The second Trimester is the most exciting time for mother-to-be and her partner. At 20 weeks gestation, you can start feeling baby movements, described as flutter and your bump becomes noticeable.
By 20 weeks gestation, the baby most organs are developed, and at this stage, you are advisable to do an anomaly ultrasound scan, also known as the mid-pregnancy scan or the 20-week scan.
This anomaly scan is performed within 20 – 24 weeks of gestation and the scan is performed by a qualified Sonographer. Generally, the scan will take about 30- 40 mins depending on the fetal position.Â
During the scan, the Sonographer will take extra care by meticulously examining every part of the fetus to identify any structural abnormalities. We can check the fetal brain, heart, thorax, abdomen, kidneys, and spine and even count the fingers and toes! If you are lucky, you can even see the baby yawning and swallowing the amniotic fluid.Â
A 20-week scan is the best time to determine the baby’s gender and in case you are planning to do a gender reveal party, make sure you tell the Sonographer to keep a secret for you.
There is nothing more important for a mother-to-be to know that their baby is developing and growing well. The Sonographer can check the baby’s growth by measuring parameters such as head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length.
By knowing that the baby is developing well and growing at a healthy rate, it offers reassurance thus, alleviate anxiety and allow parents to enjoy their pregnancy with greater peace of mind.