First trimester ultrasound diagnosis of fetal abnormalities between 11 and 13+6 weeks of pregnancy.
First trimester screening with additional markers: nuchal translucency scan, nasal bone, ductus venosus flow, tricuspid flow combined with measurement of maternal serum free β-hCG and PAPP-A by laboratories can detect about 95% of babies with trisomy 21 (Down syndrom) and other major aneuploides (Trisomy 13 und 18). The false positive rate can be reduced to 3%.
Through assessment of fetal anatomy it is an important early anatomic survey in the pregnancy.
This examination generally would not be paid through the common NHS.
Elective ultrasound scan during the pregnancy
According to German Pregnancy Guidelines you should have three antenatal ultrasound scans, if your pregnancy has no complications. If you want to ensure that your baby is without any other symptoms by using medical scans, you will need to pay for those.
3D/4D-Ultrasound scan/TrueView
If you want to have a look of your baby in the uterus, you can have volume images with unprecedented depth and clarity using the TrueView technology. To the examination you can come with your family.
Blood tests
There are some infections, that are not at all dangerous for you, if you are not pregnant. However they might be very dangerous for your child. There are: Toxoplasmose, Fifth disease (Infection with Parvovirus B 19), Cytomegalie, and Measles. An Infection during the pregnancy might lead to fetal abnormalities and even to intrauterine death.
If you have already had one or all of those Infections, you will have antibodies in your blood (immunoglobulins). In that case you cannot have this infection once again and your baby will be free of these infections. If you don´t have antibodies (IgG, IgM), you have to be very careful and should repeat the blood examination every 8 up to 10 weeks. If you haven’t had those infections and you become ill during the pregnancy we can detect it early and we can start therapy immediately, which will give your child more chance to avoid abnormalities.
Vaginal swab for group B Streptococcus (GBS)
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a bacterium that can cause serious infections in newborn babies. GBS is one of many types of streptococcal bacteria. It is commonly found in the lower part of the digestive system and in the vagina and is not harmful. Approximately one in three to four pregnant women carries GBS. Carrying GBS is not the same as being infected. Carriers are not sick and do not need treatment during pregnancy. There is no treatment that can stop you from carrying GBS. Pregnant women who carry GBS can pass on the bacteria to their newborns, and some of those babies become infected with GBS. They can develop lung or blood infection, or infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. These complications can be prevented by giving an intravenous antibiotic during labor to any woman who is at risk of GBS infection. You can check if you are at risk of GBS infection through a vaginal swab culture during the pregnancy. If you had an infant infected with GBS in the past, you are also at risk.
If you have any further question to private health service please ask in our OBGYN clinic.
