It's not always possible to detect all birth defects in utero. However, high-resolution ultrasounds done by certified prenatal ultrasound groups make it possible to diagnose defects that will cause a significant impact before birth.
A 20-week ultrasound doesn't find all congenital conditions. However, the scan can help detect several serious conditions: Anencephaly. Indicators for Down syndrome or trisomy 18 and trisomy 13.
Major abnormalities of the fetal head, abdominal wall and urinary tract, and of the umbilical cord and placenta, can be reliably detected at 10-11 weeks of gestation. Detection of other anomalies such as spina bifida, diaphragmatic hernia or heart defects is limited before 13 weeks of gestation.
Not all birth defects are visible. While some birth defects can be life-threatening, the impact they have on your child's life varies based on their diagnosis. Some birth defects only change your child's appearance, while others can affect the way they think, move and function.
The most common birth defects are: heart defects. cleft lip/palate. Down syndrome.
Most of the time, however, expectant parents never realize there might be a problem. Major heart defects go unnoticed until birth an astounding 70 percent of the time. Three-quarters of all babies with missing limbs come as a surprise to both doctors and patients.
Fetal ultrasound during pregnancy can also show the possibility of certain birth defects. But ultrasound is not 100% accurate. Some babies with birth defects may look the same on ultrasound as those without problems.
The most common severe congenital disorders are heart defects, neural tube defects and Down syndrome.
About 15 per cent of scans will be done again for one reason or another and most problems that need a repeat scan are not serious. The most common reason is that the sonographer has not seen everything they need to see. This may be because your baby is not in the best position for scanning, or that you are overweight.
The scan will find about half (50%) of those babies who have heart defects. Some of the conditions that can be seen on the scan will mean the baby may need treatment or surgery after it is born, for example cleft lip. In a small number of cases some very serious conditions are found.
First Trimester (0 to 13 Weeks)
The first trimester is the most crucial to your baby's development. During this period, your baby's body structure and organ systems develop. Most miscarriages and birth defects occur during this period. Your body also undergoes major changes during the first trimester.
Some of the conditions that can be seen on the scan, such as cleft lip, will mean the baby may need treatment or surgery after they're born. In a small number of cases, some very serious conditions are found – for example, the baby's brain, kidneys, internal organs or bones may not have developed properly.
A Detailed Anomaly Scan done at 20 weeks can only detect 50% of Down Syndrome cases. First Trimester Screening, using bloods and Nuchal Translucency measurement, done between 10-14 weeks, can detect 94% of cases and Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) from 9 weeks can detect 99% of Down Syndrome cases.
You are not alone. One of the things pregnant women tend to worry about the most are birth defects. In fact, according to Parents Magazine, 78 percent of expectant mothers rated birth defects as their number one concern. But knowing the facts can help ease your anxiety.
Congenital defects, both major and minor, occur in around three percent of all births. Of these, roughly three out of four will be detected by ultrasound. The accuracy of these tests, however, is closely related to the stage and type of pregnancy involved.
Current supplementation policies designed to prevent neural tube defects may incidentally prevent Down's syndrome, provided a sufficiently high dose of folic acid is used.
These danger signs include vaginal bleeding, severe headache, vision problems, high fever, swollen hands/face, and reduced fetal movement [4]. These danger signs usually indicate the presence of an obstetric complication that may arise during pregnancy, delivery or postdelivery.
Craniofacial abnormalities are common. In particular, the prevalence of facial clefts and craniosynostosis is around 0.15% and 0.05%, respectively [1-4]. Antenatal ultrasonography is an accurate and reliable tool for detecting these malformations [5].
1. Birth Defects (78%) Reality Check: About 97 of every 100 babies born in the U.S. arrive without a major birth defect, such as spina bifida or Down syndrome.
According to the report, Sudan has the most birth defects, with 82 per 1,000 live births, compared with 39.7 in France, which had the lowest number among the 193 countries surveyed.