How do pregnancy ultrasounds work?
You may have an ultrasound to check the development of your pregnancy. This includes: • Confirming the stage of the pregnancy; • Checking the continuation of a pregnancy if there has been bleeding; • Identifying a multiple pregnancy; • Checking the position of the placenta; • Checking the amount of amniotic fluid; • Checking the physical development of the foetus; and • Diagnosing birth defects and/or hereditary conditions. A prenatal diagnostic ultrasound can detect physical abnormalities including: • Congenital heart defects: Abnormalities of the structure and function of the heart occur in 1 in 100 pregnancies; • Limb reduction defects: Short or missing bones in the arm or leg occur in 1 in 1000 pregnancies; • Cleft lip palate: Failure of normal closure of tissue in the lip palate area occurs in 1 in 1000 pregnancies; • Neural tube defects: Abnormalities of the brain, skull, spine and spinal cord (e.g. spina bifida) occur in 1 in 500 pregnancies in Western Australia.
