What is Morphology Scan? Is a 20-week Morphology Scan Mandatory?

So, what is a morphology scan?

A morphology scan is an antenatal test to know about a baby’s body organs and size. Women do this test when they are 18 to 20 weeks pregnant. However, because this process involves ultrasound, many people confuse the two. 

Your doctor will always recommend that you take this test, but whether you want to do this test or not is up to you. Many people call this scan a fetal anomaly scan. The reason to call by this name is that your doctor will be able to know if there is any congenital disability that your child is facing. 

When is the Best Time for a Morphology Scnan? 

Normally, the test or scan is done when you are 18 to 22 weeks pregnant, but the best time for the scan is the 20-week mark. This is the reason that people call it a 20-week morphology scan. So, when you go for the test, it will take an average of 45 minutes, but sometimes the test can take upto an hour.

What Can a Morphology Scan Tell?

A morphology scan consists of an ultrasound scan. And it can examine so many different areas around and in your baby. The test could tell only one or two things in the early morphology scan. But now, there are many things that the scan can tell. So here is a list that you can check.

• Spine
• Head and Brain
• Abdominal Wall
• Stomach
• Heart
• Kidney and Bladder
• Hands, Feet, Arms, and Legs
• Umbilical Cord
• Placenta 
• Amniotic Fluid

The doctor who performs the scan can also tell an estimation of a baby’s age. The test can also tell about the baby’s heart rate and rhythm. Suppose a couple is expecting twins. Then this scan will also tell them that the uterus is holding twins. Also, you will get to know where the placenta is lying. If you would like to know about the sex of the baby, then the scan can also tell the sex of the baby.

As I have already said, the morphology test is done when a woman is 18 to 22 weeks into the pregnancy. The scan aims to measure the baby’s development. By this time, a baby’s structures and organs have formed, and with the help of ultrasound, you can see these. During the test, the baby’s gender can also be seen. 

The morphology test aims to make sure that an unborn baby is safe and there is no defect. In addition, the test will give you information about your unborn child. An ultrasound test can ensure a baby’s development, but when it comes to structural abnormality, only a morphology or morph scan can tell that. 

The person doing a morphology scan measures a baby’s age, organs, and size. The test also tells the baby’s heart rate and rhythm. So, if you want to take care of your unborn child, how the placenta is lying, or how many babies the uterus is holding, then a morphology scan is needed.

So, when deciding whether to do the test or not, you need to make sure of the test’s purpose. Once you feel okay about the test, it will be easy to get the results. Also, before doing the test, you need to make sure to consult with your partner. And in other circumstances, your family or friends. Because you don’t know what the results will be.

Read Also: Your Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week: Guide For The Parents

What won’t the Morphology Scan Tell?

So far, you have already learned what you can learn from a morphology scan. But you won’t be able to learn a couple of things. First, a morphology scan will not tell you about genetic problems the baby might have. A genetic problem can be Down syndrome. 

Many people are concerned about their baby’s genetic conditions. In addition, you or your couple’s ancestors might face a genetic problem. So, you can consult your doctor for diagnostic tests or screening for any of those conditions. Some examples of diagnosing genetic tests are amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.

Morphology Scan: Important Things to Know

Here are some essential things that you must know.

• Typically, a sonographer or ultrasound technician can perform this scan.
• Some clinics recommend drinking 3-4 glasses of water before the scan. Other clinics tell you not to empty your bladder. 
• Some people ask whether the test is harmful to the baby or not. So, the scan is entirely harmless to the baby. 
• You will get the results on the same day.
• There is an important question: how much does a morphology scan cost? So, typically, a morphology scan costs around $500 to $700. 

And lastly, this is a standard test, so you don’t need to worry about anything.

Bonus Points 

So, I hope you know all the essential information about a morphology scan. But there are a couple of things that you should also know. 

• In 200 pregnancies, there are one or fewer cases of fetal structural abnormalities. 
• When a woman’s pregnancy is 18 to 22 weeks, that is the earliest time to look for structural abnormalities. 
• There are times when abnormalities show after 25 or 30 weeks.
• The morphology scan can pick up a maximum of 70% of abnormalities.
• There is a vast difference between an ultrasound and a morphology scan. A normal morphology scan can not assure that there are no abnormalities. So next time you search for ultrasound pregnancy near me, make sure the purpose of the scan is clear.
• Some women think that the scan will harm their baby, but don’t worry; it is just a hoax. 

Conclusion

A morphology scan is something that your doctor or midwife recommends. But, you decide to consider it. You can choose to take a scan or skip it. However, keeping your baby’s and yourself’s health in mind can be beneficial during the 20th week of your pregnancy. 

Does this article answer your question? If you have more queries, please ask in the comment section below. Thank You. 

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