when the neck is flexed.
Research has shown that assessments of nuchal translucency can be considerably impacted by the fetal neck’s angle.
Therefore, measurement in an extended position will considerably raise the false positive rate, resulting in a need for more intrusive treatments, which will have an impact on cost and may result in the death of healthy pregnancies.
What should be the baby’s position for NT Scan?
The measurement of nuchal translucency can be significantly affected by the gestational time and fetal neck position.
The neutral posture of the fetal neck improves measurement repeatability. These findings have significant ramifications for medical professionals who use nuchal translucency to assess pregnant women for Down’s syndrome.
The head and spine of the fetus should be in alignment in a neutral position. The measurement may be erroneously increased or decreased depending on the position of the fetal neck, which might be hyperextended or flexed.
How can I change my baby’s position for NT scan?
The earliest stage of pregnancy, between 11 weeks and 2 days and 14 weeks and 1 day, is the optimal time for women to get this scan (crown-rump length 45.0mm to 84.0mm). Most ultrasound practitioners will ask the lady to try
- shifting positions on the sofa.
- go to the restroom to empty the bladder
- wandering briefly outside of the scanning area to explore.
- re-enter the scan sofa and make another attempt.
Sometimes it is impossible to measure the NT precisely, even after this second attempt on the couch. When this occurs, additional attempts are not required, and the lady should be directed toward the screening pathway for the second trimester.
What foods make the baby move?
Your blood sugar rises have a similar effect on babies as they do on you. In order to change baby’s position for NT scan you should try eating a healthy snack like cheese and crackers, peanut butter toast, Greek yogurt, fruit, nuts, or something similar the next time you’re trying to count the number of kicks your baby is making or you just want to be sure they’re all right.
Add a tiny glass of (natural) juice for an added boost. Sometimes all it takes to “kick” a newborn into high gear is a spike in blood sugar.
Here are a few other options you can try to make your baby move during an ultrasound scan.
- Gently touch your baby bump – To rouse the baby, the ultrasound technician frequently lightly moves the wand of the machine over your abdomen. And many mothers have experienced the movement of their unborn children simply by jiggling or gently poking their stomachs.
- Take a walk before the scan – While walking will typically calm and rock an awake baby to sleep, it can also wake up your baby from an in-utero slumber.
- Laugh or Cough during the scan – Coughing and laughing may jolt your child awake, which may increase the likelihood that the baby may move around.
Also check the Secrets to Change Baby’s Position for Anomaly Scan
