Detection of Foetal Disorders During Early Pregnancy

Detection of Foetal Disorders During Early Pregnancy

Modern prenatal medicine offers several complementary ways to monitor a pregnancy and catch problems early, each suited to a different stage of pregnancy and a different kind of information. Ultrasound scanning provides real-time imaging without radiation; amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling test foetal or placental material directly for chromosomal abnormalities; and the foetoscope monitors the foetal heartbeat during labour. Together these techniques let doctors track a pregnancy's progress and intervene early if something is genuinely wrong — which is also exactly wh …