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Early Pregnancy Assessment
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Our Service
Cambridge Fetal Care is able to provide rapid access to diagnostic imaging for women with complications of early pregnancy (i.e. from conception to 11 weeks of pregnancy). We provide scanning facilities immediately at the time of consultation. The nature of these problems is such that they tend to occur without warning. Hence we aim to see patients as soon as possible. We also are able to treat all problems that may occur in early pregnancy including the expectant, medical and surgical management of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
Common reasons for assessment
- Unexplained bleeding in early pregnancy
- Lower abdominal pain in early pregnancy
- Severe nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy
- Possible miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy (tubal pregnancy)
- Reassurance following a previous miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
- To date a pregnancy and check for the presence of a heartbeat
- To determine the number of fetuses
Information we would like you to bring
- The date of the first day of your last menstrual period and whether it was unusually light or heavy
- Whether you are pregnant. The commercially available urinary pregnancy tests you can buy from chemists are suitable.
- Whether you have had any significant medical problems in the past and the nature of these.
What does an early pregnancy assessment involve?
We will ask you to give a brief outline of the problem, the day of your last period and whether you have had any significant gynaecological or other medical problems in the past. If you have not had a pregnancy test, you will be asked to provide a sample of urine for this to be done. You will then probably have a transvaginal ultrasound carried out.
In the majority of cases, following the scan you will be told what the situation is in relation to your pregnancy, and whether or not any treatment is needed. If the situation is still unclear you may be asked to provide a blood sample in order to measure the pregnancy hormone level in your blood. In this situation we will likely refer you to the emergency service at The Rosie or your local unit but we may arrange for you to come back after a few days or 1 week to repeat either the scan or a blood test or both.
Results
All results will be given to you immediately at the time of your visit. A written report of the consultation will be sent to your referring doctor the same day. In the unfortunate event of an abnormal result we will contact your gynaecologist or GP. If you do not have a gynaecologist we can give you advice about what to do and arrange any care that may be appropriate.
Pregnancy Ultrasound: Early Pregnancy Assessment FAQs
Q: Will I need to drink lots of water and have a full bladder for my appointment?
A: No - an empty bladder makes the examination easier for us.
Q: What do you mean by 'transvaginal ultrasound'?
A: Ultrasound works by sending out sound waves at a target (in this case your womb) and then analysing the pattern produced by the echoes that are bounced back. You will probably be familiar with scans carried out during pregnancy. These scans are usually performed by passing a probe over the stomach and in early pregnancy require the bladder to be very full.
In early pregnancy or when scanning for gynaecological problems it is better to place the probe in the vagina and thus closer to the area of interest. In this way clearer images can be obtained (and for example in pregnancy the heartbeat of the embryo can be seen at least a week earlier).
The vaginal probe is about the size of a tampon and for most women the examination is not uncomfortable. If it is the examination will be stopped. A further advantage of this approach is that the bladder does not need to be full which should make both waiting and the examination more comfortable.
Q: What do they do to the probe between examinations?
A: During the examination the probe is covered with a thick latex sheath rather like a condom. Between scans the probe is cleaned with an alcohol based cleaner. Do let us know if you have a latex allergy.