This is the earliest scan you can have, as most early pregnancy scans are performed at around 7-11 weeks, with another at around 12 weeks. Although a fetal heart rate may not be detected at this early stage, a 6-7 week early dating scan can be performed to check that everything is sitting nice and healthily within your uterus.

Why might I have this scan?

• To confirm your pregnancy
• To determine your EDD (Estimated Due Date)
• To check that your pregnancy is healthy
• To check the gestation sac is sitting correctly within your uterus

Recommended if you have experienced any of the following;

• Bleeding / Spotting
• Pain
• History of miscarriage/ectopic pregnancy
• IVF treatment
• History of long term medical conditions

How is this scan performed?
This is a transvaginal scan that is performed internally. An internal scan requires a sterile ultrasound probe to be placed a small way into the vagina. The procedure will be fully explained, and will only ever be performed with your consent.

What can this scan tell me?

• Confirm an early pregnancy
• Your estimated due date
• Measurement can be taken of the gestation sac
• Confirm the presence of internal bleeding (which may be vital and require regular scans)
• Crown – Rump Length (CRL) measured if possible. (The CRL is the length of your baby)

What do I get with this scan?
TBC

How can I book an appointment for this scan?
TBC

How do I prepare for this Scan?
We would recommend drinking one to two pints of water approximately 1 hour before the appointment, if this is comfortable for you and please do not empty your bladder. It is advised to have a moderately full bladder as the fluid provides a contrast for the baby scan process and can improve the quality of the images that the scan will produce.

For many, this scan will be the first of your many wonderful experiences as a parent. Your baby is very small and in the first stages of development, and you may have experienced just a few visible signs that you are pregnant. Your NHS dating scan will be scheduled around about 12 weeks, but fortunately we can carry out a 7-11 week dating / viability scan, at this earlier stage, for excited or even concerned parents. By around 7 weeks it is possible to detect the babies heartbeat.

Why might I have this scan?

• To have an early listen to your babies heartbeat
• To confirm your pregnancy
• To confirm the number of babies you are carrying
• To determine your EDD (Estimated Due Date)
• To check that your pregnancy is healthy
• To check the gestation sac is growing correctly within your uterus

Recommended if you have experienced any of the following:

• Bleeding / Spotting
• Unusual pain
• History of miscarriage/ectopic pregnancy
• IVF treatment
• History of long term medical conditions

How is this scan performed?

It is usually performed ‘transabdominally’, externally over the tummy. In some cases it may be necessary to perform an internal (transvaginal) scan to get better pictures. An internal scan requires a sterile ultrasound probe to be placed a small way into the vagina. The procedure will be fully explained, and will only ever be performed with your consent.

What can this scan tell me?

• Confirm your pregnancy
• Confirm the presence of a heartbeat
• Confirm your estimated due date
• Confirm the number of embryos you are carrying
• Measurement can be taken of the gestation sac
• Confirm the presence of internal bleeding (which may be vital and require regular scans)
• Crown – Rump Length (CRL) measured if possible. (The CRL is the length of your baby)
• Your ovaries will also be checked

What do I get with this scan?

TBC

How can I book an appointment for this scan?

TBC

How do I prepare for this Scan?

We would recommend drinking one to two pints of water approximately 1 hour before the appointment, if this is comfortable for you and please do not empty your bladder. It is advised to have a moderately full bladder as the fluid provides a contrast for the baby scan process and can improve the quality of the images that the scan will produce.

You may have had a sneak preview with an extra early scan, but for many this scan will be the first of your many wonderful experiences as a parent, as it’s the first stage in which the fetus can be seen in greater detail. Get ready to see baby’s head, arms, legs, and even maybe their hands & feet. This scan is highly recommended to all pregnant women as it’s the first stage to diagnose any fetal irregularities too.

Isn’t this scan available on the NHS?
This scan can ONLY be performed between 11 weeks 2 days and 13 weeks 6 days.
It can be done on the NHS of course, but many parents, every day, opt for private scans for the following reasons;

• An NHS appointment was missed, unavailable, made for an unachievable date
• GP failed to send a referral through
• A more relaxed and personal experience
• The Nuchal was not measured as the fetal position was unfavourable
• To check for a nasal bone
• For a second opinion
• More detailed scan

Why might I have this scan?
At the back of a baby’s neck there is a collection of fluid under the skin called Nuchal Translucency. You’re your baby is between 11 and 13+6 weeks old, it can be measured using ultrasound. All babies have some fluid, but many babies with Down’s syndrome have an increased amount.

• Recommended to all pregnant women
• To assess the risks of Down’s, Edward’s, Patau’s syndrome
• To diagnose certain major fetal abnormalities
• To listen to your babies heartbeat
• To confirm the number of babies you are carrying
• To determine your EDD (Estimated Due Date)
• To check that your pregnancy is healthy

How is this scan performed?
It is usually performed ‘transabdominally’, externally over the tummy. In some cases it may be necessary to perform an internal (transvaginal) scan to get better pictures. An internal scan requires a sterile ultrasound probe to be placed a small way into the vagina. The procedure will be fully explained, and will only ever be performed with your consent.

What can this scan tell me?
Each Mothers’ individual risk factor is analysed by the results from the scan measurement, her age and the blood screening for her pregnancy.

• Check the thickness of fluid checked behind the baby’s neck
• Check the presence / absence of a nasal bone
• Confirm the presence of a heartbeat
• Confirm your estimated due date
• Check baby’s heart rate
• Check baby’s size and development in accordance with dates
• Check baby’s abdominal wall
• Check baby’s stomach and bladder
• Check all four limbs are present
• Site of the placenta
• Check the pregnancy is growing in the womb
• Confirm the number of embryos you are carrying
• Check the blood flow through the fetal heart
• Check the blood flow through the fetal liver
• Check the presence / absence of any physical irregularities
• Check the level of two hormones (free ß-hCG and PAPP-A) in the mother’s blood
• All measurements taken include: NT, CRL and FHR
• Confirm the presence of internal bleeding (which may be vital and require regular scans)
• Crown – Rump Length (CRL) measured if possible. (The CRL is the length of your baby)
• Your ovaries will also be checked

How can I book an appointment for this scan?
TBC

What do I get with this scan?

How do I prepare for this Scan?
We would recommend drinking one to two pints of water approximately 1 hour before the appointment, if this is comfortable for you and please do not empty your bladder. It is advised to have a moderately full bladder as the fluid provides a contrast for the baby scan process and can improve the quality of the images that the scan will produce.

This scan is for couples who just can’t wait and would like to know the sex of their baby. We are able to perform them any time after 16 weeks, which is 5 weeks before the NHS. It is very accurate, and can often help parents / family to get excited, prepare rooms, buy clothes, as well as pick names of course.

Why might I have this scan?

• You want to know the gender earlier than the NHS will tell you.
• As a second opinion
• Because it wasn’t available on the NHS
• You changed your mind about wanting to know after your 20 week scan
• A more calm and relaxing environment

How is this scan performed?
It is usually performed ‘transabdominally’, externally over the tummy. In some cases it may be necessary to perform an internal (transvaginal) scan to get better pictures. An internal scan requires a sterile ultrasound probe to be placed a small way into the vagina. The procedure will be fully explained, and will only ever be performed with your consent.
What can this scan tell me?

• Confirm fetal age.
• Confirm sex / gender.
• Confirm healthy fetus.
• Check up on baby’s development.
• Check if there are any complications.

What do I get with this scan?
TBC

How can I book an appointment for this scan?
TBC

How do I prepare for this Scan?
We would recommend drinking one to two pints of water approximately 1 hour before the appointment, if this is comfortable for you and please do not empty your bladder. It is advised to have a moderately full bladder as the fluid provides a contrast for the baby scan process and can improve the quality of the images that the scan will produce.

Not only will this scan establish your baby´s measurements, checking that they are developing within the normal range, but it will also reassure parents and provide valuable information for your midwife.
If you have a concern about the growth or size of your baby, or if you’ve had a previous pregnancy with complications, growth restriction or diabetes, this scan will be particularly beneficial.

Why might I have this scan?

• Establishing your baby´s measurements
• Reassuring for parents
• Valuable information for your midwife.
• Monitor your baby´s growth against clinical data.
• If you’ve had past pregnancy growth problems
• If you’ve had diabetes in your previous pregnancy
• This scan is not available on the NHS.
• As a second opinion
• A more calm and relaxing environment

How is this scan performed?
It is usually performed ‘transabdominally’, externally over the tummy. In some cases it may be necessary to perform an internal (transvaginal) scan to get better pictures. An internal scan requires a sterile ultrasound probe to be placed a small way into the vagina. The procedure will be fully explained, and will only ever be performed with your consent.

What can this scan tell me?

• Confirm healthy fetus.
• Check up on baby’s development
• Check if there are any complications
• Check baby´s heartbeat
• Measure the circumference / diameter of your baby´s head
• Measure the length of your baby´s leg bone (femur)
• Measure the circumference of the abdomen
• Check the amount of amniotic fluid around your baby
• Check the placenta
• Check blood flow in the umbilical artery

What do I get with this scan?
TBC

How can I book an appointment for this scan?
TBC

How do I prepare for this Scan?
We would recommend drinking one to two pints of water approximately 1 hour before the appointment, if this is comfortable for you and please do not empty your bladder. It is advised to have a moderately full bladder as the fluid provides a contrast for the baby scan process and can improve the quality of the images that the scan will produce.

Another highly recommended scan for all mothers. This very detailed scan will establish your baby´s measurements of the fetal anatomy, placenta position, amniotic fluid, fetal development, anatomical structures including: head, chest, stomach, kidneys, limbs, spine & heart. These checks will ensure that your baby is developing within the normal range, but it will also reassure parents and provide valuable information for your midwife.

Why might I have this scan?

• Establishing your baby´s measurements
• Reassuring for parents
• Valuable information for your midwife.
• Monitor your baby´s growth against clinical data.
• As a second opinion
• A more calm and relaxing environment

Isn’t this scan available on the NHS?
It can be done on the NHS of course, but many parents, every day, opt for private scans for the following reasons;

• An appointment was missed, unavailable, made for an unachievable date
• GP failed to send a referral through
• A more relaxed and personal experience
• For a second opinion
• More detailed scan

How is this scan performed?
It is usually performed ‘transabdominally’, externally over the tummy. In some cases it may be necessary to perform an internal (transvaginal) scan to get better pictures. An internal scan requires a sterile ultrasound probe to be placed a small way into the vagina. The procedure will be fully explained, and will only ever be performed with your consent.

What can this scan tell me?
Assessment of your baby’s:

• Head, brain and face
• All four limbs and the position of the hands and feet
• Chest and abdomen including the heart, diaphragm, kidneys, stomach &bladder
• Check baby’s spine
• Check the cord insertion
• The fluid around your baby & placental site
• Confirm healthy fetus
• Check up on baby’s development
• Establish gender
• Check baby´s heartbeat
• Measure the circumference / diameter of your baby´s head
• Measure the length of your baby´s leg bone (femur)
• Measure the circumference of the abdomen
• Check the amount of amniotic fluid around your baby
• Check the placenta
• Check blood flow in the umbilical artery

What do I get with this scan?
TBC

How can I book an appointment for this scan?
TBC

How do I prepare for this Scan?
We would recommend drinking one to two pints of water approximately 1 hour before the appointment, if this is comfortable for you and please do not empty your bladder. It is advised to have a moderately full bladder as the fluid provides a contrast for the baby scan process and can improve the quality of the images that the scan will produce.

A presentation scan is ideally performed as late into your pregnancy as possible. It can provide essential information about the position of your baby, if it may breech, and gives your midwife an idea whether your delivery is to be a natural birth or by a caesarean section.

Why might I have this scan?

• To establish your baby´s position (head/breech)
• Verification of fetal well-being
• Reassurance for parents
• Valuable information for your midwife
• A more calm and relaxing environment

How is this scan performed?
It is usually performed ‘transabdominally’, externally over the tummy. In some cases it may be necessary to perform an internal (transvaginal) scan to get better pictures. An internal scan requires a sterile ultrasound probe to be placed a small way into the vagina. The procedure will be fully explained, and will only ever be performed with your consent.

What can this scan tell me?

• Confirms the position of your baby
• Your baby´s heart rate
• The position of the placenta
• Your baby´s growth and size (where possible)
• The amount of amniotic fluid around your baby
• The blood flow in the umbilical artery

What do I get with this scan?
TBC

How can I book an appointment for this scan?
TBC

How do I prepare for this Scan?
We would recommend drinking one to two pints of water approximately 1 hour before the appointment, if this is comfortable for you and please do not empty your bladder. It is advised to have a moderately full bladder as the fluid provides a contrast for the baby scan process and can improve the quality of the images that the scan will produce.