Ultrasound Exams

If you do not book full private antenatal care you may still wish for some extra security with selected Ultrasound examinations. You might like to avail of these because of previous miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, some bleeding or just for you to know that your baby is ok.

All ultrasound examinations are performed by Dr Bartels; a fully qualified and registered consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. We offer the following ultrasound examinations:


First Trimester Scan (early scan / booking scan)

Arrange between 7 and 13 weeks. This scan will:

ü  Show you your baby’s heart beat to see if baby is alive and well
(to exclude miscarriage)

ü  Confirm that the pregnancy is in the correct place (in the womb)
(to exclude ectopic pregnancy)

ü  Confirm whether you are expecting one or more babies
(to confirm if it’s twins or more…)

ü  Confirm that vital structures are developing normally

 

Second Trimester Scan

Arrange between 21 and 24 weeks. During this detailed scan Dr Bartels will:

ü  Show you your baby’s face and hands and feet
(to exclude cleft lip and many syndromes)

ü  Show the blood flow in the heart and through the baby
(to exclude defects of the heart, kidneys and others)

ü  Look at your baby’s brain and spine
(to confirm normal development)

ü  Your baby’s head, tummy and long bones will be measured
(this way we can estimate the baby’s weight to make sure it is growing normally)

Third Trimester Scan

Arrange between 34 and 36 weeks. During this scan:

ü  Your baby’s head, tummy and long bones will be measured
(this way one can estimate the baby’s weight then and what it might be when you baby is born)

ü  Your baby’s organs will be examined again to look for changes

ü  Your baby’s presentation will be checked:
(This is important as if the head is not coming first many problems could arise. If this is picked up now it is straightforward to help you.)

ü  The placenta (afterbirth) will be examined
(If the placenta lies too low a normal delivery may not be possible; we will check how low it is and if a normal delivery is safe)