our services
Obstetric Imaging & Intervention
Obstetric imaging is vital to monitor the health and development of both baby and mum during pregnancy.
Using the latest technologies and techniques we can provide detailed insights into your baby’s growth, structural development, and overall wellbeing, while also finding any abnormalities or placental issues to ensure you can get the best care possible.
First Trimester - Dating & Early Morphology
Your health professional may request an ultrasound during the first trimester of your pregnancy to check viability of your pregnancy, progress and to determine gestational age and estimated delivery date.
A transabdominal and a transvaginal scan will be performed in most cases.
During the transabdominal ultrasound, warm gel is applied, and the ultrasound probe is placed on the abdomen. Gentle pressure is applied to obtain clear images of the pelvic organs and foetal anatomy.
A transvaginal ultrasound involves a small, thin probe being introduced a short distance into the vagina to better view the uterus and ovaries. This is a simple, painless and safe procedure.
Transvaginal scans are completely at the discretion of the patient and written consent is required.
At all times, a patient’s dignity and privacy is protected. You are welcome to invite a chaperone into the room for this examination.
On completion of your examination, you will receive a folio of still images from the scan. A comprehensive imaging report will be sent electronically to your referring health professional.
Nuchal Translucency Assessment
Nuchal Translucency (NTS) Assessment is performed during week 12 of your pregnancy and calculates a risk for your pregnancy in relation to Down’s, Edward’s, and Patau’s Syndrome.
Your health professional may request NTS for you as part of your general pre-natal imaging care or because of specific increased risk factors for fetal aneuploidy, such as advanced maternal age.
The NTS will proceed as a standard obstetric ultrasound with a transabdominal scan. During the transabdominal ultrasound, warm gel is applied, and the ultrasound probe is placed on the abdomen. Gentle pressure is applied to obtain clear images of the pelvic organs and foetal anatomy.
Occasionally a transvaginal ultrasound scan may also be required. This involves a small, thin probe being introduced a short distance into the vagina to better view the fetus. This is a simple, painless and safe procedure.
Transvaginal scans are completely at the discretion of the patient and written consent is required.
Our imaging technician will perform a full review of the fetal anatomy and obtain measurements of the nuchal skin fold, which is a section of skin at the back of the baby’s neck, nasal bone, ductus venosus and tricuspid regurgitation.
On completion on your examination, our analysis will commence. Your risk will be calculated using the ultrasound measurements in conjunction with your blood test results.
We are one of the few sites in Queensland that offer formal counselling and detailed discussion of your NTS result. This is undertaken by our specialist consultant radiologist, Dr Paula Sivyer, and is available at your request.
If you choose to have a formal consultation and discussion of your results, Dr Sivyer will advise you of the result and talk to you about any further steps that may be required or recommended and answer any questions you may have.
If you do not choose to have a formal discussion of your results with Dr Sivyer, a comprehensive imaging report will be sent electronically to your referring health professional.
Second Trimester - Morphology
Your health professional will request a morphology ultrasound during the second trimester as part of standard pre-natal imaging care. This scan is when we access the fetal anatomy for growth, progress and structural integrity and detect any abnormality.
A second trimester ultrasound will involve a transabdominal scan, where an ultrasound probe is placed on the lower abdomen.
During the transabdominal ultrasound, warm gel is applied, and the ultrasound probe is placed on the abdomen. Gentle pressure is applied to obtain clear images of the pelvic organs and foetal anatomy.
Occasionally a transvaginal ultrasound scan may also be required. This involves a small, thin probe being introduced a short distance into the vagina to better view the uterus and ovaries. This is a simple, painless and safe procedure.
Transvaginal scans are completely at the discretion of the patient and written consent is required.
On completion of your examination, you will receive a folio of still and 3D images from the scan.
Third Trimester - Growth & Wellbeing
Your health professional may request a review ultrasound during the third trimester of your pregnancy if there is something in relation to your baby or your pregnancy that needs further assessment or investigation at a later stage in gestation.
A third trimester ultrasound will involve a transabdominal scan, where an ultrasound probe is placed on the lower abdomen.
During the transabdominal ultrasound, warm gel is applied, and the ultrasound probe is placed on the abdomen. Gentle pressure is applied to obtain clear images of the pelvic organs and fetal anatomy.
Occasionally a transvaginal ultrasound scan may also be required. This involves a small, thin probe being introduced a short distance into the vagina to better view the uterus and ovaries. This is a simple, painless and safe procedure.
Transvaginal scans are completely at the discretion of the patient and written consent is required.
On completion of your examination, you will receive a folio of still and 3D images from the scan. A comprehensive imaging report will be sent electronically to your referring health professional.
Amniocentesis
Your referring health professional may request amniocentesis, or it may be performed upon radiologist recommendation, if pre-natal screening or early obstetric ultrasound identifies a higher risk of chromosomal abnormality for your baby.
Typically performed in week 16 of pregnancy, amniocentesis is a procedure in which a sample of amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus for testing or treatment. Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds and protects a baby during pregnancy and contains fetal cells and various proteins. The fluid sample is then sent for pathology and chromosomal analysis.
This procedure does involve an element of risk and is not undertaken unless significant factors in favour of proceeding with amniocentesis are present. Your referring health professional should discuss these risk factors with you, although Dr Sivyer will also discuss these with you on the day of appointment.
Amniocentesis involves a standard transabdominal ultrasound for anatomical review and procedural planning, followed by sampling under ultrasound guidance. During the transabdominal ultrasound, warm gel is applied to your abdomen before our imaging technician places the probe on the abdominal surface and applies pressure to obtain images of the pelvic organs and fetal anatomy.
During amniotic fluid sampling, local anaesthetic is applied to the area to ensure you are as comfortable as possible. Our radiologist will then insert the sampling needle using ultrasound guidance under sterile technique to obtain samples of the amniotic fluid. We will be monitoring both you and your baby closely throughout the procedure.
Upon completion of the procedure, we will consult you regarding appropriate aftercare and the process of obtaining your finalised pathology results.
Chorionic Villus Sampling
Your referring health professional may request Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), or it may be performed upon radiologist recommendation, if pre-natal screening or early obstetric ultrasound identifies a higher risk of chromosomal abnormality for your baby.
An alternative to Amniocentesis, CVS involves obtaining a sample of cells from the chorionic villus or placental tissue to be sent for pathology and chromosomal analysis. Typically performed between weeks 12 and 14 of pregnancy, CVS can be carried out earlier than amniocentesis.
This procedure does involve an element of risk and is not undertaken unless significant factors in favour of proceeding with amniocentesis are present. Your referring health professional should discuss these risk factors with you, although Dr Sivyer will also discuss these with you on the day of appointment.
CVS involves a standard transabdominal ultrasound for anatomical review and procedural planning, followed by sampling under ultrasound guidance. During the transabdominal ultrasound, warm gel is applied to your abdomen before our imaging technician places the probe on the abdominal surface and applies pressure to obtain images of the pelvic organs and foetal anatomy.
During the CVS, local anaesthetic is applied to the area to ensure you are as comfortable as possible. Our radiologist will then insert the sampling needle using ultrasound guidance under sterile technique to obtain samples of the chorionic villus. We will be monitoring both you and your baby closely throughout the procedure.
Upon completion of the procedure, we will consult you regarding appropriate aftercare and the process of obtaining your finalised pathology results.
