Specialist Care
for Life’s
First Impressions

Dr Adriana Olog

Obstetrician, Maternal Fetal
Medicine Specialist

Specialist Care
for Life’s
First Impressions

Dr Adriana Olog

Obstetrician, Maternal Fetal
Medicine Specialist

Ultrasounds Explained

Dating and Early Pregnancy Scans

This scan is recommended between 6 – 12 weeks of pregnancy and is often recommended if you are unsure of your last menstrual period, have concerns with pain or bleeding, and to determine if you are having more than one baby. 

You can expect to see the baby’s heartbeat, however sometimes if the scan is done too early we may not see the heartbeat.  This may be perfectly normal, and just too early to detect, so we will bring you back in a few weeks to check the heartbeat and ensure baby is growing as expected.

You can also expect to find out the due date of your pregnancy at this scan.

PREPARATION FOR DATING SCAN:

Please drink 2 cups of water an hour before your scan and hold

This scan is usually performed abdominally however sometimes we may need to perform a transvaginal scan if your baby is difficult to see or your uterus is tilted backwards.  Don’t worry we will always tell you if this is the case and it is our priority to ensure you feel safe and experience minimal discomfort if we need to perform this type of scan. This scan usually takes approximately 10-20 minutes

Nuchal Translucency Scan or 12 week Scan

The nuchal translucency scan is performed specifically between 11 weeks 4days and 14 weeks of pregnancy and forms part of the combined first trimester screen (CFTS).  This means that you will need to have a blood test before your scan so the overall combined result can be given to you on the day. 

This scan is essentially a screening test designed to give you a risk analysis of your baby being diagnosed with Down Syndrome (T21), Edwards Syndrome (T18) or Patau’s Syndrome (T13).  Your baby falls into a high risk range if the result returns a risk of higher than 1:300.  It is important to remember that this is not definitive that your baby has this diagnosis, rather that your baby is at risk.  Dr Olog will see you after your scan and provide comprehensive counselling about this result and discuss if you would like to proceed with further testing, either with a blood test called Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) or Invasive testing via either Chorionic Villi Sampling (CVS) or Amniocentesis (Amnio) (see prenatal testing section).

This is also the ultrasound you may wish to discover the baby’s gender (if your baby cooperates with us!).

If you have decided to have the NIPT test in place of the nuchal translucency scan it is still very important and encouraged to still attend for an early structural assessment. This is so we can ensure your baby is growing and developing as expected.

PREPARATION FOR NUCHAL TRANSLUSCENCY SCAN:

Please drink 1-2 cups of water an hour before your scan and hold

This scan is usually performed abdominally however sometimes we may need to perform a transvaginal scan if your baby is difficult to see or your uterus is tilted backwards.  Don’t worry we will always tell you if this is the case and it is our priority to ensure you feel safe and experience minimal discomfort if we need to perform this type of scan. This scan usually takes approximately 45 minutes, longer if you have more than one baby.

12 – 14 week Ultrasound – Early Structural Scan

The early structural scan is the same scan as the nuchal translucency scan, however no risk calculation is produced at the end of the examination. 

If you have had the Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), which can be performed from 10 weeks gestation, you will have a more accurate screening result about the likelihood of Down Syndrome (T21), Edwards Syndrome (T18) or Patau’s Syndrome (T13). 

It is still very important and encouraged to still attend for a scan around 13 weeks gestation.  In this early structural assessment, whilst your baby is still very small, we are able to have a good look at the growth and development and ensure baby is structurally developing as expected.  

Due to the advanced ultrasound equipment we have, coupled with our highly skilled sonographers early detection of Spina Bifida, heart defects and other structural concerns are assessed in detail at this scan.  A formal morphological assessment at 19-20 weeks is still recommended.

We also attempt to take 3D/4D pictures of your baby in this scan and send them straight to your smartphone!

This scan usually takes approximately 40 minutes, longer if you have more than one baby.

PREPARATION FOR 12-16 WEEK SCAN:

Please drink 1-2 cups of water an hour before your scan and hold.

16 week Ultrasound – Early Morphology Scan

In some pregnancies we recommend an early morphology or early anatomy scan. 

This ultrasound is performed usually around 16 weeks of pregnancy and is often necessary if there have been any concerns detected early in your pregnancy, you are having twins/triplets, previous pregnancy complications, family history of genetic conditions, or we need to monitor your cervix.

This is an early detailed look at your baby’s anatomy which will then be followed up at 19-22 weeks with the formal morphology scan. 

This scan usually takes approximately 40 minutes, longer if you have more than one  baby.

PREPARATION FOR 16 WEEK SCAN:

Please drink 1-2 cups of water an hour before your scan and hold.

Morphology Ultrasound – 18-22 weeks

This ultrasound is best performed between 19-20 weeks of pregnancy.  This is the most detailed ultrasound you will receive in your pregnancy and one of the most important.  This ultrasound aims to provide us and you with information about the following:

  • We look at all the major structures of the baby to detect common structural fetal abnormalities
  • We check the baby’s size and growth and blood flows
  • We check the position and structure of the placenta, if your placenta is low or covering the cervix further ultrasounds will be necessary in your pregnancy along with expert advice from Dr Olog
  • We check the amount of fluid around your baby (amniotic fluid)
  • We monitor growth in a multiple pregnancy
  • We measure the length of the cervix in women who are at risk of premature birth
  • We can also take lovely 3D/4D pictures of your baby in this scan and even send them straight to your phone!

However, it is also important to realise that there are limitations to ultrasound in pregnancy:

  • Some fetal structural or genetic problems are very subtle and may not be visible on the morphology scan, therefore some defects do not become evident until later in the pregnancy as your baby develops or indeed after birth
  • The ability to detect fetal problems depends on the image quality. Factors such as how your baby is positioned during the scan, your build, if you have had previous operations and scarring is present can limit the ultrasound

This scan usually takes approximately 45 minutes, longer if you have more than one baby.

PREPARATION FOR MORPHOLOGY SCAN:

Please drink 1-2 cups of water an hour before your scan and hold.

Growth Ultrasound’s 24-38 weeks of pregnancy

Sometimes during pregnancy we need to regularly monitor your baby’s growth and wellbeing in addition to the standard ultrasounds recommended.  This can be due to the fact we just want to keep an eye on baby’s growth as this is best done by ultrasound or if we have any concerns about your baby, cervix or placenta.

Dedicated 3D/4D Ultrasound

At Grace Private Ultrasound we understand how special pregnancy can be for a variety of reasons so we have designed this ultrasound especially with you in mind.  This ultrasound is specially booked in at approximately 28-32 weeks of pregnancy with one of our amazing Sonographers who will dedicate the ultrasound to providing you with some special keepsake 3D and 4D images to take home with you.  Due to our advanced technology we can also send you the images electronically to your phone to share with family and friends.  

Please have a look at some of our amazing photographic skills at our Gallery to get an idea of what your images will look like.  This is also a great idea for a baby shower gift as well, if you are interested in gifting this to a loved one please click here and one of our friendly staff will be in contact with you.

A Referral is not required for this experience

Prenatal Testing and Fetal Therapy

At Grace Private Ultrasound Dr Olog is your best choice when it comes to considering prenatal testing or fetal therapy.  With her wealth of knowledge in this field in addition to the hundreds of procedures she has performed you can be reassured you are in safe expert hands.

Prenatal testing covers a wide range of testing, screening and diagnostic tests in pregnancy from blood tests confirming your pregnancy, ultrasounds, to invasive testing to confirm if your baby is carrying a genetic variant or chromosomal anomaly.

About one woman in 20 is told that there may be a complication in her pregnancy. It is important to understand that  “screening” tests cannot provide definite 100% information about your baby’s condition, this is where the consideration of either Non Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) or invasive tests including Chorionic Villi Sampling or Amniocentesis is considered.  This is where Dr Olog’s expert advice is crucial in deciding which pathway is best for you as sometimes your Doctor may recommend either NIPT or invasive testing.

The decision to have further tests to confirm whether an abnormality is present is up to you and your family after discussion with Dr Olog.

Diagnostic tests may be considered for a range of reasons. For example, if a diagnostic test confirms the presence of a medical condition:

  • Some abnormalities can be amenable to fetal therapy while the baby is still in the uterus.
  • Knowing in advance that the baby has a particular diagnosis may provide a family with time to prepare.
  • Depending on the condition identified in diagnostic testing, some women or families may decide not to continue a pregnancy and arrange a termination of pregnancy (abortion), the timing for testing in this instance is of paramount importance
  • You or your baby will need specialist care before, during and after at the birth

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

The NIPT is a screening test that analyses the baby’s circulating DNA in a small sample of your blood to predict the chance of Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13).  It can also tell you the sex chromosomes of your baby.  Additional testing can be selected if Dr Olog feels that this is necessary. The NIPT test is called Non-Invasive because it is a simple blood test that poses no threat to your baby.  QML are our preferred pathology and this test usually takes about 5-7 days to return a result.  The test can be performed as early at 10 weeks of pregnancy.

If you would like to book in to have a NIPT – we recommend a dating ultrasound with no out of pocket fee prior to the blood test to ensure the progression of the pregnancy and to confirm how many weeks pregnant you are.  There is a cost associated with the test that unfortunately isn’t medicare rebatable. A blood test is then required from you and then the early structural assessment is the next recommended scan at around 13 weeks.

Chorionic Villi Sampling (CVS)

CVS is performed at 10 to 14 weeks of pregnancy.  Prior to the procedure Dr Olog will provide you with comprehensive counseling and information including the minimal risks associated with the CVS and ensure you are ready and comfortable to proceed. You can be reassured you are in good hands as Dr Olog has performed hundreds of these procedures.

The procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance by Dr Olog.  Local anaesthetic is administered which is followed by a special needle that is inserted into the abdomen, through the uterus and into the placenta (see diagram).  A small sample of placental tissue (chorionic villi) is obtained and sent to the laboratory for examination. This procedure usually takes 10-15 minutes.  A rapid result is usually provided within three days and often this is the information necessary to provide further management of your pregnancy.  This test also tells us the sex of your baby if you wish to know.

PREPARATION OF CVS:

Diagram of CVS Procedure

AMNIOCENTESIS

Diagram of Amniocentesis Procedure

Amniocentesis can be safely performed after 15 weeks of pregnancy.  Prior to the procedure Dr Olog will provide you with comprehensive counseling and information including the minimal risks associated with an Amniocentesis and ensure you are ready and comfortable to proceed.   You can be reassured you are in good hands as Dr Olog has performed hundreds of these procedures.

Because this procedure is usually relatively quick (5 minutes) a local anaesthetic is not administered.  Dr Olog performs this procedure under ultrasound guidance by using a special very fine needle that is passed through the abdomen into the uterus and then into the amniotic sac where 20 mls of amniotic fluid is obtained.  A rapid result is usually provided within three days and often this is the information necessary to provide further management of your pregnancy.  This test also tells us the sex of your baby if you wish to know.

Fetal Therapy

Dr Olog is proud to be the only Maternal Fetal Medicine Private service on the Gold Coast offering a range of in room fetal therapy at her Grace Private Ultrasound rooms.  Fetal therapy is designed to optimize the fetal condition and extend the duration of high risk pregnancies.  Dr Olog can offer the following fetal therapies at Grace Womens Ultrasound:

  • Amnioreduction for polyhydramnious including counseling and diagnosis for cause of polyhydramnious
  • Cephalocentesis
  • Thoracocentesis
  • Fetal blood transfusion or coordination of transfusion with Mater Mothers Hospital

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Gold Coast Private Hospital

Grace Private Ultrasound
Suite 5
14 Hill Street
Southport 4215

P . 07 5594 7632
F . 07 5574 4812
E .​ reception@graceprivate.com.au

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