The couple found out they were pregnant when the embryo was only about four weeks old. This will be their first child.
– It was a mixture of horror and joy, but of course we were overjoyed, said Karin Gagner in a press release from the region.
Early ultrasounds have been offered in many other regions, but since November it is now available in Västerbotten. Parents can now come for an ultrasound at 13-15 weeks' gestation. Previously, parents had to wait for a routine ultrasound at 19-20 weeks. Early ultrasounds were also offered to pregnant women over the age of 35. Another alternative was to go to a private clinic.
– It's very difficult and stressful for the parents to find out at the routine ultrasound that everything is not as it should be, because half of the pregnancy has already passed. We also want to detect twins as early as possible, says midwife Maria Wikström.
Early ultrasound has some limitations. For example, it is not possible to examine the baby's brain, perform more detailed heart examinations, or determine the sex of the child. But according to the press release, it is possible to get a good general idea of the child's health.
– If there is a major abnormality, it will be detected much earlier in the pregnancy, something that also makes the process easier for the parents, says Wikström.