While the NHS provides excellent routine antenatal care (typically offering scans at 12 and 20 weeks), many parents choose to book private pregnancy ultrasound scans for early reassurance, gender confirmation, or simply to spend more time seeing their baby in 3D/4D. Private scans are safe, performed by qualified sonographers, and do not replace your routine NHS care.
Timeline of Private Pregnancy Scans
- Early Reassurance Scan (6-11 weeks): Checks whether the pregnancy is developing in the womb and looks for a heartbeat. Very early on, a scan can be inconclusive and you may be asked to come back. An early scan on its own cannot rule out an ectopic pregnancy.
- Dating Scan (10-14 weeks): Accurately estimates the due date and can be combined with NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) blood tests.
- Gender Reveal Scan (from 15 weeks): Determines the sex of the baby with high accuracy.
- Anomaly / Detailed Scan (20-24 weeks): A comprehensive check of the baby’s anatomy and development.
- 3D/4D Bonding Scan (26-32 weeks): Provides detailed, lifelike images and video of the baby’s face.
Please bring your NHS pregnancy notes (if you have them) to your private scan. If our sonographers identify any concerns, they will provide a clinical report to share with your NHS midwife or obstetrician. Do not wait for a scan appointment if you have severe or one-sided tummy pain, pain in the tip of your shoulder, heavy bleeding, or you feel faint or dizzy: contact your GP, call 111, or go to your nearest A&E straight away.
Are frequent ultrasound scans safe for my baby?
Yes. Ultrasound uses harmless sound waves, not radiation. Decades of medical research have shown no adverse effects from routine diagnostic ultrasound during pregnancy.
Do I need a full bladder for a pregnancy scan?
For early scans (before 12 weeks), you will usually be asked to attend with a full bladder, as it pushes the uterus up and provides a clearer "window" for the sound waves. For later scans, a full bladder is usually not required.
