The pregnancy scans offered by the NHS might not always be enough to offer the reassurance that the pregnancy is progressing properly. You can find below the most popular private pregnancy scans in our ultrasound clinic in London. These scans offer peace of mind that every couple seeks.
- Early pregnancy scan. We offer this scan from the 6th to 11th-week gestation. This scan will confirm your pregnancy, calculate your estimated due date, detect whether it is a single or multiple pregnancy scan.
- Dating scan. We offer this scan from the 11th to 14th week. This scan will date your pregnancy by measuring the crown to rump length (CRL), confirm if it is single or multiple pregnancies and most importantly will confirming foetal viability by checking the baby’s heartbeat.
- Gender scan. From 16 weeks onwards we can identify the gender of your baby with very high accuracy. Using our ultrasound scanner, loaded with the latest ultrasound technology the sonographer will be able to tell you if you having a boy or a girl.
- Growth scan. If you had previous birth complications or have any concerns or worries this scan will check your baby’s growth. We offer the growth scan, between the 24th and 38th week of your pregnancy.
What are the benefits and risks of the pregnancy ultrasound scans?
Benefits
- The pregnancy scan is non-invasive.
- If a transvaginal scan is required the ultrasound exam might be a little uncomfortable but not painful.
- Ultrasound examinations are significantly cheaper than other diagnostic imaging modalities.
- Ultrasound imaging is safe for the baby and the mother as there is no ionizing radiation involved.
- You can not see the baby using conventional x-ray imaging.
- Ultrasound is the preferred imaging investigation for the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancies.
- Ultrasound allows the sonographer to see inside the uterus in real-time and provides necessary information about the pregnancy.
Risks
- There are no known harmful effects on humans related to pregnancy ultrasound examinations.
- Although ultrasound has been used in pregnancy for more than 40 years with no evidence suggesting it is harmful to the patient, embryo or fetus, ultrasound should be performed only when clinically indicated and by qualified practitioners.
Who interprets the results of the private scan and how do I get them?
Our Sonographer, a Health Care Professional specifically trained to perform and understand the ultrasound scan images, will do your exam and provide you with a written report that you can take it your doctor. Our sonographers will also discuss the results with you during and after your examination.
Our sonographers are advanced practitioners with years of ultrasound scanning experience; fully qualified, registered with the HCPC and work full/part-time for flagship London NHS hospitals. On an average month, they perform more than 500 examinations a month and regularly train junior radiologists in the art of ultrasound scanning. During the working day in the NHS, they deal with all kinds of routine and emergency scans. They rotate through the hospitals’ recurrent miscarriage unit where they gain valuable experience in pregnancy and its various complications.
It is very common that sometimes when you leave you remember of a question that you forgot to ask, so please don’t hesitate to contact us either via phone or e-mail and we will do our best to answer your question.
About Pregnancy Scans
A pregnancy ultrasound scan is the same as a ‘normal’ scans but is being used to evaluate the overall health of your baby instead of looking at other organs such as gallbladder for gallstones or kidney for kidney stones. So in pregnancy ultrasound scans are being used to visualise the baby, the placenta, the uterus and cervix and your ovaries.
Pregnancy ultrasound scans or prenatal ultrasounds are very common and being carried in any stage of the pregnancy.When Is an Ultrasound Performed During Pregnancy?
You will normally offer two ultrasound scans during your pregnancy from the NHS. The first pregnancy scan is at 12 weeks and called a dating scan. The second pregnancy scan is at 20 weeks and called an anomaly scan.
Most of the expectant mothers, especially the ones with previous complications such as miscarriage they do not believe that 2 ultrasound scans during pregnancy are enough and this is the reason they choose to have a private pregnancy scan in London with us.What are ultrasound scans used for in pregnancy?
Depending on your stage of pregnancy, ultrasounds will be used to give you and your doctor or midwife answers about your pregnancy.
First Trimester Ultrasounds
- Check that you are pregnant and that your baby has a heartbeat.
- Check if you have a singleton or twins
- Make sure that the pregnancy is not an ectopic located within the endometrial cavity and is not outside the womb such as in the fallopian tube.
- Look for the cause of any bleeding you might have.
- Date the pregnancy by measuring the crown-rump length of the foetal pole.
Second Trimester Ultrasounds
- Verify dates and growth
- Estimate the baby’s risk of Down’s syndrome by measuring the fluid at the back of your baby’s neck between about 10 weeks and 14 weeks
- Help with diagnostic tests by showing the position of the baby and placenta.
- Check your baby to see if all his organs are normal.
- Diagnose abnormalities
- Assess the amount of amniotic fluid and the location of the placenta.
- Evaluation of fetal well-being
Third-trimester Ultrasounds
- Make sure your baby is growing at the expected rate.
- Confirm if your baby is a boy or a girl.
Some mothers to be will, unfortunately, get various complications during pregnancy such as high blood pressure, kidney infections and abnormal liver function tests. As ultrasound scans are pregnancy-friendly your doctor wight refer you for an abdominal/liver scan or a kidney scan to check for anything that might explain your symptoms.
Although these ultrasound scans are not pregnancy scans, they are related to pregnancy and in most cases, all the complications resolve after delivery. But like everything else related to your health and your baby’s health: better safe than sorry.
What can be seen during the early scan:
At 5 weeks gestation (i.e 3 weeks after conception) a small gestation sac might be visible.
At 6 weeks, the yolk sac, the embryo (foetal pole) and the heartbeat might be visible.
At 7 weeks the embryo will be around 10mm with a fast heartbeat.
At 8 weeks, the embryo will be around 16mm and the body and the head might be distinguishable. The embryonic movement might also be seen.
At 9 weeks, the embryo is now a foetus and head, body and limbs start to form.
Why choose us for your private pregnancy ultrasound scan in London?
We are conveniently located in the heart of London, just a few minutes’ walks from Notting Hill Gate station, in a cobbled cul-de-sac off Kensington Mall in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
We offer same day and emergency after hours and weekend appointments in a clean and caring environment, to suit your needs.
We have years of experience in medical ultrasound. Experience gained working for flagship NHS trusts alongside leaders in the field of diagnostic medical imaging including general ultrasound, urology, musculoskeletal, gynaecology, pelvis, testicular and vascular examinations. You can, therefore, be assured that your health is in good hands.
Our range of ultrasound examinations includes, other than pregnancy, the abdomen, pelvis, kidneys, bladder, prostate, ovary, testicle, scrotal, knee, shoulder, groin, ankle, wrist to name a few.
We regularly rotate through our hospital EPU that mainly deals with recurrent miscarriage. Our full range of scans can be viewed via the site menu.
Our competitively-priced pregnancy scan examinations and personalised service is second to none and this is the reason our clients recommend us to friends and family.
About Ultrasound Scans
Diagnostic Medical ultrasound scan or medical sonography as otherwise known is a painless imaging technique utilising sound waves to produce internal images of the body.
It is called ultrasound as the sound frequency being used is at the region of 1 to 20MHz. The human ear cant can’t hear these frequencies.
The sound waves are produced by the transducer or the probe as most commonly known. As they travel through the body they bounce back to the transducer due to various sound transmissions differences in tissues. The returning echoes are picked up by the probe and a powerful computer analyses the echoes and creates the 2d image on the screen.
There are various kinds of ultrasound scans that can be performed and each looks at different organs of the body such as tendons, muscles, joints, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, uterus and ovaries to confirm or exclude possible pathology.
Unlike Ct and MRI, ultrasound does not use radiation and therefore is pregnancy-friendly. It is also live and is ideal for musculoskeletal exams to evaluate moving joints.
Looking for a private pregnancy ultrasound scan in London?
IUS London specialises in diagnostic private ultrasound scans to provide you with quick diagnosis and the much-needed reassurance about your health, within a convenient location. The cost of a private ultrasound scan shouldn’t be prohibited when it comes to someone’s wellbeing.
This is why our prices are competitive and affordable with no compromise to the level of care. The price you see is the price you pay with no hidden extras. We have hundreds of happy clients including GP’s, consultants, radiologists and midwives to name a few.
Some of our clients choose us when large, well-established ultrasound scanning companies failed them in diagnostic accuracy and especially aftercare. We offer ultrasound scan appointments via our online booking system or on the phone.
Medically Reviewed by Tareq Ismail Pg(Dip), BSc (Hons)
