Alaska Family Sonograms is proud to offer a new service: Detailed fetal anatomy ultrasounds. Fetal anatomy ultrasounds are specialized screenings, typically recommended around 20 weeks gestation. These ultrasounds provide you and your doctor with a comprehensive assessment of your growing baby.
What does a detailed fetal anatomy ultrasound measure?
We want to ensure your baby is growing and developing well. In some cases, a detailed fetal ultrasound helps detect abnormalities before birth, allowing your doctor to provide the appropriate care soon after delivery. There are many things your sonographer will evaluate and measure during your fetal anatomy ultrasound, including:
- Fetal measurements/size
- Weight estimate
- Position and size of four-chamber heart, vessels going to and from the heart and heart rate
- Kidneys
- Bladder
- Stomach
- Brain
- Spine
- Amniotic fluid levels
- Extremities
- Facial features
Throughout this exam, your sonographer will be looking for abnormalities, cardiac defects and skeletal anomalies relating to your baby. They will also examine your placenta location to help ensure you and your baby have a safe delivery.
Who needs a fetal ultrasound?
Detailed fetal anatomy ultrasounds are recommended for women with increased risk factors, like:
- Advanced maternal age (35 years and older)
- Conception through in vitro fertilization
- Hypertension
- Gestational diabetes
- Multiple pregnancy
- Obesity
- Family history of anomalies or genetic disorders
Fetal Echocardiogram: Taking detailed fetal ultrasounds to the next level
In addition to your detailed fetal anatomy ultrasound, your doctors may recommend a fetal echocardiogram to evaluate the structure and function of your baby’s heart. It allows the sonographer to assess the blood flow through your baby’s heart, enabling doctors to find defects or abnormalities in the baby’s blood flow or heartbeat.
This detailed ultrasound is especially important for women who have a family history of heart disease or for those whose fetal ultrasound has confirmed an abnormality, which can be genetic or due to a chromosomal abnormality.
Give your unborn baby the best start to life. If you need a detailed fetal anatomy ultrasound or a fetal echocardiogram in Anchorage, trust Alaska Family Sonograms’ skill, leadership and commitment. Our sonographers have more than 15 years’ experience capturing well-defined ultrasound images, and we have multiple sonographers specially certified in fetal echocardiography. Plus, our skilled radiologist’s reliable interpretations empower your OB/GYN to accurately evaluate the health of your unborn child and determine if your baby needs any special services shortly after they are born.
Call Alaska Family Sonograms at 907-561-3601 for more information or to schedule a detailed fetal anatomy ultrasound today.