3. There Is No Test For Microcephaly
There are many things you can test a fetus for in pregnancy, but microcephaly isn’t one of them. There simply is no accurate means of diagnosis, although ultrasounds help. These are done at 28 weeks, at the end of the second trimester, and at the beginning of the third. Ultrasound readings can help project what the head circumference will be.
The most accepted test still adhered to by the WHO today is measuring a baby’s head circumference within 24 hours of birth. This is then compared to accepted norms, and the alarm will be raised if, after taking into account a margin of deviation, there is an issue. The circumference is not looked at in isolation, but other barometers such as the length and weight of the baby are factored in, as is gestational age. If microcephaly is suspected, the baby should be referred to a pediatrician for further brain imaging scans.
