Midwife Ultrasound Training

Lesson 1 • Machine Controls and Optimisation

Teaches gain, depth, focus, and time-gain compensation adjustments. Optimised settings reduce diagnostic errors and improve patient throughput.

Lesson 2 • Physics of Sound Waves

Covers frequency, wavelength, velocity, and acoustic impedance as they apply to tissue imaging. Establishes the physical basis for all subsequent scanning decisions.

Lesson 3 • Biological Safety and ALARA

Reviews thermal and mechanical indices, exposure limits, and the ALARA principle. Safe scanning habits must be established before any clinical contact.

Lesson 4 • Transducer Types and Selection

Examines linear, curvilinear, and phased-array probes and their clinical applications. Correct probe selection directly affects image quality in obstetric scanning.

Lesson 1 • Early Gestational Structures

Identifies gestational sac, yolk sac, and embryo in the first trimester. Correct identification prevents misinterpretation of normal early pregnancy.

Lesson 2 • Placenta and Amniotic Fluid

Describes normal placental echogenicity, location, and amniotic fluid distribution. Baseline knowledge supports later pathology recognition.

Lesson 3 • Fetal Anatomical Planes

Defines axial, sagittal, and coronal planes and their standard fetal views. Consistent plane acquisition is essential for reproducible biometry.

Lesson 4 • Maternal Pelvic Anatomy

Reviews uterus, cervix, ovaries, and bladder as seen sonographically. Accurate maternal anatomy recognition is prerequisite to fetal assessment.

Lesson 1 • Probe Handling Fundamentals

Teaches grip, orientation marker use, and the five basic probe movements. Controlled probe handling is the foundation of reproducible image acquisition.

Lesson 2 • Patient Preparation and Positioning

Covers bladder preparation, supine tilt, and patient communication before scanning. Proper positioning maximises acoustic windows and patient comfort.

Lesson 3 • Ergonomics and Injury Prevention

Addresses workstation height, arm posture, and scan duration limits. Musculoskeletal injury is a leading occupational hazard for sonographers.

Lesson 4 • Image Documentation Standards

Defines labelling, archiving, and report annotation requirements for clinical images. Standardised documentation supports audit, continuity, and medico-legal compliance.

Lesson 1 • Embryonic Viability Assessment

Measures crown-rump length and evaluates cardiac activity using M-mode. Viability criteria determine clinical management pathways.

Lesson 2 • First-Trimester Anomaly Markers

Screens for nasal bone, tricuspid regurgitation, and ductus venosus flow. Soft markers supplement NT in combined first-trimester screening programmes.

Lesson 3 • Confirming Intrauterine Pregnancy

Identifies intrauterine gestational sac and distinguishes it from pseudosac. Accurate location confirmation is the first clinical priority in early pregnancy.

Lesson 4 • Gestational Age Dating

Applies crown-rump length to assign gestational age and expected due date. Accurate dating underpins all subsequent growth and screening assessments.

Lesson 1 • Systematic Survey Protocol

Establishes a head-to-toe scanning sequence to ensure no structure is omitted. A reproducible protocol reduces missed anomaly rates in routine practice.

Lesson 2 • Fetal Head and Brain Views

Acquires biparietal diameter, head circumference, and posterior fossa views. Brain views detect the majority of central nervous system anomalies at this gestation.

Lesson 3 • Spine, Limbs, and Face

Surveys the spine in three planes, counts long bones, and assesses facial profile. Skeletal and facial assessment completes the minimum required anatomy survey.

Lesson 4 • Cardiac and Thoracic Assessment

Obtains four-chamber, outflow tract, and three-vessel views of the fetal heart. Cardiac views are the most common site of missed anomalies in routine screening.

Lesson 1 • Estimated Fetal Weight Calculation

Applies validated formulas to biometric data to calculate estimated fetal weight. EFW interpretation requires understanding formula-specific error margins.

Lesson 2 • Core Biometric Measurements

Teaches BPD, HC, AC, and femur length acquisition to standardised planes. Measurement accuracy is the single greatest determinant of estimated fetal weight reliability.

Lesson 3 • Macrosomia and Large-for-Gestational-Age

Identifies biometric patterns associated with macrosomia and diabetic fetopathy. LGA recognition informs delivery planning and shoulder dystocia risk counselling.

Lesson 4 • Fetal Growth Restriction Recognition

Distinguishes small-for-gestational-age from fetal growth restriction using biometry and Doppler. Early recognition enables timely surveillance and delivery planning.

Lesson 1 • Umbilical Cord Assessment

Evaluates cord insertion, vessel count, and coiling index sonographically. Cord abnormalities are associated with fetal growth restriction and adverse outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Placental Location and Grading

Determines placental site relative to the internal os and assigns Grannum grade. Placental location assessment is compulsory at the anatomy survey and third trimester.

Lesson 3 • Transvaginal Cervical Length Measurement

Performs transvaginal cervical length measurement to standardised protocol. Cervical length is the strongest sonographic predictor of spontaneous preterm birth.

Lesson 4 • Placenta Accreta Spectrum Screening

Identifies sonographic features of abnormal placental invasion in high-risk cases. Early detection enables multidisciplinary delivery planning and reduces haemorrhage risk.

Lesson 1 • Uterine Artery Doppler

Samples uterine arteries at the crossover point and identifies notching patterns. Elevated uterine artery PI predicts pre-eclampsia and placental insufficiency.

Lesson 2 • Doppler Physics and Waveform Indices

Explains the Doppler shift equation, angle dependence, and derived indices. Understanding waveform indices is prerequisite to interpreting vessel-specific findings.

Lesson 3 • Middle Cerebral Artery Doppler

Measures MCA peak systolic velocity and PI at the proximal third of the vessel. MCA PSV is the standard method for detecting fetal anaemia non-invasively.

Lesson 4 • Umbilical Artery Doppler

Acquires free-loop umbilical artery waveforms and interprets PI against gestation. Umbilical artery Doppler is the primary surveillance tool in fetal growth restriction.