Helping expectant mothers understand inadequate ultrasound images

Abstract

Background: Obstetric ultrasound scans may fail to provide all the information that is needed because of poor visualisation. Two main causes of poor visualisation are addressed. These are poor foetal position and poor quality imaging due to beam distortion by overlying fatty tissue. Method: To improve communication with patients attending obstetric scans, a poster and leaflet were designed to explain these causes of inadequate scans. A questionnaire was used to assess the value of the poster. Results: 57/66 (86%) questionnaires were completed. 52 (91%) found the information on the poster was helpful and well explained. For 8 (14%) the information changed their thoughts about the scan. Conclusion: Clear communication aids the expectant mothers understanding of why scans may be suboptimal. The way this is recorded in the scan results is discussed.

Large scale follow-up research study: SneakPeek® Early Gender DNA Test 99.9% accurate for fetal sex by live-birth confirmation

“…However, ultrasound anatomy scans are not usually performed until 18-22 weeks gestation since the purpose of these anatomy scans are to identify developmental abnormalities and not merely to determine fetal sex. 18,26 Today, early gender testing methods are available to moms around the world via capillary and/or venipuncture blood samples. In this study, venipuncture blood samples were collected between October and December 2019.…”

“…5,10,14,15 With a small blood sample, parents can learn gender sooner, more reliably, and less expensively than ultrasound anatomy scans or other non-invasive prenatal tests. 6,12,[16][17][18][19] Compared to other methods available to parents, SneakPeek ® is the most accessible, affordable, and accurate choice for fetal sex determination. 7 Demand to learn the fetus' sex prior to childbirth has increased.…”

Re: Helping expectant mothers understand inadequate ultrasound images

“…The response rate for the questionnaire was high, 57 of 66 (86%), so meaningful evaluation was possible. 1 The conclusion shows that the parent’s experience and understanding of the reasons for an inadequate image improved. The authors suggest excellent recommendations for maximum impact to aid service improvement: consider strategic positioning of the poster(s) in the department and include the information in the examination leaflet.…”

“…Dear Editor, I read with delight the article by Oates and Taylor 'Helping expectant mothers understand inadequate ultrasound images' in the August issue of Ultrasound. 1 The authors are to be congratulated on designing: (1) an excellent poster to help mothers, fathers and relatives to understand the obstetric ultrasound image of their unborn child, which may be used by all obstetric ultrasound departments and (2) an audit to evaluate the impact of this perceived service improvement.…”

“…Oates and Taylor 1 raise a major issue: ‘… if approaching the imaging [of the fetus] from another plane or compressing the [mother’s] skin with the ultrasound transducer has no effect, then a repeat transabdominal scan is not really indicated’. In the 21st century, this in my opinion is not ‘best practice’.…”