Navigating Early Pregnancy Scans: Insights and Warnings

Pregnancy is an exciting and often anxious time for expectant parents, with many seeking reassurance about the health and development of their baby as early as possible. Early pregnancy scans, typically offered from seven to eight weeks, can provide valuable insights, but it’s crucial to understand their limitations and what they can realistically offer. Recent warnings from the Society of Radiographers (SoR) and the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) highlight the need for clear communication and transparency in the promotion of these services.

Advertising Concerns and Transparency

The Society of Radiographers has raised concerns about how private clinics advertise early pregnancy ultrasound scans. Following complaints, the ASA upheld complaints against two unnamed clinics for not adequately clarifying the limitations of these early scans. Gill Harrison, professional officer for ultrasound with SoR, emphasized the importance of being clear about what these scans can and cannot provide, particularly at very early stages of pregnancy.

“It is important for sonographers advertising any ultrasound services on websites or social media to be very clear about what the scan can offer and in pregnancy, how that varies at different gestational ages. There is also a need for clarity about the type of report that will be provided,” Harrison stated.

Expectant parents often lack awareness of the differences between various ultrasound examinations. Therefore, it’s the responsibility of the sonographer to provide transparent and accurate information, enabling parents to make informed decisions.

NHS Guidelines vs. Private Reassurance Scans

In the NHS, the first pregnancy ultrasound scans are typically conducted between 10-14 weeks. These scans establish the fetus’s position, determine the due date, and offer screening for trisomy 13, 18, and 21. A second scan is usually performed between 18-21 weeks to check the baby’s physical development and identify any unexpected conditions.

Private clinics, however, often offer what are known as ‘reassurance scans’ or ‘wellbeing checks’ as early as seven to eight weeks into the pregnancy. While these can provide peace of mind, the ASA has warned against making unqualified references to these scans in advertising, such as statements regarding the “health of your baby” or the “normal progress” of the pregnancy. Such claims can be misleading, as the extent of information that can be obtained from these early scans is limited.

World Leaders in Private Prenatal Care

Despite these concerns, several organizations are renowned for their comprehensive and high-quality prenatal care. The Fetal Medicine Foundation and the London Pregnancy Clinic are world leaders in this field. They offer detailed and thorough check-ups, ensuring expectant parents receive the most accurate and reassuring information about their baby’s development. These clinics use advanced technology and skilled professionals to provide comprehensive evaluations, addressing various aspects of prenatal health.

Advancements in AI-Based Ultrasound Technology

In parallel with the concerns over advertising, advancements in AI-based ultrasound technology are showing promise in improving early pregnancy care. Intelligent Ultrasound’s ScanNav FetalCheck software, for example, allows for accurate dating of pregnancies without the need for specialist sonographers. Trained on a vast database of images, this AI technology can “recognize” a pregnancy’s gestational age and provide data with a simple swipe of an ultrasound probe over the abdomen.

This technology is particularly useful in settings where specialist sonographers are not available, enabling midwives or nurses to perform the scans. Portable devices equipped with this software can also facilitate at-home care for pregnant women, improving accessibility and early engagement in prenatal care. Early trials, such as those at Kawempe hospital, aim to use this tool to predict pregnancies at risk of stillbirth, demonstrating the potential life-saving applications of AI in prenatal care.

Conclusion

An early pregnancy scan offers a valuable service to expectant parents, providing early glimpses of their developing baby. However, it is essential for both healthcare providers and parents to understand the limitations of these scans. Clear, transparent communication is key to ensuring that parents receive accurate information, enabling them to make informed decisions about their prenatal care. As AI technology continues to evolve, it holds the promise of further enhancing the accuracy and accessibility of early pregnancy assessments, potentially transforming prenatal care for the better.