what is the recommended schedule of ultrasound scanning during pregnancy?
Women should be offered an early scan at 7–9 weeks of gestation.
In addition to the routine first trimester scan (11–14 weeks of gestation) and a detailed anomaly scan at
18–20+6 weeks of gestation, women should be offered serial fetal biometry scans every 4 weeks from 24
weeks of gestation.
Women with both thalassaemia and diabetes have a higher risk of early pregnancy loss. Fertility treatment
with ovulation induction is often required to achieve pregnancy so an early scan is indicated to determine
viability as well as the presence of a multiple pregnancy.
Severe maternal anaemia predisposes to FGR in women with thalassaemia.44–46 Chronic anaemia
affects placental transfer of nutrients and can therefore adversely affect fetal growth