Obstetric ultrasounds go by a variety of names, including: pregnancy ultrasounds, baby ultrasounds, pregnancy scans, and fetal ultrasound, to name a few. Marina Radiology employs sophisticated imaging systems to produce high quality images for obstetric monitoring and diagnoses. Our professionally trained and accredited sonographers and doctors undergo regular specialist seminars and training to ensure they continue to provide you with superior care.

Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound

A nuchal translucency scan is a type of ultrasound which is ideally performed between weeks 12 and 13 of gestation. It is used, in conjunction with a blood test, to help determine your baby’s risk of certain chromosomal abnormalities.

Nuchal translucency (NT) refers to the pocket of fluid at the nape of your baby’s neck. In some chromosomal disorders, the thickness of this region is greater than would be in a foetus of the same age with no chromosomal anomalies.

This examination can only be performed during a specific period of the pregnancy – weeks 12 and 13 of gestation. The reason for this is if the scan is performed before week 12, your baby will most likely be too small to perform the necessary measurements accurately and, if performed after week 13, your baby’s lymphatic system may have absorbed any excess fluid.

Your practitioner will also refer you for a separate blood test. By combining both sets of results a more accurate calculation of your baby’s chromosomal anomaly risk level can be ascertained.

When attending your appointment, please bring your referral from your medical practitioner, Medicare card and any other relevant health care cards. Please also bring any previous scans or reports relating to the region being scanned, if they were not undertaken at Marina. To allow adequate time to conduct the procedure, please ensure you arrive on time for your scheduled appointment.

To ensure the clarity of images, it is important that you attend your appointment with a full bladder. To achieve this, one hour prior to your appointment empty your bladder then drink at least 500ml of water immediately after. You can eat and take any medication necessary as per normal however are asked not to empty your bladder again until after your appointment.

To assist with conduction of the ultrasound waves, ultrasound gel will be applied to your abdomen. A hand held probe, which transmits, receives and consolidates the ultrasound waves, will then be moved over your stomach. The scan will not cause any pain or discomfort to either yourself or your baby. Depending on the position of your baby, the scan can take between 15 to 60 minutes in duration.

As a diagnostic tool, ultrasounds are extremely accurate. On the rare occasion though, some abnormalities may be undetectable at the time of your appointment, due to normal variations such as the position or age of your baby. It is not unusual for the sonographer or radiologist to request subsequent scans or tests and should not be a cause for alarm.

Your referring practitioner will receive the images from the scan immediately via our online portal. Once one of our specialist doctors (radiologist) has reviewed and assessed your scan, the report will be sent to your practitioner either electronically, or by fax.

Our staff are here to help, and they are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Please be aware however, that sonographers are unable to provide specific information about your scan. This information will be given to you by your referring practitioner, hence Marina strongly advises you to schedule a follow up appointment with your doctor.

Ultrasounds are a standard procedure undertaken to monitor the health of both baby and mother during pregnancy. There are numerous reasons why your doctor may wish for you to receive an ultrasound including, and not limited to:

• Determine the gestational age of your baby

• Monitor the growth of your baby

• Establish the number of babies gestating

• Check for any potential abnormalities

• Investigation following bleeding or other complications

Nuchal Translucency is a specific type of ultrasound, conducted ideally between weeks 12 and 13 of pregnancy. Combining the results from your scan and a blood test, nuchal translucency scans screen for chromosomal abnormalities, such as Downs Syndrome, that your baby may be at risk of.

Yes, you are allowed to eat and take any medications as per normal. The only requirement for the scan is a full bladder, therefore, one hour before your appointment you will need to drink 500ml of water and refrain from going to the toilet thereafter.

Ultrasounds are very safe for both mother and baby. Ultrasounds operate purely by the transmission and collection of inaudible sound waves, and thus are radiation free.

You will receive all the results of your scan from your referring practitioner. The responsibility of the sonographer is to perform and produce high quality images for the radiologist to interpret.