Cardiac Scan

Reasons

This scan may have been recommended by your midwife or doctor if you have diabetes, a family history of heart abnormalities, or if the nuchal translucency thickness was above the 95 percentile at the nuchal translucency scan. A detailed examination of the fetal heart and connecting vessels is performed by an experienced sonographer with specific expertise in this area.

It can usually be performed at 19 - 20 weeks in conjunction with the anatomy scan, but occasionally a follow up scan may be recommended at around 24 weeks.

 

Preparation

• normal food
• try to have a full bladder. Empty bladder 1 hour before the appointment, then immediately drink 3 large glasses of water (750mls). Do not empty bladder again until after the examination

What to Expect

This scan is preformed transabdominally.