Question

How early can anatomy scan be done?

Answer 1

Hint: During pregnancy, an anatomy scan is performed to visualise the fetus. The most commonly used anatomy scan is ultrasound.

Complete answer:
Ultrasound is the safest, non-invasive and painless technique to visualize the fetus during pregnancy. It is also used to assess growth and viability of fetus, to determine fetal position and sex, identify multiple pregnancies, detect any fetal–maternal abnormalities, and serve as an adjunct to special procedures such as amniocentesis. In case of unclear conception date, it also helps in determining a more accurate fetal age. It used a small instrument called transducer which emits high-frequency sound waves that are passed back and forth over the abdomen. The transducer pickups the reflected sound waves from the developing fetus and converts it to an onscreen image. The image, which may be still or moving, is called a sonogram and can be seen on a video monitor.

The scan is usually done between 18 to 22 weeks during pregnancy i.e., during the second trimester. It is used to measure the fetus which helps in estimating the due date, check the fetal heartbeat and to rule out any abnormalities. The medical practitioners suggest multiple ultrasounds during the course of pregnancy which is helpful in monitoring the growth and development of the fetus.

Note: The urinary bladder serves as a landmark during the procedure of anatomy scan, therefore, the patient needs to drink liquids before the procedure and maintain a full bladder. Amniocentesis used to test for the presence of certain genetic disorders. During the process of amniocentesis, the position of the placenta and fetus is first identified using ultrasound.