Information About Our Pregnancy Scans
Early Pregnancy Scans
Our early scans are performed in the first trimester of pregnancy between 7-12 weeks gestation and are only performed via an abdominal ultrasound scan.
Many women choose to have a private scan during the first trimester for many reasons. Early pregnancy can be a very stressful and anxious time, some women may have suffered multiple miscarriages, been through IVF or had pervious bad experiences in early pregnancy. Therefore, having an early scan can offer a huge amount of reassurance and relief. We can imagine waiting until 7 weeks gestation for an ultrasound scan may seem difficult, especially for those who are extremely anxious, however, our early scans are not performed before 7 weeks pregnant for multiple reasons.
This is mainly because we only use an abdominal ultrasound probe which does not always pick up clear images in the very early stages of the first trimester due to the size of the pregnancy. Pregnancies are extremely small and low down in your uterus in the early stages, an embryo can only be identified via a transvaginal scan no earlier than 5+2 weeks, it roughly measures 2mm at this time (which is tiny). At 6-7 weeks gestation your baby will roughly measure between 4.7-9mm, this is why it is often difficult to pick up at this time.
Due to this we offer our early scans from 7 weeks gestation only. We do not want to cause any unnecessary stress by not being able to show you the pregnancy clearly or not being able to give specific answers in the early stages even though it can be normal. In view of this we do not perform scans earlier, we do not want to add any stress and/or anxiety at an already stressful time.
As explained above it is very common for first trimester abdominal scans to be unclear not only because of the small size of the pregnancy, but also because of factors such as high BMI (above 30), a build up of gas (trapped wind/bloating) and bladder fullness. In view of this we suggest that if you have a high BMI (above 30) to wait until around 9 weeks to have an early scan. We also request that you attend with a full bladder (this is essential) and to avoid eating food that leaves you feeling bloated for at least 12 hours prior to your appointment. If for any reason we are unable to clearly see during your appointment time, then we will offer one free rescan (subject to T&C’s) usually within 1-2 weeks of your original appointment. These appointments cannot be rescheduled and cannot be used towards another type of scan, it is given as a form of reassurance following your first appointment.
Still can’t find the information you are looking for? Visit our FAQ’s for more info.
Gender Scans
Our early scans are performed in the first trimester of pregnancy between 7-12 weeks gestation and are only performed via an abdominal ultrasound scan.
Many women choose to have a private scan during the first trimester for many reasons. Early pregnancy can be a very stressful and anxious time, some women may have suffered multiple miscarriages, been through IVF or had pervious bad experiences in early pregnancy. Therefore, having an early scan can offer a huge amount of reassurance and relief. We can imagine waiting until 7 weeks gestation for an ultrasound scan may seem difficult, especially for those who are extremely anxious, however, our early scans are not performed before 7 weeks pregnant for multiple reasons.
This is mainly because we only use an abdominal ultrasound probe which does not always pick up clear images in the very early stages of the first trimester due to the size of the pregnancy. Pregnancies are extremely small and low down in your uterus in the early stages, an embryo can only be identified via a transvaginal scan no earlier than 5+2 weeks, it roughly measures 2mm at this time (which is tiny). At 6-7 weeks gestation your baby will roughly measure between 4.7-9mm, this is why it is often difficult to pick up at this time.
Due to this we offer our early scans from 7 weeks gestation only. We do not want to cause any unnecessary stress by not being able to show you the pregnancy clearly or not being able to give specific answers in the early stages even though it can be normal. In view of this we do not perform scans earlier, we do not want to add any stress and/or anxiety at an already stressful time.
As explained above it is very common for first trimester abdominal scans to be unclear not only because of the small size of the pregnancy, but also because of factors such as high BMI (above 30), a build up of gas (trapped wind/bloating) and bladder fullness. In view of this we suggest that if you have a high BMI (above 30) to wait until around 9 weeks to have an early scan. We also request that you attend with a full bladder (this is essential) and to avoid eating food that leaves you feeling bloated for at least 12 hours prior to your appointment. If for any reason we are unable to clearly see during your appointment time, then we will offer one free rescan (subject to T&C’s) usually within 1-2 weeks of your original appointment. These appointments cannot be rescheduled and cannot be used towards another type of scan, it is given as a form of reassurance following your first appointment.
Still can’t find the information you are looking for? Visit our FAQ’s for more info.
3D/4D Scans
3D/4D scans are a great way for you and your family to bond with your unborn baby. We perform them are performed between 26-32 weeks gestation. They are incredible and give a true insight to what your baby will look like. On occasion we capture amazing activity such as a yawn, smile, thumb suck and funny facial expressions. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee clear 4D images of your baby as there are many different factors that can impact the scan quality on the day. The position of your placenta can have a big impact on the quality of a 4D scan, an anterior placenta (a placenta at the front) can cause difficulty in gaining clear images as the placenta is often directly in front of the baby’s face. Due to this we advised to come for a 4D scan around 26-27 weeks if you have an anterior placenta and to not leave it later than this. As the baby gets bigger (30+ weeks) the room decreases and they are often in a squashed position with arms and hands in front of their face, this can cause difficulty in getting them to move into a better position as room is limited. This as well as having a placenta at the front can cause issues in obtaining detailed and clear images.
The baby’s position on the day is one of the main factors that affect a 3D/4D scan. Sometimes the baby isn’t facing the correct way and is looking towards your back instead of towards your tummy, in this case we can only see the back of baby’s head. Also sometimes they have their hands, feet and/or umbilical cord in front of its face which stops us from being able to see the face and features. If the baby is in a poor position, we may ask you to move around, empty your bladder, have a cold, fizzy drink or go for a short walk. There are some tactics we can try to encourage the baby to move but sometimes these do not always work. We try as much as possible to get baby moving and we allocate as much time as possible for this but sometimes it is not always possible to get the baby to move. If the baby is still in a poor position despite trying things and we are unable to get any images or footage during your appointment then we will offer one free rescan, this is usually within one-two weeks following your first appointment. Our free rescan is offered on the understanding that you acknowledge that we are unable to guarantee that baby’s position will be better during the rescan.
You can still have a 3D/4D even if you are not finding out the gender of your baby, we often perfrom these scans on families who do not know the gender.
Still can’t find the information you are looking for? Visit our FAQ’s for more info.
Free Rescan
There are occaisions that we’re unable to obtain clear images, confirm gender of your baby and/or provide clear 4D imaging on the day of your appointment. In the event of this, we’re pleased to offer a complimentary rescan as a gesture of goodwill. These rescans are:
Available Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm only
Offered within 1–2 weeks of your original appointment
Not transferable to any other type of scan
Provided with no monetary value
Our aim is to ensure you have the best possible experience and the reassurance you deserve.
Still can’t find the information you are looking for? Visit our FAQ’s for more info.