What Does My Doppler Scan Report Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 7 Mar 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 7 Mar 2015 Answered on

Fri, 27 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : dear doctor
My daughter`S pregnancy due date is 13 th april- 2015 .This is an ivf pregnacy[ done elsewhere / not buy the presnt consulting doctor].. Yesterday was her 34 th week+3 days. The doctor at the time of examination said that the baby is fine and advised doppler scan. the doppler scan report showed an afi value of 9.6 [ just adeqate] all other parameters were normal .Previously 2 weeks back when a doppler scan was performed it was 12.6. At that time the doctor hinted of terminating the pregnancy at 3 8 weeks probably at around 1 st april 2015 [ 39 th week starts on 30 th march 2015] but yesterday she hinted at terminating earlier than 38 th weeks and prescribed to take rigin plus powder disolved in 1 glass water once daily and given inj betnesol 12 mg iv and adviced to visit again after 5 days [ 11-march-2015]. she was getting inj lonopin [ enoxoparin] daily once and also using naturogest gel[ progestrone] twice daily for the last several months in addition to all other tablets [ calcium, iron etc]. Will this afi value safe in this month of pregnacy? .Will it remain in a safe level till the 37th to 38 th week . what is the safe afi value to have in the coming weeks at least up to 39 th week . Is it safe for the baby and mother to terminate pregnancy in 37 th week . How to increase the afi value and how to sustain it in that level .

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
safe AFI values; should remain safe; can terminate at 37 weeks;protein diet

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have read the details thoroughly and can understand your concerns for your daughter.

Let me answer your questions in the sequence you asked so its easy for you to understand the answers.

AFI value at 34 weeks is 9.6 in your daughter's case. This is normal and safe.
Normal AFI value is around 5-18. As the pregnancy progresses, the AFI value keeps on decreasing.

AFI upto 5 is considered safe in the 38th-39th weeks. Below 5 is considered oligohydramnios.
As other parameters are normal, it should remain safe and normal till 37-38 weeks of pregnancy.

I would like to tell you that AFI alone is not the deciding factor in determining the healthy fetus and pregnancy. Biophysical profile (AFI, fetal tone, fetal movements, fetal breathing and fetal heart rate) is the more comprehensive parameter.

Yes, its safe to terminate the pregnancy in 37th week because the maturation of baby is complete by this time. As your doctor has given betnesol to your daughter, this would help in baby's lung maturation.

To increase and sustain the AFI levels, protein preparations containing arginine can help.
Also, she should drink lots of water and take protein-rich diet.

Hope this answers all your queries satisfactorily.

Feel free to discuss further.

I wish good health for your daughter and her baby.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T