Why do I have to take a fetal anomaly scan?

Fetal anomaly scan is a pregnancy ultrasound being performed at 20 weeks of pregnancy. At this stage of pregnancy, the sonographer is able to distinguish malformations of the baby since the body parts are more vivid and clear.

The fetal anomaly scan usually lasts about 15 minutes in most hospitals. During the procedure, the sonographer should be able to recognize the number of babies inside the womb, point out the parts of the body and know your due date.

During the analysis, the baby’s internal organs are looked ino a cross-section. The head circumference (HC), head diameter (biparietal diameter or BPD), abdominal circumference (AC) and , emur or thigh bone (FL) are measured to make sure that the baby is growing.

Some of the anomalies that can be seen during the fetal anomaly scans are:


• Anencephaly (absence of the top of the head): 99 per cent

• Exomphalos/gastroscisis (defects of the abdominal wall): 90 per cent

• Major limb abnormalities (missing or very short limbs): 90 per cent

• Spina bifida (open spinal cord): 90 per cent

• Major kidney problems (missing or abnormal kidneys): 85 per cent

• Diaphragmatic hernia (hole in the muscle separating chest and abdomen): 60 per cent

• Hydrocephalus (excess fluid within the brain): 60 per cent

• Down's syndrome (babies with Down's may have visible heart or bowel problems): 40 per cent

• Major heart problems (defects of chambers, valves or vessels): 25 per cent

• Autism: never seen

• Cerebral palsy: never seen

With the intensive information that fetal anomaly scan can provide, it is worth-note taking that an expectant mother should undergo this type of ultrasound.