Anomaly Scan at 20 Weeks: What to Expect?

An anomaly scan is a mid-pregnancy scan performed during pregnancy. It is an imaging process that shows the development of your baby thus far. The scan shows the baby’s health condition and any abnormalities that the baby may have. An anomaly scan checks if the pregnancy is healthy for both the baby and the mother. This scan helps take precautions if there is any risk regarding the pregnancy to both the mother and the child. In this blog, we shall discuss everything you need to know when it’s 20 weeks of your pregnancy, along with what the 20-week scan represents to you and your baby. Let us start by discussing what the 20-week scan means in pregnancy and why it is done.

What is a 20-week Anomaly Scan in Pregnancy?

A detailed ultrasound that is done to check the baby’s health in the 20th week of your pregnancy is a 20-week anomaly scan. It gives you a clear picture of the baby’s growth and detects anything that may be hampering the baby’s development. After detection, doctors plan to fix the issue and help the baby grow in the womb. If there is any serious harm to the baby or the mother, the pregnancy is terminated after the scan. The purpose of this scan is to ensure the safety and growth of the baby. High-frequency sound waves are used in the scan to create a real-time image of the baby in the womb. What is checked during the scan? Let’s understand that so that it can give you a more detailed explanation of the 20-week scan. Let’s dive right in. 

What Is Checked During the Anomaly Scan?

Checked During the Anomaly Scan?Several things are checked in the anomaly scan to ensure the safety of the fetus and the mother. The scan covers various aspects of fetal development, so here is a list of things that are checked during the 20-week scan. 

  • Head, brain, and skull structure
  • Spine and vertebral column
  • Face and lips
  • Heart 
  • Blood flow
  • Kidneys and bladder function
  • Limbs 
  • Abdominal wall and stomach
  • Placenta position
  • Fluid levels
  • Umbilical cord

These are just a few aspects of the fetus that are checked during an anomaly scan. By 20 weeks, the fetus develops a structure and limbs; it is just about the growth after that. So, it is necessary to check everything in detail so that we know nothing is missing and everything is healthy. The physical development of the fetus inside the womb is crucial so that the baby can have a happy and healthy life. Now, let us discuss what you can expect during your 20-week scan to ease your mind about fetal development. 

What To Expect During Your 20-Week Anomaly Scan?

Any pregnancy scan can be daunting and emotionally exhausting, but it is important to ensure your and the baby’s health. So, here are a few things you can expect during your 20-week scan to give you a vague idea and help you understand the fetus well. We shall discuss what happens during the scan so that you can be prepared for it.

  • Firstly, the mother lies down on the table, and a gel is applied to her belly.
  • A transducer is moved across the abdomen to capture ultrasound images of the baby.
  • Now, you may see your baby move on the screen.
  • Sometimes, the baby’s position may be awkward, which affects the imaging, and in that case, you can take a short walk to move the baby on its own before continuing the scan again.
  • The radiologist will record the measurements of the fetus and observe its behavior to give you a concrete answer about the baby’s health and growth.

It is a simple scan performed as a precaution, so the steps mentioned above are what you can expect during the 20-week scan. Now that we know what to expect from the scan and how it works, let us understand its importance for the baby and its health so that you don’t miss this scan.

Why is the 20-week Anomaly Scan Important for Your Baby’s Health?

Ultrasounds are very important throughout the pregnancy to monitor the baby’s growth and development, but why is the 20-week scan important for the baby? Here are a few points to convince you why you should consider a 20-week scan for your baby’s health.

  • Defects in any of the baby’s parts and organs can be detected in this scan. This includes heart defects, spinal issues and many more.
  • In this scan, the fetus’s growth is monitored, and the organs are checked to see if they are growing at the expected speed. 
  • The body functions are also checked to see if they are working properly. 
  • Fluid levels are checked to ensure the baby is comfortable and getting enough fluid for its growth.
  • Special care is provided to keep the baby and the mother safe if anything wrong is detected in the scan. 

Baby’s health needs to be paid special attention, especially during fetal growth, so a 20-week scan is necessary to ensure you have a safe and sound pregnancy. The reasons mentioned above are why the 20-week scan is important for the baby’s health since it checks everything about the fetus and its comfort. Let’s discuss the best time to perform an anomaly scan. Let’s continue.  

Best Time to Perform an Anomaly Scan

Since this is a 20-week scan, the best time to perform this scan would be around 18-22 weeks of your pregnancy. This shows fetal growth clearly and helps you understand what your baby needs to continue growing and become stronger and healthier. Most of the organs of the fetus are well developed by 20 weeks, so the exact mark of 20 weeks is considered ideal for this scan since everything is visible in the pictures taken during the ultrasound. This scan helps doctors understand the condition of your pregnancy and the supplements you may need to make the growth of your baby easier and smoother, so the best time to perform this scan is 20 weeks. You need radiologists to perform the scan, so let us talk about the two best radiologists who perform the anomaly scan in Nepal. 

Best Radiology Experts for Anomaly Scans at Venus Hospital

Radiologists perform x-rays and scans, which are crucial during pregnancy. Venus Hospital is the best hospital in Kathmandu, with top radiology experts providing their services for mothers-to-be. They offer top radiology and gynecology services with advanced technology. Let us discuss their top radiologists in detail.

1. Dr. Pravin Basnet

Dr Pravin Bahadur BasnetDr. Pravin Basnet has more than 10 years of experience in radiology. He is a senior radiologist specializing in fetal imaging at Venus Hospital. With years of experience and many successful cases, he ensures that his scans are informative and thorough. He ensures his patients are safe and aware during and after the scan. Dr. Basnet also works closely with gynecologists to create a birth plan according to the scan. Here are his qualifications:

  • NMC Number – 4678
  • Qualification: MBBS, MD (Radiology)

2. Dr. Nawaraj Ranabhat

Dr Nawraj RanabhatDr. Nawaraj Ranabhat has one year of experience in the field of radiology. He has expertise in Gynaelogocal imaging and is known for his friendly approach to his patients, which makes women more comfortable around him during their scans. Dr. Ranabhat ensures that every pregnancy receives the right follow-up, care, and guidance based on the results from the 20-week scan. Here are his qualifications:

  • Specialty: Radiology
  • Qualification: MBBS, MD (Radiology)

These two doctors and their attention to detail in imaging are what makes them top radiologists in Nepal. Venus Hospital is known for its radiology techniques and expertise, along with its interaction with patients and its dedication to the field. Their scans are flawless due to their stray experience and the equipment provided by the hospital. It is their responsibility to help you understand your baby’s growth along with its needs and demands. You can contact Venus Hospital to know their schedule and book an appointment accordingly. 

Accuracy and Limitations of the 20-Week Pregnancy Scan

The 20-week pregnancy scan is crucial. However, it comes with accuracy and limitations since you can’t trust the X-rays blindly. Here are a few accuracy and limitations for the 20-week pregnancy scan.

Accuracy

  • It detects most major structural abnormalities in the baby, if there are any. If the abnormalities can be fixed, major precautions are taken to ensure the baby grows healthy in the womb.
  • The scan is reliable for monitoring fetal growth and development. It gives doctors a clear idea of the child’s health. 
  • Allows early monitoring, which can detect if the baby and the mother are safe.
  • Helps identify the location of the placenta.
  • Assists in measuring fluid levels required for the baby’s development accurately.

Limitations

  • Some anomalies develop later and may not be visible in the 20-week scan.
  • Certain issues are too small to detect via ultrasound, and the images can be misleading.
  • Results may be affected by maternal weight, position of the fetus, or image clarity.
  • Does not detect genetic issues without additional testing, which can hamper the baby’s growth. 
  • False negatives or positives may occur during the scan, which can be difficult to resolve. 

Despite the limitations of the scan, it is crucial to perform this scan due to its accuracy. It is a highly informative tool that can examine the fetus well enough to draw proper conclusions regarding the pregnancy. These were the accuracy and limitations of the 20-week pregnancy scan. It is important to understand both the strengths and limitations of this scan so that you can proceed accordingly.

Conclusion

A 20-week scan is a huge milestone in a pregnancy journey. Your baby is well-developed and can be seen with limbs and head in the monitor. The 20-week scan helps you monitor your baby’s health, growth and development. This blog covered everything essential regarding the 20-week scan, including the best radiology experts for anomaly scans, what to expect during the scan, how it is performed and when. We also discussed the best hospital in Kathmandu that performs these scans.

If you enjoyed reading this blog, we have many more blogs about pregnancy and the scans performed during pregnancy to keep you aware. Book your appointment at Venus Hospital, and have a safe pregnancy. Our doctors are experienced and can help you with what your body and your baby need. Visit our website and learn more.

Thank you for reading till the end.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the role of a radiologist in performing an anomaly scan at Venus Hospital?

The role of a radiologist in performing a 20-week scan at Venus Hospital is to scan the mother’s womb and perform an ultrasound to get clear images of the baby. The radiologist conducts the scans, checks for abnormalities, and works closely with your gynecologist to ensure you have a smooth pregnancy. 

2. What is the rule of the 3 anomaly scan?

The rule of 3 is about three key anomalies: brain, heart, and kidneys. These three parts are checked thoroughly to ensure the baby’s development. However, a full scan examines all major organs and body parts.

3. Can the doctors at Venus Hospital help me understand my anomaly scan results?

Yes, doctors at Venus Hospital can help you understand your results so that you can take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and the baby safe. The doctors ensure that you know what is happening in your pregnancy to keep you aware and help you feel secure. 

4. Are the doctors at Venus Hospital available for consultations after my anomaly scan?

Yes, the doctors at Venus Hospital are available for consultations after the scan to answer all your questions regarding the scan and the results of the scan. It is important to keep you aware of your baby’s health and development, so consultations are provided whenever you have a single doubt about your pregnancy.