The 19-20 Week Detailed Screening Ultrasound
Even if you choose not to have prenatal screening, ultrasounds are an important part of your routine prenatal care.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada recommends that all pregnant women in Canada be offered an 19-20 week ultrasound. At the 19-20 week scan, your baby has developed and grown to the size where we can more clearly see the baby. The baby is measured and its internal organs (like its heart, kidneys, and brain) are also examined to make sure they are the right size and shape.
Most birth defects, if present, can be identified during this ultrasound. If you have not had any previous ultrasounds, the 19-20 week ultrasound will be also used to confirm your due date.
Will I require any more ultrasounds after the 19-20 week ultrasound?
Additional ultrasounds may be required at the request of your health care provider. Sometimes ultrasounds are recommended if there are questions about the baby’s position, the mother’s or the baby’s health, or the baby’s growth. For more information on other types of ultrasounds, please see the information below.
Other Types of Pregnancy Ultrasound
If you have questions about ultrasound in pregnancy, talk to your health care provider.
Marker Ultrasound
A ‘marker’ is a slight difference in organ development that may be seen during an ultrasound. Examples of markers are:
Echogenic bowel (a brightness of the baby’s intestine)
Echogenic foci (a bright spot in the baby’s heart)
Choroid Plexus Cyst (a bright spot in the baby’s brain)
Markers are often seen in normal babies but are also seen in babies with chromosome conditions such as Down syndrome or Trisomy 18. If a marker is found in your ultrasound, you will be provided with more information and may also receive a referral for prenatal genetic counselling or to a specialist in maternal fetal medicine.
Fetal Diagnosis & Therapy Ultrasound
A fetal diagnosis and therapy ultrasound (FD&T) may be required when there are questions about how a part of the baby is developing. It is a longer, more detailed ultrasound to have a really close look at the baby. The ultrasound is reviewed by a maternal fetal medicine doctor and may also include doctors from other specialties such as Medical Genetics. Sometimes doctors from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or the Alberta Children’s Hospital are involved to help plan special care and delivery of a baby who may require extra support after delivery.
Fetal Echocardiogram
A fetal echocardiogram (fetal echo) ultrasound is done when we need to closely examine a baby’s heart before it is born. Sometimes these are ordered when there is a family history of heart defects or if the mother has certain medical conditions during pregnancy. Sometimes they are done because a heart defect might have been seen on another ultrasound. These ultrasounds are reviewed by specially trained Radiologists. A doctor from Pediatric Cardiology may also be present to review the ultrasound and talk to you about any concerns they might have.