2D-Ultrasound imaging is a common diagnostic medical procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce dynamic images (sonograms) of organs, tissues or blood flow inside the body. Pre-natal ultrasound examinations are performed by trained professionals, such as sonographers, radiologists and obstetricians. The procedure involves using a transducer, which sends a stream of high-frequency sound waves into the body and detects their echoes as they bounce off internal structures. The sound waves are then converted to electric impulses, which are processed to form an image displayed on a computer monitor. In 3D imaging special software combines several 2D scans into a 3D image. By taking a sequence of 3D images a 4D video can be produced (the fourth D, that is “dimension”, is time).
All our Sonographers are experienced, NHS-trained and qualified professionals, registered with the Health & Care Professions Council
(HCPC). They are all lovely people who have been specially selected for their experience and caring and understanding manner. The principal radiographer is a senior sonographer and ultrasound trainer in the NHS.
You do need to have registered your pregnancy with your doctor and be in an NHS ante-natal care plan. You may wish to consult your doctor or other health professionals before having one of our scans but it is not necessary to get a formal referral from your GP.
Ultrasound has been used clinically for pregnant women for about 40 years and ultrasound exams form part of normal NHS ante-natal care. All current scientific opinion is that there is no evidence that ultrasound scans pose any risk to mother or baby.
Even if we recommend 16 weeks, honestly, from about 14 weeks of gestation, we can almost always see the baby’s sex in the first 5 minutes of the scan. Sometimes it is not visible so if that happens we shall offer you a second scan free of charge. Ultrasound Best gender scans are almost 100% reliable but it is impossible to provide a guarantee, because it really depends on your individual biology. It can never be 100% because, surprisingly, some babies can look the opposite of what they are for a short time in the womb.
Yes. You should always follow the advice of your GP and midwife and attend all hospital appointments made for you as part of your NHS ante-natal care. The scans we perform are not diagnostic and they are aimed primarily at providing you with a unique souvenir of your pregnancy as well as to enhance parental bonding.
You may bring your pregnancy case notes, as we may need these to calculate your gestation and also for the contact details of your midwife or obstetrician.
YES… And we recommend that you be well hydrated in the days leading up to the scan. Please ensure your bladder is full when attending your appointment.
We are very sorry, but the honest answer to that is No. The fact is that we almost always get good results, images and the sex of the baby, especially since, if we’re not completely confident the first time, we offer a free second scan. The cases where we do not get the result you hope for are truly exceptional. However, we are dealing with nature, which is inherently unpredictable, and just occasionally, for example, the baby’s position may be such that a clear view of the face or the sex is not possible. Other factors which may affect a good result are the amount of amniotic fluid present and the thickness of tissue (fat and muscle) between the probe and the baby. We have to emphasise that what you are paying for is a service, delivered by a highly trained specialist, using high tech equipment. We can guarantee the quality of the equipment, the competence of the staff and the level of attention we devote to you, but we cannot guarantee the outcome. Frankly, nobody can.
Yes. If you choose to buy the optional USB Memory Stick, we’ll put all the individual pictures of the scan onto it, and with that you can print 4 pictures in the practice or as many as you like at home. What’s more, if you come to us for another scan you can use the same USB for no extra charge, provided that you have not used it to import any other files from another computer.
Yes. The examination room has 4 seats beside the bed. Actually more than 4 can come in if the extras don’t mind standing, but that can make the room a bit crowded.
It is rare to find a problem but we do have policies, procedures and escalation pathways in place for such eventualities. Basically, if the radiographer sees something that requires medical attention, she will complete the scan and write a report of her findings, then refer you back to the NHS - that is to a hospital if possible or, failing that, to your midwife or obstetrician - with her observations. In such circumstances the radiographer will advise the situation and give the service user the option of continuing or not continuing with the 3D4D/HD scan and/or to revealing the sex of the foetus.
Early, Gender, 2D Reassurance, 3D4D/HD and Presentation appointments last about 30 minutes from start to finish including a 15-minute slot with the sonographer and a 10-minute scan. Twins and Fertility / Pelvic Scans take a bit longer, about 45 minutes, and include a 20-25 minutes slot.
This popular kind of scan that usually takes place between 24-32 weeks is designed to show you what your baby really looks like, and they are truly amazing. It’s like watching your baby in the womb on a colour tv. 3D means still shots of the baby viewed from different angles and 4D means seeing your baby in motion.Just to be clear it’s not a 3D scan or a 4D scan; it’s one scan that shows you both kinds of pictures, both 3D and 4D, so they are called 3D4D/HD scans.