The Pros and Cons of Growth Scans: Impact on Antenatal Care and Birth

During pregnancy, growth scans are a common tool used by healthcare providers to assess the growth and development of the fetus. These scans can provide valuable information about the baby's size, weight, and overall well-being. While growth scans can offer numerous benefits, they also have potential drawbacks that should be carefully considered. In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of growth scans and discuss their impact on antenatal care and birth.

Pros of Growth Scans:

1. Monitoring Fetal Growth: Growth scans allow healthcare professionals to monitor the baby's growth trajectory throughout the pregnancy. This information helps identify any potential issues, such as growth restriction or macrosomia (excessive fetal growth), which can influence the management of the pregnancy.

2. Early Detection of Complications: Growth scans enable the early detection of certain complications, including placental insufficiency or fetal abnormalities. Identifying these issues promptly allows for appropriate interventions or treatments to optimise both maternal and fetal health.

3. Increased Peace of Mind: For expectant parents, growth scans can provide reassurance about the well-being of their baby. Seeing their baby's growth and development on the ultrasound screen can alleviate anxiety and foster a stronger emotional connection with the unborn child.

4. Individualised Care: Growth scans can help personalise antenatal care by providing specific information about the baby's size and development. This allows healthcare providers to tailor their recommendations based on the unique needs of each pregnancy, such as adjusting the delivery plan or considering additional testing.

Cons of Growth Scans:

1. False Alarms and Anxiety: Growth scans are not 100% accurate, and they can occasionally indicate potential issues that do not actually exist. False alarms can lead to unnecessary anxiety and additional medical interventions or tests that may carry their own risks.

2. Limited Predictive Value: Although growth scans provide valuable insights into fetal growth, they do not always predict the baby's long-term health outcomes with certainty. Factors such as genetic predisposition and maternal health can also influence a baby's growth and development, which may not be fully captured by the scans alone.

3. Increased Medical Interventions: If a growth scan suggests a potential problem, healthcare providers may recommend further interventions, such as more frequent monitoring, additional tests, or even an early induction of labour. While these interventions may be necessary in some cases, they can also increase the medicalization of childbirth and the likelihood of interventions that carry their own risks.

Growth scans play a crucial role in monitoring fetal growth and identifying potential complications during pregnancy. They provide expectant parents with valuable information and reassurance, allowing for individualized care and early intervention when necessary. However, it's important to recognise the limitations and potential drawbacks of growth scans, including false alarms, limited predictive value, increased medical interventions, and associated costs. Ultimately, the decision to undergo growth scans should be made in consultation with healthcare professionals, considering the unique circumstances and needs of each pregnancy, and it is your choice whether or not you attend them.