• Doppler scan is a special scan
which uses black and white or color images to examine
the blood flowing through the umbilical cord between
the placenta and the baby.
• Doppler scan is a non-invasive test differs
from the normal ultrasound in that a slightly different
soundwave is used which bounces off moving red blood
cells and shows the speed rate at which the cells are
moving.
• Doppler scan can be done at the same time as
an ultrasound; the same equipment is used to measure
the blood flow in various body parts such as the umbilical
cord, liver, heart and brain.
• Signals of different colors appear on the screen
which help your doctor assess your baby's health
• Doppler scan is usually conducted between week
28 and delivery
• Women with high risk pregnancies including those
with low amniotic fluid levels, who are carrying twins
sharing the same placenta or carrying babies who are
small for dates or not growing at the right pace
• Doppler scan can be used to check if baby is
anemic
• Doppler scan has also replaced bilirubin count
which is used to find out if a rhesus-positive baby
needs a blood transfusion.
• If the placenta is not functioning to its optimum
or if your baby is not growing well enough your doctor
may use the Doppler scan to check on blood flow in the
cord or in baby's body. Your doctor will then decide
if early delivery is necessary or other medical possibilities
will be evaluated
• Modern ultrasounds have the Doppler function
which allows the sonographer to press a button and locate
a particular blood vessel.
• Different lights will then be analysed by the
machine. Within few minutes and the test is over
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