Morphology Scan

The morphology, or 20 week scan, is performed to assess structure and development of the baby, the position of the placenta, the growth of the baby, and the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby.

The examination is performed by one of our highly trained obstetric sonographers using state of the art ultrasound equipment. The scan includes a detailed examination of the developmental anatomy of the baby’s heart, kidneys, brain, face, stomach, lungs, spine, abdomen, arms, legs, hands and feet.

Measurements of the head, abdomen, arms and legs are taken to review/estimate gestational age. At this stage the baby is now too big to measure the entire length from head to toe. The amniotic fluid, your cervix and the placenta location will also be assessed.

Even with such a detailed examination, not all abnormalities will be detectable on an ultrasound scan despite adequate views. Chromosomal abnormalities such as Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) cannot be diagnosed on ultrasound, but occasionally we pick up clues which may increase the suspicion that there is a chromosomal problem.

We will attempt to discover the sex of the baby if you wish but it is important to know that this is not always accurate on ultrasound alone. It is an important part of the ultrasound examination for the sonographer to assess the external genitalia. This can be correlated with available NIPT results.

Not everyone wishes to know the gender of their baby. If you do not wish to know the gender, please let your sonographer know at the start of the ultrasound examination.

Whilst this scan may detect many major structural problems, not all anomalies are able to be detected.

Images may be restricted by fetal position, or technical ultrasound factors such as distance from the ultrasound transducer to the baby or maternal habitus. If adequate images are not obtained, the patient may need to be rebooked for a follow up scan.

Transvaginal Scanning

Occasionally, a transvaginal scan is required to get the images that are required to complete the examination, especially to assess the cervix and lower placental edge. The sonographer will discuss this with you if it is deemed necessary in your case. Transvaginal ultrasounds are performed with discretion at QUFW and are considered safe during pregnancy.

3D/4D Scanning

The majority of the scan is completed in conventional 2D (greyscale) as this offers the best resolution for detecting abnormalities. We will also try to obtain some images in 3D/4D of your baby, but this is very dependent on the baby’s position, the amount of amniotic fluid and maternal issues like placental position and maternal body habitus. The priority of the ultrasound is to check the baby’s well being and to provide you and your doctor with all the information we can in regards to the baby’s health. In reality, it may be difficult to obtain the ‘perfect 3D/4D’ image of your baby due to a variety of reasons. Our staff will make every effort to provide you with some keepsake images.

3D image of a 20-week fetus

3D rendered image of the fetal spine at 20 weeks

As we are a medical facility, we do not perform ultrasound specifically for entertainment purposes.

Results

After the sonographer has completed the scan, your images will be reviewed by one of our consultant specialist doctors. It may be necessary at times for the doctor to scan you as well if they need to check something or provide you with reassurance or more details regarding your ultrasound. You will receive a copy of the report and a copy will also be sent to your referring Doctor.

Preparation

It is recommended to empty your bladder 1 hour prior to the procedure and drink 2 glasses of water and then do not empty. You are welcome to bring your family members or a close friend to your scan. Children are welcome but their attention span may be limited for the duration of the ultrasound, so it is helpful if another adult is available to help look after them.

Please bring with you:

A referral from your Doctor
Previous scans such as dating scans, NIPT results and Combined First Trimester/Nuchal Translucency screening ultrasound or dating scans (if performed elsewhere)

Why am I having this scan?

You have been referred for this scan to check for structural abnormalities in your baby and to ensure the wellbeing of mother and baby.

Can ultrasound harm my baby?

There have been no proven harmful effects of using ultrasound during pregnancy. However, at QUFW we follow the ALARA principle.

Will I be able to determine the baby’s size?

The baby is now too big to measure the entire length and so the weight is calculated using a number of measurements. We cannot predict the size of the baby at delivery from this scan but we can assess if the size of the baby is appropriate for your gestation.

Can I find out the sex of my baby?

The external genitalia is part of the structural assessment of the morphology examination.

If you wish to know the gender of your baby, please let the sonographer performing your scan know. If you have had a NIPT, the sonographer will correlate the NIPT results with the external genitalia of the baby.

It may be difficult to conclusively determine the gender of your baby from an ultrasound alone due to technical limitations such as fetal position, maternal habitus or possible concerns regarding the development of the external genitalia of the baby. However, with NIPT correlation it is easier to predict the gender.

If you do not wish to know the gender, please let your sonographer know that you do not want to know this information.

Will this scan detect if there is a chromosomal problem such as Down syndrome?

Chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome cannot be diagnosed on ultrasound alone and requires a diagnostic test such as CVS or Amniocentesis. In the presence of suspicious ultrasound features we may be concerned of a chromosomal abnormality and will discuss with you an amniocentesis. It is important to remember that not all structural abnormalities are associated with a chromosomal abnormality.

Appointment Enquiry

Morphology assessment of the fetal brain

Morphology assessment of the fetal profile

Fetal heart assessment

about QUFW

QUFW provides a comprehensive range of obstetrics services for singleton and multiple pregnancies, including screening, tertiary opinion and invasive testing. In addition, our gynaecology ultrasound examinations are equally expansive from routine to gynaecology procedures.

Beyond your scan, we believe in comprehensive care. Our team takes the time to discuss findings with you, answering your questions, addressing your concerns, and providing you with support and guidance. We value the trust placed in us and are committed to delivering ultrasound and other women’s health services to our community and beyond. We are QUFW. We are here for you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are your opening hours?

Our Brisbane practice is open Monday – Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am-12:30pm.
Our Ipswich, Southport and Tugun practices are open between Monday – Friday 8am to 5pm.

Where can I park my car?

Spring Hill: Metered street parking on Little Edward and Boundary Streets (Please be aware of the clearway zone at certain times of the day).

Parking underneath the Leichhardt Court building (orange section) with entry via Hope Street. Online bookings are recommended through Wilson parking.

Southport: 4 hour metered parking is available on Short Street. Additional car parking available in the Gold Coast City Council Carey Carpark and Australia Fair Shopping Centre

Ipswich: Onsite Parking is available at the back of the Medical Centre. Metered on street Ipswich City council parking is also available.

Tugun: Onsite car parking is available in the John Flynn Hospital campus.

How much will my scan cost?

The cost of the ultrasound and consultation will be discussed at the time of making an appointment. We request that accounts be settled on the day after the consultation. We have EFTPOS and accept MasterCard, VISA and American Express. We are a private medical ultrasound service and we do not routinely bulk bill as this would not allow us to provide the best comprehensive service for our patients.

How long will the appointment take?

Our scans can range from approximately 30-60 minutes depending on the type of scan, but please allow up to 90 minutes. Occasionally there are unexpected delays. If a problem is detected in a routine ultrasound, it will be discussed with you at the time of your appointment. In this situation, further examination and reassessment may extend over a longer period depending on the complexity of this problem and individual patient needs. This process may lead to delay of the assessment of other women’s appointments.

We apologise for these delays which are unpredictable and we make every effort to avoid significant patient inconvenience. We ask that you demonstrate kindness to our staff if there is an unforeseen delay. We recommend that you ring our rooms in advance to check that we are not significantly delayed so you can plan your day and parking arrangements.

Can I bring another person to my appointment?

At QUFW, we allow two support people to attend your appointment. One of these support people may be a child. Sometimes pregnancy ultrasounds can be a long time for your little one’s attention span, so we request that the other support person is a supervising adult who may be able to attend to your child during the scan if necessary. If you are a surrogate patient, we are happy to discuss this with you when you make your appointment.

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