What is anuchal translucency scan?
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Well, it’s really something I just learned more about today. The technology has been around for a few years I believe, but I was just talking with the folks at Delhi Women’s Medical Services today and they were explaining the new 3D/4D machine to me.
This is an awesome piece of technology. One of the doctor’s favorite things to do with it isultrasound forprenatal patients. He has plans to be certified for nuchal translucency scans by the end of the year. That means that he will be able to use the 3-D/4-D machine to do a very detailed ultrasound and he will be able to scan for possible abnormalities, without doing invasive testing such asamniocentesis (where a large needle is inserted into the amniotic sac to extract fluid for screening).
Nuchal translucency thickness is found in the neck of thefetus. By measuring this, the possibility ofDown Syndrome (also known as trisomy 21) can often be detected. So far as I can find in a quick search for you, this screening is usually done between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation (pregnancy).
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For more information, check out this research in The Green Journal. The researching doctors explain that
increased nuchal translucency thickness is the most important ultrasonographic marker of trisomy 21.
If you have any further questions, ask away and I’ll see what else I can find for you. What cool technology and I’m so excited that it’s available in our little ole rural area here!
Be well and Birth well.
Sheilah 
Birth | Pregnancy | Blog - First Post
