THE NEW YORK POST – For some families, the joy of a new baby comes with unexpected challenges: About 3% of US newborns — roughly 1 in 33 — have a birth defect each year.
While it might seem scary, the good news is that nearly all fetal abnormalities can be detected on prenatal ultrasounds.
Identifying issues early allows parents and doctors to prepare for medical care after birth. And in some cases, doctors can intervene before the baby is born. Thanks to advances in imaging, surgical tools and anesthesia, medical teams can now safely treat a growing number of complex conditions before birth.
Here, I explain the conditions eligible for life-saving fetal surgery and dispel four myths about crucial prenatal screenings.
Ultrasounds aren’t just for finding out the baby’s sex
Ultrasound imaging is vital in monitoring the baby’s development and the mother’s health throughout pregnancy. These powerful diagnostic tools are safe, using high-frequency sound waves, not radiation, to create detailed images and video of the fetus.
Even for women with low-risk pregnancies, routine ultrasounds provide valuable information.
Most patients have two or three scans during pregnancy — one in the first trimester at around 12 weeks, a second detailed anatomy scan between 18 and 22 weeks and another in the third trimester between 28 and 32 weeks.
More may be recommended if concerns arise.
An ultrasound allows us to examine the baby’s brain, heart, chest, abdomen and limbs. In most cases, potential issues can be identified with remarkable accuracy, helping families and care teams plan with confidence.
Still, it’s important to remember that no test is perfect. Some conditions are subtle or develop later in pregnancy, and others may not be fully understood until we do additional imaging, such as a fetal MRI. Experience and careful interpretation are essential.
Abnormal findings don’t always mean bad news …
