If your baby is found to have a problem, the sonographer will refer you to a maternal medicine expert who will confirm the findings and offer follow-up scans throughout the rest of your pregnancy. He or she will also talk to a pediatrician to ensure that they have enough information to take care of your baby at birth. However, if you didn’t have a first trimester scan, the sonographer may change your dates if your baby is 10-14 days smaller or larger than expected. If your dates have been confirmed by a first trimester scan, a substantial lag may be a sign of a growth problem in your baby (see Growth charts), although this is rare. If your placenta is low lying, your doctor will arrange a follow-up scan later in pregnancy to check that the placenta has moved up out of the way. If a later scan shows that it has failed to move up, a condition known as placenta previa , you will be monitored until the birth. The amniotic fluid is assessed to check that there isn’t too little or too much. If there is too much fluid, it may be possible to drain some using amniocentesis to decrease the risk of later complications such as premature labor. Too little fluid can indicate a problem with fetal growth or your baby’s renal tract and your baby may need to be monitored.
