The best time for three-dimensional fetal anomaly screening

I believe that many people are not very clear about what 3D fetal anomaly screening is. In fact, 3D fetal anomaly screening is a 3D color Doppler ultrasound, which is mainly used to check women's pregnancy reactions. Its function is similar to that of B-ultrasound, but the effect is better. For many first-time pregnant women, it is not clear when to use 3D fetal anomaly screening for examination. When is the best time for me to use 3D fetal anomaly screening?

Precautions for major fetal malformation screening

1. Examination time: It is suitable to examine within 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Beyond this period, the structures of the fetus' face, limbs, heart, etc. may not be fully observed or cannot be displayed clearly. If there is very little or no amniotic fluid, these fetal structures may not be clearly visible.

2. Instruments used: A high-resolution color Doppler blood flow imager should be used for examination. Four-dimensional color ultrasound generally requires only the above-mentioned routine ultrasound examination contents for black and white B-ultrasound. Generally, black and white B-ultrasound is not used for detailed and systematic ultrasound examination of fetal malformations.

3. Make an appointment in advance. The most appropriate time to perform a major fetal malformation examination is around 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, so expectant mothers need to make an appointment at the hospital in advance to avoid missing the time. A gestational age that is too young or too old is not suitable for fetal malformation detection. However, the actual examination time may vary depending on the expectant mother.

4. No need to fast or hold urine. There is no need to fast or hold urine for fetal malformation screening. As long as the pregnant woman goes to a regular hospital for examination within the examination time of four-dimensional color ultrasound, fetal malformation screening can be performed. Half an hour before the color Doppler ultrasound, the expectant mother can eat something and drink some water to increase fetal movement.

5. Pay attention to your dress. Color Doppler ultrasound examines the fetus in the uterus, so before going for the examination, it is best for the expectant mother to wear separate tops and bottoms to facilitate the examination.

6. Relax appropriately. If the expectant mother is nervous before the color ultrasound, she should relax appropriately to relieve the tension to prevent her nervousness from affecting the normal activities of the fetus and interfering with the normal test results.

How to do a major fetal malformation screening

1. Make an appointment at the hospital in advance. Because there may be many expectant mothers who need to undergo fetal malformation screening at that time, we need to make an appointment with the doctor in advance to avoid missing the best examination time.

2. Go to the hospital where you have made an appointment in advance as scheduled to have a fetal anomaly examination. Taking four-dimensional color ultrasound as an example, under normal circumstances, a four-dimensional color ultrasound takes 30 minutes, but the time required varies depending on the personal situation of each expectant mother. It is recommended that expectant mothers come to the hospital earlier for a major fetal anomaly examination.

3. If the fetal position or other reasons make it difficult to see the fetus' face or other parts clearly, the doctor will recommend the expectant mother to move around before continuing.

4. During the examination, the doctor will examine the pregnant woman very carefully. If any abnormal changes are found in the fetus, it will take longer. The examination will mainly focus on the fetus's head, such as cleft lip, poor development of the brain and bones, kidneys, heart, spina bifida, etc. Expectant mothers should not be nervous during the examination to avoid affecting the normal activities of the fetus and interfering with the examination results.

5. Some experienced expectant mothers who have undergone examinations have suggested that you can bring some chocolates to the examination. If the fetal movement is not obvious and the doctor cannot clearly observe the fetal movement, the pregnant woman can eat some chocolates to supplement some energy.

When is the best time to do a major fetal malformation screening?

Major fetal malformation screening is an examination to check whether the fetal development is abnormal through B-ultrasound, so as to rule out any abnormalities. Moreover, we have also learned about the contents of the major fetal malformation examination above, which is very comprehensive. It mainly checks whether the baby's development in the uterus is in accordance with the gestational age, whether the fetus is healthy, how the limbs, brain, and internal organs develop, and excludes some congenital diseases, but not 100%, as well as the normal conditions of the amniotic fluid and umbilical cord. The major fetal malformation examination is very important for both babies and pregnant women. Therefore, all expectant mothers should pay attention to the major fetal malformation examination. So, when is the best time to do a major fetal malformation screening? Let’s find out together!

Generally, color ultrasound can be performed to screen for fetal anomalies before delivery around 20 to 24 weeks. Four-dimensional color ultrasound can display the color, face, development of various organs, and even the status of the fetus in the mother's body in three dimensions. It can provide early diagnosis for fetal malformations such as cleft lip, cleft palate, skeletal abnormalities, and cardiovascular malformations. However, if you take a 3D color ultrasound, the picture will be clearer at 26-28 weeks, as the baby will be fleshier at that time and will look better in the photo. Some netizens said that it is better to do it in the afternoon, because they think that babies generally do not move much in the morning, but move more in the afternoon and evening. However, there is generally no difference between the morning and afternoon, because even if you feel that the baby is not moving, it does not necessarily mean that he is not moving. You will only feel it when he moves a lot.