Tag: fetal

An illustration for a blog post about a London Pregnancy Clinic event, depicting a serene winter scene with a doctor holding a snowflake wand beside a giant, glowing snow globe. Inside the globe, a peaceful foetus is curled up, akin to a budding flower on a tree branch, symbolising the clinic's nurturing approach to prenatal care.

Innovations in Pregnancy Care

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 14. December 2023. Posted in Blog, Fertility, Ultrasound. No Comments on Innovations in Pregnancy Care

Innovations in Pregnancy Care

An evening dedicated to LPC’s commitment towards “Innovative Pregnancy Care”

Published

Advancing the 10 Week Scan

The evening began with Ms. Shaz Khojasteh, LPC’s clinical lead, greeting each attendee with a warmth that matched her expertise. Her introduction was not just an opening speech but a heartfelt welcome to LPC’s family. She shared with the audience our signature 10 Week Scan, which isn’t just a routine check. It’s a comprehensive examination of the baby’s anatomy, providing vital developmental insights at a crucial early stage, thereby enriching the information gathered before conducting NIPT.

Demystifying NIPT – Dr Fred Ushakov’s Perspective

The spotlight then shifted to Dr. Fred Ushakov, whose speech was not only insightful but also visionary. He spoke passionately about his mission, in collaboration with the London School of Ultrasound and UCLH, to train the next generation of doctors and sonographers. His goal is to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to leverage early pregnancy scans to their full potential, enhancing patient care and pregnancy outcomes. This mission, he explained, is vital in ensuring that every pregnancy is approached with the utmost care and precision.

Dr Ushakov then addressed a common misunderstanding about NIPT. He emphasised that while NIPT is effective, it’s not all-encompassing. Patients may misinterpret it as a guarantee against all prenatal issues, not realising that conditions more severe than Down’s syndrome can occur and cannot be detected by NIPT. He further highlighted the importance of the dual approach (watch the explainer video here) that he instilled at LPC. Dr. Ushakov’s call for broader education and comprehensive scanning techniques underscored the need for a more informed approach to prenatal care.

Advocacy for Pre-eclampsia Awareness

Next, we were captivated by Dr. Daniel Stott, whose talk about pre-eclampsia was as enlightening as it was heartfelt. It was clear from his words and the energy in his voice just how dedicated he is to this topic. Dr. Stott walked us through the workings of a groundbreaking blood test for pre-eclampsia. With an approachable manner, he explained how this test isn’t just for identifying pre-eclampsia; it’s a crucial tool in carefully guiding expectant mothers through the rest of their pregnancy.

Conclusion

As the expert talks wrapped up, the event naturally transitioned into festive networking. It was a perfect opportunity for attendees to connect, exchange experiences, and build professional ties in a holiday atmosphere. The evening emerged as a crucible of innovative ideas and shared goals for advancing prenatal care. Leaving the market, we carried with us the night’s insights and a renewed hope for the future of prenatal health. The event proved to be not just a confluence of minds but a beacon of hope for prenatal care’s future.

A special thank you to our sponsors Eurofins.

Latest Stories

Meet The Team

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 28. June 2021. Posted in Blog.

As we are a small, close-knit team you will become accustomed to seeing a few familiar faces whenever you enter the clinic, so here’s a bit more about us.

Dr Ushakov is our Founder and Medical Director. A leading expert in the field, with over 30 years’ experience in Fetal Medicine, working in three different countries. Dr Ushakov is most likely the reason you have booked your appointment with us and his patient, individual approach to each and every scan will provide you with calming reassurance.

Alcinda is our clinical assistant and her kind, calm nature will put you instantly at ease throughout your appointment. Alcinda is also trained in phlebotomy so you may also experience her excellent bedside manner during your NIPT blood test.

If you have an email or telephone enquiry you will most likely speak to our medical secretary, Ella. She is on hand to answer any questions you may have throughout your time with us. You may recognise her from the warm welcome you receive when you first enter the clinic.

How big is the Embryo at 8 weeks?

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 23. May 2021. Posted in Blog.

Most pregnancy apps will make you aware of the size comparison of your baby against a fruit/ vegetable/ animal or even baked goods, but rarely do you see images showing just how your baby would fit into the palm of your hand!

Take a look at this image which shows you the real size of your baby at 8 weeks!

At 8 weeks Dr Ushakov will be able to check for the heartbeat, date the pregnancy, check for single/multiple pregnancies. He will also check the structures of the pregnancy at this stage including the gestational sac, yolk sac and placenta.

During the Viability scan you will find out the estimated due date (Which will give you plenty of time to pack up that hospital bag and plan out your babymoon)!

If you are interested in having the viability scan at City Ultrasound, you can book our scans or give us a call on 02036872939 for more information

Fred Ushakov – Teaching

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 11. April 2021. Posted in Blog.

One of Dr Fred Ushakov’s passions is teaching and training other professionals in the field of Fetal Medicine and the applications of ultrasound screening. Prior to the pandemic Fred lectured in countries such as the US, Australia, Italy, Sweden, Peru, Egypt, Romania, Ukraine and China, where the picture below was taken. Fred has also collaborated with GE Healthcare in live masterclass demonstrations in their Brussels HQ.

During the pandemic, Dr Ushakov was one of the pioneers to start broadcasting his lectures online. His lectures are mainly focused around his field of interest of early anomaly detection and the Early Fetal Scan. In the past year alone, over a thousand ultrasound professionals have attended his courses online.

Folic Acid

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 30. January 2021. Posted in Blog.

What is folic acid?

Folic acid is a synthetic (man-made) form of the Vitamin B-9 (folate), which naturally occurs in some foods such as asparagus, peas and broccoli. Folate supports generation of healthy new red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. The deficiency of red blood cells may be conditions like anaemia, which often causes weakness and fatigue.

Why is folic acid often recommended to women during their pregnancies?

Prior to conception and within the first trimester (around week 12) it is often recommended that women take this artificial supplement to reduce the risk of a neural tube defects and ensure the healthy formation of red blood cells. Taking folic acid Folic acid also supports maternal tissue growth and increases maternal folate to reduce risk of neural tube defect. Can reduce the risk of developing neural tube defects by up to 70% (WHO, 2015).

What is a neural tube defect?

The neural tube is an embryonic structure that lays the foundation for the central nervous system (consisting of the brain and spinal cord). Neural tube formation begins just three weeks after conception, and proper formation is vital for brain development. Neural tube defects occur when the formation of the neural tube does not develop or form correctly. These may result from a lack of folic acid in the first 28 days of pregnancy, causing the neural tube to poorly develop. Typically, the neural tube closes in the 4th week following conception. Neural tube defects include birth defects of the skull and brain like acrania or encephalocele, spine and spinal cord, such as spina bifida.

How much folic acid is recommended?

It is recommended that those who are planning to get pregnant take 400 micrograms supplement daily (NICE, 2014) both prior to pregnancy and for the first 12 weeks. The NICE recommend taking this supplement regardless of whether you are eating folate-rich foods.

Your GP may prescribe or recommend a higher dose if you have a BMI over 30, have diabetes, anaemia, sickle–cell disease, coeliac disease, take medication for epilepsy or have a history of neural tube defects.

What foods contain folic acid?

Asparagus, peas, broccoli, oranges, bananas. Green beans, kale, spinach, yeast extract and fortified cereals.

Can you detect neural tube defects by ultrasound?

Yes – Dr Ushakov has been developing new methods for detecting these anomalies in the first trimester from as early as 10 weeks.

For support for spina bifida and hydrocephaly: Shine Charity

Sources:

NICE (2014). Maternal and Child Nutrition [Online] [link]

NICE (2021). Neural Tube Defects (Prevention in Pregnancy) [Online] [link]

SHINE (2021). Folic Acid. [Online] [Link]

Ushakov, F., Sacco, A., Andreeva, E., Tudorache, S., Everett, T., David, A.L & Pandya, P. P. (2019). Crash Sign: New First‐Trimester Sonographic Marker of Spina Bifida. [Online] [Link]

World Health Organisation (2015). Prevention of Neural Tube Defects by The Fortification of Flour with Folic Acid: A Population-Based Retrospective Study in Brazil. [Online] [link]

Fetal and Maternal Heart Rates

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 18. January 2021. Posted in Blog.

Did you know that your baby’s hear rate during pregnancy is in the range of 110-160 beats per minute? Your baby’s heart is working extra hard while it is growing and developing. The mother’s heart rate also increases during pregnancy as the amount of blood it pumps increases by 30-50% during gestation and can average at 70-90 beats per minute.

Studies have shown that the average heart rate rises steadily through pregnancy. At 10 weeks GA, the average heart rate is ~79 BPM. By 40 weeks GA, the average rate was ~89 BPM.

In today’s video you can see a 2D video of the so-called 4 chamber view (4CV) of the fetal heart at about 14 weeks. Ultrasound is an important tool for the screening of Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) which is the most common type of anomalies that could occur during pregnancy. According to the NHS website: “Congenital heart disease is one of the most common types of birth defect, affecting up to 8 in every 1,000 babies born in the UK.”

At City Ultrasound our approach is to monitor the fetal heart function and development at every scan we do. Echocardiography is the examination of the fetal heart using ultrasound and is included with every scan where possible.

Tricefy – Secure Cloud for your Baby Images

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 15. January 2021. Posted in Blog.

We know that sharing your pregnancy scan experience is important, especially in light of the current pandemic restrictions. That’s why we’ve partnered with triceimaging to be able to send you the images, videos and scan report straight to your mobile phone (as well as giving you some printouts…)

From @triceimaging: Don’t have a belly to show off yet? Ultrasound pictures will do!

With a push of a button – The Tricefy Patient App allows you to send patient images directly to your loved ones. Click on the link in our bio to refer your provider (and try our demo?!) and we will set them up with a free trial so that they can start sending quick, secure, high-resolution links of your ultrasound scans directly to your mobile phone!

Hosting BBC at City Ultrasound

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 10. January 2021. Posted in Blog.

Featuring on the BBC ??

We are extremely honoured to have been approached by the BBC to take some stock images and videos for their archive! The BBC producers came across some of our ultrasound images and were ‘really impressed by the outstanding quality and clarity of the images’.

We enjoyed hosting the BBC producers and camera crew at our clinic and talking about the importance of prenatal ultrasound screening and especially Dr Ushakov’s areas of expertise in echocardiography and neurosonography.

This means that going forward you will see our images on BBC news on items related to fetal medicine and pregnancy. We would like to clarify that, to date, City Ultrasound is not related to any of those news items.

What is Nuchal Translucency (NT)

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 7. January 2021. Posted in Blog.

Nuchal Translucency (NT)

You probably heard the above term mentioned in the context of pregnancy scans, but what does it actually mean? Nuchal Translucency is a sonographic phenomenon which can be seen best at around 11-13 weeks of gestation. It refers to the thickness of the liquid that can be seen on an ultrasound image behind the baby’s neck.

Why is it important? Research has shown that an increased NT thickness can indicate a higher chance of occurrence of certain chromosomal or structural anomalies. The key word being CAN; in some cases the excess fluid will dissolve further along the pregnancy and the babies will be born completely normal.

The NHS cut off for normal NT thickness measurement is anything below 3.5mm. It is measured as part of the Combined Screening where a blood sample as taken as well to assess the chance of 3 chromosomal anomalies; Down’s Syndrome, Edward’s Syndrome and Patau’s Syndrome. Being a screening test, it is not diagnostic meaning that it cannot give a definite yes/no answer. In case of higher chance results, further investigation is required.

More recently, a new screening test known as Non Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) was developed. It involves a simple blood sample taken from the mother’s arm and is capable of detecting Down’s Syndrome with a 99% accuracy, vs 76% accuracy of the Combined Test and 69% accuracy for the Nuchal Test alone. You should take these percentages with a pinch of salt, given Down’s Syndrome in itself is a reasonably rare anomaly which is becoming more likely with age; 1:1250 for a 26-year-old pregnant woman rising to 1:100 for a 40-year-old.

Conclusion:

NT can be a useful indicator for certain anomalies, but should be used very carefully for screening purposes. An increased NT measurement warrants a further investigation such as examination of the baby by ultrasound to exclude certain structural anomalies (especially heart defects) and possibly diagnostic invasive tests such as CVS or Amniocentesis. These invasive tests carry a small risk of miscarriage; an alternative to avoid these invasive test is screening using NIPT such as the Harmony Test.

At City Ultrasound we also perform an examination of the fetal heart (echocardiography) with every scan from 12 weeks, to screen for potential heart defects.

Please note – ultrasound itself cannot exclude all anomalies/complications that can occur during pregnancy.

In the video, Dr Ushakov demonstrates how the NT is measured using ultrasound. This video from 2011 has ~370,000 views on YouTube. Read more about Nuchal Translucency on our website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c2LimtE2UY

Ultrasound Gel

Written by London Pregnancy Clinic on 4. January 2021. Posted in Blog.

What is it and why do we need it? As you may remember from our post about how ultrasound works, you’ll recall that ultrasound tech utilises sound waves.

Those waves travel through the mother’s tummy and are reflected to the transducer when they reach the surface the clinician would like to examine. Ultrasound waves struggle to travel through air, so when transabdominal ultrasound is performed, we apply a gel to remove any interference from air particles in between the mother’s tummy and the transducer.

This is also the reason why in older ultrasound equipment a full bladder is required to enhance the imaging quality – this is not the case with our advanced Voluson E10!

What are the ingredients you ask? Mainly water and propylene glycol, which is substance often used in food, cosmetics and hygiene products. It is designed to be sticky to allow it to be spread on the tummy without running off.

At City Ultrasound we use a purposely designed ultrasound gel warmer to avoid the unpleasant sensation when a cold gel is applied. Because the small details matter…