4D scan is between 26-32 weeks
4D scan is between 26-32 weeks
An amazing opportunity to see what your little one gets up to in the womb! This unique bonding experience allows you to see your baby smile, yawn and even see if it has little fat cheeks!
As with all our scans ensuring your baby’s wellbeing is our priority and we always talk you through everything that we see.
The best time to perform a 4D scan is between 26-32 weeks gestation due to the size of your baby and the amount of amniotic fluid present.
After 32 weeks the amniotic fluid naturally starts to reduce which can affect the images we get of your baby due to its position and often unwillingness to move! If you are outside of the suggested range, we will try our hardest to achieve the best possible images but this is not always possible.
For the growth assessment we measure the head, tummy and thigh to get an estimated weight and compare this in relation to the due date which will demonstrate where your baby is within the growth range. We also assess the placental position and amniotic fluid.
During the scan the ideal position for your baby is to be laying on its back, from previous scans I am sure you have experienced a comfy baby that doesn’t want to help. If this happens we will try a variety of things to get your baby moving. If despite our best efforts your little bean is far too comfortable and won’t move we will book a further one off 20 minute scan free of charge.
As with all our scans you are given the opportunity to ask questions throughout the scan
We will discuss everything that we have seen throughout the scan and complete a report with our findings along with your memory stick and pictures we have taken throughout the scan.
We don’t have a maximum number of pictures we take, all dependant on how helpful your little one is.
If any problems are found, these will be discussed with you and where possible/known the implications will also be discussed. A referral will be made for you to your local midwife, GP or local hospital/antenatal clinic and appropriate follow up will be arranged.
Kayleigh
Daisy
Lucy
Ivy
We will create a detailed report for you with everything that we have seen and also give you pictures of your little bean.
Throughout the scan we will be talking about what your baby is doing, how it is developing and what it can do – such a lovely insight into your baby’s world.
If we sadly find that the things are not progressing as they should we discuss everything that we can see, giving you plenty of time to ask questions. We create a report and contact your local early pregnancy unit (EPU) for a follow up appointment.
Usually performed over the tummy as transabdominal scan, for this reason having a moderately full bladder will help to see the pregnancy more clearly in the early weeks.
We will measure your little one crown to rump to get an estimated due date and assess that everything is developing normally for that number of weeks. We will also confirm that the pregnancy is in the right place within the uterus and check that the uterus and ovaries appear normal.
We also have the option of performing an internal scan if we don’t get great views over the tummy. This is entirely safe in early pregnancy and will be discussed with you as an option where needed.
For most women they just want, or need to see their baby and confirm that the pregnancy is real! For others they may have sadly experienced a miscarriage and just need the peace of mind and reassurance that an early scan can bring. Time really seems to drag in the first trimester, seeing is certainly believing!
An early pregnancy scan will confirm the presence of a heartbeat, diagnose a single or multiple pregnancy and establish an estimated due date. It can be performed from 7 weeks of pregnancy, before this time it is not always possible to see the fetal heart beating but can confirm the pregnancy is in the right place and developing as it should for the number of weeks you are.
We also see women who have had bleeding and can’t be seen quickly in their local early pregnancy unit, or those that have had a loss of symptoms and are concerned – we can provide you with a service that fully assess how you are progressing and will give you all the information you need.
This early scan is not routinely available on the NHS and does not require a GP or Midwife referral.