Understanding obstetric ultrasound: A key to monitoring pregnancy health

Written in association with: Dr Koon Loong Chan
Published: | Updated: 31/10/2024
Edited by: Conor Lynch

Obstetric ultrasound is a crucial tool in prenatal care, offering expectant parents and healthcare providers detailed insights into the health and development of a baby during pregnancy. This non-invasive imaging technique uses high-frequency sound waves to produce real-time images of the fetus, uterus, and other surrounding structures.

 

These images help monitor the baby's growth, check for potential abnormalities, and assess the overall progress of the pregnancy. Here to explain more is esteemed consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Koon Loong Chan. 

When does the first ultrasound take place in a pregnancy cycle?

The first ultrasound typically occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, usually between 6 to 10 weeks. This early scan confirms the pregnancy, estimates the due date, and checks for the presence of multiple fetuses. It also verifies the baby’s heartbeat, providing reassurance to the parents.

 

One of the most important scans is the "anomaly scan," performed between 18 to 22 weeks. This detailed ultrasound assesses the baby’s anatomy, including the heart, brain, spine, and limbs, ensuring that all major organs are developing properly. It also checks for any structural abnormalities, such as cleft palate or heart defects. During this scan, parents can also choose to find out the baby’s gender, if desired.

 

Later in pregnancy, ultrasounds may be used to monitor the baby's growth, check the position of the baby, and evaluate the health of the placenta and amniotic fluid levels. These scans are particularly important in high-risk pregnancies, where frequent monitoring is needed to ensure the well-being of both mother and baby.

 

Obstetric ultrasound is safe and painless, providing real-time information that guides medical decisions and helps ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Whether confirming the early stages of pregnancy or monitoring the baby’s development, ultrasounds offer a window into the womb and provide peace of mind for expectant parents.

By Dr Koon Loong Chan
Obstetrics & gynaecology

Dr Koon Loong Chan is a highly esteemed consultant obstetrician and a specialist in fetal and maternal medicine at the Portland Hospital. He specialises in multiple pregnancies, ectopic pregnancy, ultrasounds, HIV in pregnancy, fetal medicine and fetal abnormalities.

He received his CCST in September 2002 (Sheffield) and finished his subspecialty training in December 2005 (Nottingham). Dr Chan graduated from St Mary’s Hospital Medical School (London) in 1993 with BSc (Hons) and MB BS. He obtained his MRCOG in May 1999 and was elected to FRCOG in September 2011.

Dr Chan also specialises in obstetric ultrasound, including nuchal translucency and detailed fetal anatomy scanning. He possesses extensive expertise in prenatal counselling, fetal abnormality diagnosis, invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, as well as managing high-risk pregnancies. Additionally, he is an experienced obstetrician working in one of the busiest maternity units in the country, dealing with complex deliveries, including caesarean sections.

Patients with issues related to high-risk pregnancies, fetal medicine, HIV in pregnancy, and multiple pregnancies are referred to Dr Chan from hospitals throughout the Northwest region. At Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, he holds the position of obstetric lead for multiple pregnancy and HIV in pregnancy. In the past, he has also served as the obstetric lead for risk management, clinical effectiveness, and clinical audit at the same hospital. Dr Chan maintains his involvement in the NHS while also running a private practice.

He provides a range of services, from one-off consultations to comprehensive care packages, starting from 8 weeks of pregnancy and continuing until 6 weeks postnatally. He works alongside private midwife Emily Street in all his clinics, offering complete care packages that prioritise the unique needs of women, support stress-free pregnancies, and assist them in achieving the best possible birth experience for both themselves and their babies.

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