TIFFA Scan In Pregnancy: Meaning, Significance & How Is It Performed

The TIFFA scan (Targeted Imaging for Fetal Anomalies) is popularly known for looking at the anatomic structures of the placenta, fetus, and maternal organs. It is one of the crucial scans performed during pregnancy and is recommended for all expecting mothers. 

This scan is conducted during the second trimester of pregnancy, between 18 and 22 weeks, and checks thoroughly whether your baby is growing fine and healthy, and if there are any chances of risks or fetal birth defects.

Read on to learn more about the TIFFA scan in pregnancy, its significance, and how it is performed. We have also included some frequently asked questions about this procedure to help clear your queries before you go for this test.

What Does TIFFA Scan In Pregnancy Mean?

The TIFFA scan is a detailed ultrasound scan that is recommended during the second trimester of pregnancy. It involves a detailed morphology scan that checks if the fetus is growing normally and whether there are any congenital anomalies. That said, this scan is not considered 100% accurate and is used mainly to determine fetal development and check your placenta’s position.

What Does a TIFFA Scan Look For?

The TIFFA scan helps determine the following:

• General health and maturity of your baby
• Growth and size of your baby
• Examines fetal organs like the abdominal wall and stomach
• Estimated gestational age

It may also help determine the following congenital abnormalities:

• Down syndrome
• Anencephaly
• Edward’s syndrome
• Heart disease
• Patau’s syndrome
• Spina bifida
• Cleft palate or lip

In some cases, cardiac abnormalities can be missed around the 20th week of TIFFA scan. If your doctor suspects an abnormality, they may suggest a repeat fetal echocardiography or scan in the 24th week to check cardiac structures in detail.

How to Prepare for a TIFFA Test in Pregnancy?

The TIFFA scan is a normal procedure that does not require any special preparations. We have listed some tips that can help make the scan efficient and comfortable for you.

• Relax before the anomaly scan and reach the diagnostic centre early to make yourself comfortable.
• Make sure that you have a full bladder as the scan may not give accurate results on an empty one. Keep drinking water to fill up your bladder.
• Avoid wearing any accessories or ornaments during the scan.
• Take all your medical reports and records while going to the test centre. 

How Is the TIFFA Test Performed?

The TIFFA test is usually carried out by your OB/GYN or a specially-trained sonographer in a dimly lit room to get distinct images of your baby.

• To begin the procedure, your sonographer will apply a water-based gel on your abdomen.
• They will then run a hand-held probe over your tummy to examine the fetus. The probe helps collect sound waves and creates images of your baby on the ultrasound screen.
• Your sonographer may apply a little pressure on your tummy to get the best view of your baby. This may feel uncomfortable, but don’t worry, it will not hurt your baby.
• The TIFFA scan may take up to 30 minutes to finish, and throughout the procedure, your sonographer will show you your baby’s body, and also make you listen to their heartbeat.

What Will You See on the Ultrasound Screen During TIFFA Test?

During the procedure, the sonographer looks for the following:

• Structure and shape of your baby’s brain. At this stage, severe brain abnormalities can be identified.
• Your baby’s facial features to spot cleft lip, though it may be difficult to clearly see it.
• Your baby’s spine, along with the length and cross-section to check whether the bones are aligned and if their skin is covering their back properly.
• Your baby’s heart to see if the top two and bottom two chambers are equal in size, and if the major arteries and veins that carry blood open and close properly with each heartbeat.
• Your baby’s arms, legs, and feet, along with their fingers and toes.
• You will also see your baby’s kidneys, if there are two of them, and the urine is flowing freely through the bladder.
• The position of your placenta.
• If there is sufficient amniotic fluid for your baby to move freely.
• The abdominal wall to determine whether all of your baby’s internal organs are covered in the front.

What to Do If Your TIFFA Scan is Not Normal?

It’s crucial to know that TIFFA scan results may not be 100% accurate, and sometimes, observations can go incorrect. If any abnormality is spotted, your doctor might give you advice on how to deal with the situation. 

• In some cases, you may need a repeat scan. This can happen if the sonographer was unable to clearly see every detail due to the unfavourable position of the fetus. If this happens, you can take the scan again in the 23rd week of pregnancy.
• If your doctor suspects that your baby has a heart problem, they may recommend you to take a fetal echo scan to get a detailed view of their heart.
• If any other problem is suspected, your ob-gyn may recommend you to visit a fetal medicine specialist to determine the next course of scans and treatment.

Conclusion

A TIFFA scan in pregnancy is usually done to check the proper growth and development of your baby and rule out the risk of any congenital abnormalities. This scan does not pose any harm to your baby, so make sure to get this scan done to determine any abnormalities in the fetus. This will your doctor come up with a measure promptly and reduce the chance of any other complication in the future.

FAQs

What is an anomaly scan or an ultrasound level II scan?

The anomaly scan also known as TIFFA scan examines the abnormalities of the fetus, placenta, and maternal pelvic organs. It is also referred to as the anatomy scan, level 2 TIFFA ultrasound that is performed during 20-22 week in pregnancy. This scan is crucial and often used as a part of standard prenatal treatment.

Why do I need an anomaly scan?

To examine if your unborn child has any abnormalities or a good growth during pregnancy.

Do I need to prepare for an anomaly or TIFFA scan?

The preparations for the TIFFA scan are similar to those of the other scans you already had. You will need to keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water before the scan as it helps your doctor in taking clearer pictures. Don’t forget to dress comfortably for the scan.

How will the anomaly scan be done?

In order to get sharp images on the screen, the sonographer conducts ultrasound during pregnancy in a darker room. Your stomach will be covered with gel and the sonographer will place a probe on it. By rolling the probe on your stomach, it will help generate the images of the fetus on the screen.

What does the anomaly scan check for?

During the scan, the doctor checks the position of the placenta, amount of amniotic fluid, fetal growth, fetal brain, face, spine, heart, stomach, bowel, kidneys, and limbs.

What are ultrasound soft markers?

Ultrasound soft markers are generally fetal sonographic findings that are not considered as abnormalities but are indicative of a risk of some non chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.

What if there are signs of a problem on my anomaly scan?

Your sonographer will inform you immediately if they suspect any problem on your anomaly scan. Within 3-5 days, a fetal medicine specialist will most probably schedule a scan for you.

Will I need more ultrasound scans in my second trimester?

During your second trimester scan, the one scan which you should go for is the sonogram and that is performed to get the virtual image of your unborn child in the womb and you get to see their growth and development on the monitor screen.

Also read:

What is a viability scan: When do you need a viability scan during pregnancy? Tap this post to know.

Scans recommended for every mom during first trimester: Here’s a list of scans that every mum should get during the first trimester.

Growth scan during pregnancy: What is a growth scan and when do you need one? Tao this post to find out. 

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