Anomaly scan or TIFFA scan

Congratulations on having successfully completed your first trimester. Your baby, by the end of the first trimester, has not only graduated from an embryo to fetus but has also developed 90 percent of adult-like anatomical structures. While we welcome you to your second trimester, we want to make sure that this journey turns out to be an easier, encouraging, and enjoyable one for you.

Your baby goes through significant changes during the second trimester. The internal organs have been formed and continue to mature during this time. Therefore, a regular visit to the obstetrician and following it up with the prescribed checkups and scans is crucial for the healthy growth and development of the fetus. Any form of abnormality in the mother or the child is detected at this stage.

Out of all pregnancy ultrasound scan, the most critical second-trimester scan is the anomaly scan, also known as the TIFFA scan. TIFFA stands for Targeted Imaging for Fetal Anomalies. This scan checks everything from your baby's heartbeat to its physical development. This article discusses detailed information about Anomaly scan or TIFFA scan, its meaning, importance, reports, and some underlying questions about the same.

Though this pregnancy ultrasound scan can be performed anytime during the 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy, it is best to perform it within the 18 to 20 weeks of conception. According to The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971, abortion can be performed up to 19 weeks and 6 days of conception. Hence, if there is any severe complication noticed in the baby in an anomaly scan, the parents, if decides, can terminate the pregnancy. This helps to mitigate further complications for the mother's health.

Another reason to perform this scan within 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy is the growth of your baby. By the 19th week, the baby is around 6 inches long and develops the anatomical structures like an adult, so any structural abnormality can be best picked up at this stage. The internal organs start to grow and mature. The brain develops millions of motor neurons. You might begin to feel your baby moving inside your uterus. 19 to 20 weeks is the best gestational age suggested by the obstetrician for the anomaly or TIFFA scan.

This pregnancy ultrasound scan looks closer to every detail of your child's normal and healthy development. The scan can identify severe abnormality conditions in the fetus. However, not all deformities can be analyzed from the Anomaly scan. Your baby may look perfectly healthy and normal in the scan yet be born with abnormalities. Some of the conditions detected are:

The Anomaly scan or TIFFA scan is one of the most crucial pregnancy ultrasound scan. This scan is done to see the growth and position of the fetus and detect disabilities if any. This scan helps to detect the abnormalities and, in some extreme conditions, enables you to decide to continue the pregnancy. As many of the pregnancy checkups and treatments are the mother's personal choice, this one is also a personal choice. But this scan is highly recommended by all pregnancy doctors. Consult your obstetrician if you have any questions on the importance and necessity of this scan.

The report of an anomaly scan is quite detailed. The report may include important information about your baby, its health conditions, overall growth, size, and progress. It also contains details about the baby's internal organs and their normal and proper development status. The report includes positioning the placenta and recording any major and minor abnormalities in the fetus or the mother. You should be able to receive the report of your anomaly scan or TIFFA scan, usually on the same day. Even if there is some delay in getting the report, you need not panic. Some reports may take time to understand the detected anomalies and make the correct diagnosis. Talk to your obstetrician if there is any delay and feel a little worried.

A girl, when bleeds, transform into a woman. A woman is then blessed to bring life in her womb, to nurture a soul, and in doing so, she becomes a mother, an unconditional love giver. Conceiving a child, perhaps undoubtedly, the most precious gift for a woman and the entire chapter of one's pregnancy from the first to the third trimester is essentially crucial. Therefore, one must rigorously follow the routine checkups and scans that her obstetrician or gynecologist recommends.

The journey from an embryo till the wonder is born is typically nine months. Still, it serves one of the best and greatest phases of her life to rejoice forever. Therefore, we wish every mother to enjoy this unique and sublime ride of her life and celebrate it cheerfully. It is impertinent to take care of yourself and your baby. Hence, following the correct medications, proper diet, regular checkups, and prescribed scans is crucial during pregnancy. An anomaly scan or TIFFA scan is one such important scan of the 18 to 20 weeks of gestational age. This scan checks everything from your baby's heartbeat to its physical development. Including it as a part of the second trimester of your pregnancy journey is advised by most doctors. If you have any questions about this, visit the obstetrician or feel free to ask me any questions.