Diagnosis and Examination of Foetal Health

The different ways, during gestation, that a mother can use to examine her babies health and wellbeing.

What is an Ultrasound and when can it be used?

Ultrasounds are high frequency (inaudivle) waves that create an image.

Can be used from 8 weeks.

What is an ultrasound used for? What can it detect?

In general it is used for Cardiography and to detect the breathing and movement of the baby. It can also be used to examine the babues ability to felx and extend.

• In the 1st trimester it can confrim pregnanncy, the date of the pregnancy the number of babies and any physical malformations.

• In the 3rd Trimester it is used to examine the orientation and position of the baby as well as water (chorionic fluid). Allso used to detect malformations.

It can detect D.S through the Nuchal Translucency Screening. 

• 2 weeks - Foetal Anaemia screening (tests the velocity of the foetus’s lood.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ultrasound.

Harmless

Quick

no complications

Old and well tested technique 

Cardiography

When repeated there are possible health risks 

Abnormalities may go undetected because of foetus orientation

Can cause stress? anxiety for parents if results show foetal complications or positive findingd

What is Amniocentesis ? When is it done?

16-20 weeks into pregnancy.

Analysing foetal cells by removin 10-20ml of amniotic fluid (that contails cells from the baby) for biochemical defects and chromosomal abnormalities. As well as to axamine chromosome structure. 

How does Amniocentesis work?

Guided by ultrasound the needle is inserted into the abdomen of the mother and amniotic fluid is removed. Retrieved from the fluid are foetus cells whcih are cultures then tested. 

What can the process of Amniocentesis detect?

Chromosomal and genetic disorders.

Like: D.S, C.F, S.P

Advantages and Disadvantages of Amniocentesis

Can detect pronlems with tthe baby allowin parents to prepare.

(Literally is a needle into the abdomen of the mother)

Infections

Inflammation

Damage to baby

Miscarriage

Allo-immunisaiton (mixing blood)

Not available to everyone (only women who are at a higher risk)

Largely taken over by maternal blood testing. 

What is maternal blood testing? and when is it done?

8-20 weeks.

Some loose cells from the foetus can pass into the mothers bloodstream, hence blood can be taken from the mother to detect foetal abnormailities.

How is a Maternal Blood test done?

1. Sample of blood is retrieved

2. You put special antibodies (magnetic) into the sample of blood. The antibodies bind only to the foetal cells in the mothers blood.

3. Magnet can then be used to isolate the foetal cells.

4. Foetal cells are cultures and then examines for genetic poblems.