| Category | Detailed Anomaly Scan (Level 2 Scan) |
What is the Level II ultrasound scan?
The vast majority of babies are normal. However, all women, whatever their age, have a small chance of delivering a baby with structural abnormalities that cause physical or mental limitation. Many such abnormalities can be diagnosed and ruled out with the fetal anomaly scan. This is a detailed scan done at 18-20 weeks during which each part of the fetal anatomy is examined to see if the baby is developing normally. Special attention is paid to the fetal structures like the brain, spine, face, stomach, bowel, kidneys, urinary bladder, and limbs. In addition to these structures fetal growth, the position of the placenta, amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord, fetal tone, fetal movements, and cervical canal are also assessed.
What are the indications of a Level II scan?
Nowadays with the advancement of the medical field, it is routine to get level II USG for all the expecting mothers whether there is any history of any congenital abnormality in previous issues or not. Even If you had a first-trimester (level 1) sonogram as part of a first-trimester screening test, the more detailed level 2 sonogram is important because of all the additional valuable information it gives your practitioner about what’s going on with your baby.
In the Indian set up, the level II scan is done between 18-20 weeks. It is advisable to get it done at 18 weeks so you have a window of 2 weeks to get any additional tests done like a quadruple marker or a review USG in higher centers in case of any abnormality is detected.
How a level 2 ultrasound is done?
First, the important thing is you need not to be on an empty stomach. You may need to drink some water before your exam so you’ll have a full bladder, which makes it easier to take ultrasound images. You’ll lie on an exam table with your abdomen exposed, and a sonographer will apply the gel and then move a transducer over your abdomen. The detailed level 2 scan can take 30 to 45 minutes depending upon the position of your baby at the time of examination, so be patient for the best results. You may be told to wait for some time and take a stroll or drink some juice if the position of the baby is not allowing the doctor to see some parts of the fetus. During the scan, your doctor may show you the heartbeat, hands, feet, spine, and face of your baby. You may even catch sight of your baby yawning, sucking a thumb, waving the hand, kicking, etc.
