What is the 20 week fetal anomaly scan actually looking for?

What is the 20-week scan actually looking for? In this video, fetal medicine specialist Martin Maher walks you through the entire 20-week anomaly scan — start to finish — so you know exactly what your sonographer is checking, and why it takes the time it does. If you've got your 20-week scan (also called the anomaly scan or mid-pregnancy scan) coming up, this video will help you walk in calm and informed — including why the heart takes longest, what "soft markers" mean, and what it really means when someone says your scan "looks fine." 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly videos from inside the scan room New videos every week breaking down what's actually happening in pregnancy, from someone who reads these scans every day. 📍 CHAPTERS 0:00 — What the 20-week scan is really for 0:51 — Anomaly scan vs your first scan 1:57 — Checking the head and brain 2:41 — The face and the spine 3:58 — Want a more detailed scan? 4:13 — The heart: why it takes the longest 5:42 — Abdomen, organs and limbs 6:56 — Placenta, fluid and the cord 8:18 — Why you might be asked to come back 8:56 — Soft markers 9:28 — Can they tell you the baby's sex? 10:00 — What a "normal" scan really means 🩺 A MORE DETAILED ANOMALY SCAN If you'd like a second, more detailed look at your baby's development, we offer private detailed anomaly scans at The Pregnancy Experts. 👉 thepregnancyexperts.com 🎥 NEXT WEEK Can your baby really hear you in the womb? The answer is more interesting than you'd think — subscribe so you don't miss it. 👋 ABOUT MARTIN Martin Maher is a fetal medicine specialist who has performed thousands of pregnancy scans. The Pregnancy Experts channel exists to give parents calm, evidence-based information from someone who's actually in the scan room — not a Google search result. 🌐 The Pregnancy Experts website: thepregnancyexperts.com 🌐 Mr Maher's website: TheObsDoc.com 📷 Instagram: the.pregnancy.experts 🎵 TikTok: ThePregnancyExperts ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This video is for general information and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Always speak to your own healthcare provider about your individual pregnancy. #20weekscan #anomalyscan #pregnancyscan #fetalmedicine #midpregnancyscan #pregnancytips #secondtrimester #pregnancyadvice #ultrasoundscan #expectingparents