We provide a complete Fetal Screening Program which includes
- Chromosomal abnormalities
- Genetic abnormalities
- Structural abnormalities
- Anemia
- Risk of prematurity
- Risk of placental insufficiency or growth restriction
- Multiple pregnancy risks
Why the need to screen?
The following are reasons a pregnancy and fetus may be at risk, and fetal screening is important to reduce the risk of the baby having morbidity or mortality:
- Increasing maternal age
- Increasing maternal age
- Increasing use of assisted reproductive techniques
- Prevalence of consanguinity in the region which increases the risk of genetic disorders,
- Pre-existing maternal disorders such as diabetes
- Infections in pregnancy
- Obesity
- Nutritional disorders
- Use of certain medications in pregnancy.
Milestone Scans at Danat Al Emarat
Screening of the fetus is done at regular intervals to manage health concerns of the fetus in pregnancy and offer therapy if required. Here are the key scan stages:
11-14 weeks: Nuchal Scan
This scan aims to confirm the age of the fetus, diagnose type of placentation in multiple pregnancies, exclude major fetal abnormalities, measure nuchal translucency thickness and the risk of chromosomal/genetic/structural abnormalities
20-22 weeks: Anomaly/Morphology Scan
This helps to detect structural abnormalities and detect markers that indicates a higher risk of chromosomal/genetic abnormalities. It also helps to monitor the impact of any maternal health disorder or medication on the health of the fetus, including the risk of fetal anemia.
12-24 weeks: Cervical Length Scans
This scan is to measure the cervical length that helps determine the risk of premature delivery for single or multiple pregnancies.
12-24 weeks: Placental Perfusion Scan (Uterine Artery Doppler Scan)
This helps to determine the risk of placental insufficiency or pre-eclampsia – a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the kidneys.
24-41 weeks: Growth and Wellbeing Scans, including Doppler Scans
Growth and wellbeing scans help to assess the growth and wellbeing in high-risk pregnancies and multiple pregnancies.
Multiple Pregnancies Scans
Serial growth and wellbeing scans are performed every 2 weeks (in monochorionic twin pregnancies, i.e. sharing 1 placenta, or in higher order multiples such as triplets and above) and every 4 weeks in dichorionic twin pregnancies (2 separate placentas).
