Screening options

At your booking appointment your midwife will go through all the screening that you will be offered during pregnancy and for your baby once they are born.

The first screening will involve a blood test at your initial appointment, which will be looking for infectious diseases, your rhesus factor, your haemoglobin level, your blood type and if you have any antibodies. 

Also at this appointment your midwife will make a referral for you to have a dating scan, which will give you an estimated date of birth for baby.  At this scan they will ask if you would like to have screening for Downs Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome and Patau’s Syndrome.  This will involve another blood test.  There is more detailed information in the screening for you and your baby. Please take your time to read this so you can make an informed decision. 

The next screening that will take place is the anomaly scan around 18 to 20 weeks. This is a detailed scan where the sonographer will look at your baby’s anatomy to rule out any abnormalities. However, not all abnormalities can be detected on a scan. 

Once your baby is born they will be offered pulse oximetry to screen for possible heart problems. This is a quick test where their oxygen levels in their blood is measured on their right hand and any foot. If the results are not normal then they will be referred to the paediatricians for further investigations.  Hearing screening will also be offered.  If you aren’t having an early discharge after birth then this will usually happen on the maternity ward.  Otherwise you will be sent a letter with an appointment within four weeks. A Newborn and Infant Examination (NIPE) will be offered within 72 hours of your baby being born and also again at your six to eight weeks postnatal appointment with your GP. This involves checking your baby’s eyes, heart, hips and testes (for boys). 

You can read about screening in the NHS leaflet 'your pregnancy'

Ultrasound scans

This scan uses high-frequency sound waves inaudible to the human ear, and produces a picture of the baby inside the uterus (womb) which can be seen on a screen. The test gives a reliable estimate of the age of the unborn baby (the fetus), locates the afterbirth, and will identify if there is more than one baby.

A routine scan is offered early in pregnancy and the test takes about 15 minutes.  To obtain a good scan picture it is essential when you attend that you have a full bladder.

You will be offered two routine ultrasound scans in the first half of your pregnancy.  It is important to be aware of what the scans are intended for.

Dating scan

This early scan is to find out how many babies you are expecting, and to date the pregnancy. You will most likely know the date of your last period but the releasing of the unfertilised egg can vary in women and therefore the date of fertilization can vary. This scan is performed around 11 to 14 weeks gestation.

Nuchal Translucency scan

This is a specific screening scan to look for signs of Downs Syndrome.  It is looking at the amount of fluid lying under the skin at the back of the baby’s neck.  When you attend for your dating scan you will be asked if you have decided to have this scan as well, after you have had the opportunity to read the booklet “screening tests” and had a discussion with your community midwife. 

A blood test from the mother is also required to complete this screening test and around one to two weeks after the test you will receive a letter informing you of your risk factor for having a baby with or without Downs Syndrome.  This scan/screening test can only be performed between 11+2 to 14+1 weeks gestation.

Anomaly/detailed scan
This scan is to look for any abnormalities (anomaly) of the head, spine, limbs, abdomen, kidney’s and heart of the baby.  It will not identify all problems and detection rates will vary depending on the type of anomaly, the position the baby is lying in, previous abdominal surgery and maternal size.

If an anomaly is suspected then you will be referred to the appropriate specialist to discuss the options available to you.  This scan is performed around 19 to 22 weeks gestation.

Sex of the baby
These scans are not currently performed at Wye Valley NHS Trust, but you can contact private health care/scan providers.  

3rd Trimester scans
Scans are not performed routinely in the 3rd stage, but if there are concerns regarding your baby’s wellbeing/growth or more commonly the position of the placenta then a scan in late pregnancy will be arranged by the obstetrician.