Many pregnant mothers are pregnant to the third month of pregnancy, the doctor will ask to do fetal NT ultrasound, hear these two letters, feel very high-end atmosphere, but think carefully and do
Many pregnant mothers are pregnant to the third month of pregnancy, the doctor will ask to do fetal NT ultrasound, hear these two letters, feel very high-end atmosphere, but think carefully and do not know what is a test. So, let's see the ultrasound doctor to solve the mystery for you, and thoroughly understand this first time during pregnancy, the detector test it!
1. What does NT mean?
The full name of NT is Nuchal Translucency Scan, short for Nuchal Translucency Layer, which refers to the thickness of the fluid that accumulates in the subcutaneous tissues at the back of the neck of the fetus, due to the imperfect development of the baby's lymphatic system, where the lymphatic fluids are gathered together. An experienced sonographer can accurately measure this thickness, known as the NT.
Here is a standard NT measurement chart:
2. Why check the NT?
The NT is a newer technology for early screening for malformations caused by chromosomal mutations or other causes of fetal malformations and is It is also associated with malformations of the cardiovascular system, neurological malformations, and developmental delays in children; it can be said that it is the most sensitive, effective, economical, and highly specific test. If the NT is greater than 2.5 mm, the prevalence of the above diseases increases.
3. When should the NT be done?
11 weeks to 13+6 weeks of pregnancy, it is recommended that the best week of pregnancy is about 12-13 weeks, if you do not remember your own week of pregnancy, you can determine the week of pregnancy based on the determination of the length of the parietal buttocks, the parietal buttocks length of between 4.5-8.5cm can be done NT. In addition, at this time, pregnant mothers can also be seen through the 3D ultrasound of the baby's appearance inside the uterus, oh, isn't it very interesting?
4. What to do with NT thickening?
When the NT exceeds 2.5mm, the probability of fetal anomalies increases, and generally speaking, the thicker the NT, the greater the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. Once the NT exceeds the normal value, amniocentesis is recommended for prenatal diagnosis, and Yichang Maternal and Child Health Hospital is the first hospital in Yichang City with prenatal diagnosis qualification.
5. What structures are examined during NT screening in early pregnancy
What structures are examined?
In addition to NT measurements, head and hip length measurements during early pregnancy, intracranial structures (e.g., midline of the brain, choroid plexus), orbitals, nasal bones, spine, gastric follicles, approximate cardiac structures, limbs, umbilical cord, and placenta can also be observed.
6. What structural abnormalities can be detected by NT in early pregnancy?
NT thickening, cervical lymphatic hydrocysticercosis, intracranial structural abnormalities such as total forebrain, absent nasal bone, obvious spinal anomalies, gastroschisis, bulging umbilicus, gross cardiac anomalies, and structural anomalies of the limbs.
7. Does a normal NT mean a healthy fetus?
Many mothers think that NT can detect all malformations, but this is not the case, it is only a screening test, which can detect fetal abnormalities at an early stage, and when the NT value is normal, it does not mean that there is no problem at all, and some structural anomalies often need to be confirmed in tests such as macrosomies.
8. Do I need special preparation for the NT? Do I need to fast, hold my urine, etc.?
There is no special preparation needed for the NT, no fasting, no holding of urine, just stay happy and dress comfortably.
9. Should I exercise or climb stairs before the test?
There is no need to exercise more for the test, especially for pregnant women with high risk factors. The NT requires a high degree of positioning of the baby, some babies are very cooperative and can be successful at one time, and we will give enough patience and time for babies with poor positioning. You can bring a little dessert and other high-calorie food.
10. Can all hospitals do NT?
The NT test requires a high level of skill and equipment, and requires the examiner to have a prenatal diagnosis qualification and high-precision ultrasound measurements to be accurate.
The Ultrasound Department of Yichang Maternal and Child Health Hospital has many original imported maternity-specific ultrasound machines (GE-E6, GE-E8, GE-E10), which can carry out NT screening in early pregnancy, mid-pregnancy systematic screening, and mid-late pregnancy three-dimensional and four-dimensional examination. We have a professional team, and all of the physicians have gone through rigorous and systematic study and have obtained the qualification of maternity screening.