FAQ's - Frequently asked questions
Click on the question for the answer
- What is the difference between 2-3-4D ultrasound?
- A 2D scan is the scan black and white images that many pregnant women receive from their local hospitals. 3D is a three-dimensional ultrasound image allowing you to see the surface of your baby’s body including facial features. 4D (the 'fourth-dimension' being time) provides real time moving 3D images of your baby in the womb.
- Are there risks involved in 4D ultrasound?
- There are no known medical risks related to a 4D scan compared with any other obstetric ultrasound investigation.
- What do I need to bring with me?
- Please bring your hospital / maternity records.
- Can I have a 4D scan at any stage of my pregnancy?
- Between weeks 24 and 32 weeks is considered the ideal time for a 4D scan.
- Do I cancel my hospital scans?
- A 4D scan is not a diagnostic scan and is not part of your routine antenatal care. The 4D scan should not replace any appointments at your hospital.
- What if you see something wrong?
- The 4D scan is not a medical investigation however in the very unlikely event that a problem with your baby is identified 4D baby imaging has clinical support from Mr Matthew Jolly MRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Sub-Specialist in Fetal Medicine. With your consent we will speak directly to Mr Jolly who will advise on your options and liaise with your Obstetrican and/or General Practitioner.
If you would like a separate detailed anomaly scan or a fetal wellbeing scan this can be arranged.
- Will I get good images?
- We use the latest ultrasound equipment and experienced ultrasonographers to produce the best possible images for you. However the quality of the final images also depends upon your size and the baby’s position. If the ultrasonographer feels that the images are sub-standard and that significantly better images would be possible with a repeat scan then a second complementary scan will be offered at the ultrasonographers discretion.
- How long is a session and what do I need to bring with me?
- Each appointment is for 45 minutes including the ultrasound session. You should bring your hospital / maternity records.
- How far in advance should I schedule my appointment?
- We are usually booked two to three weeks in advance.
- How many guests may I bring?
- We can comfortably accommodate 2 - 4 guests in our scanning room.
- Do I need a note from my doctor?
- No, you do not need a referral from your doctor. 4D scans are not a diagnostic or medically indicated investigation.
- What experience / qualifications do 4D baby imaging's ultrasonographers have?
- All of our ultrasound specialists are board-certified by ARDMS
- How long before I get my images?
- A DVD of moving 4D images and a CD-ROM of still 3D images will be available on the day for you to take away.
- What is Down syndrome, how common is it and where can I get more information about it?
- Down Syndrome is where an individual shows a number of problems involving both physical and mental development. The
severity of handicap is variable however 80% have severe learning difficulties. For this reason, many couples want to
find out as much as possible about their future baby so as to plan accordingly. The nuchal test supports this process
of information gathering.
One baby with Down Syndrome is born every 700 births in the UK. The chance of having a baby with Down Syndrome increases
as the age of the mother increases. Typically a 25 year old women at birth has a risk of 1 in 1351 compared to a 40 year old woman at birth who has a risk of 1 in 96. The risk of Down Syndrome is lower later in the pregnancy because fetuses with Down Syndrome are more likely to miscarry.
For further information on this subject click here
- Do you do gift certificates?
- Yes
- What services do you provide and how much do they cost?
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| Fetal viability scan | (6 weeks onwards) | £92 |
| Nuchal and nasal bone scan | (11-13+6 weeks) | £125 |
| Nuchal and nasal bone scan (+ blood test) | (11-13+6 weeks) | £200 |
| Fetal sexing scan | (16 weeks onwards) | £100 |
| Fetal anomaly scan | (ideally at 20-24 weeks) | £130 |
| 4D Scan | (23-24 weeks) | £195 |
| Fetal anomaly scan with cervical assessment | (23-24 weeks) | £150 |
| Fetal wellbeing scan and Doppler | (24-42 weeks) | £125 |
| Amniocentesis | (15 weeks onwards) | £450 |
| Chorion Villus Sampling (CVS) | (11-14 weeks) | £500 |
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| A GP letter is required for gynaecology referrals which cost £120 for a new appointment and £80 for a follow up appointment. |
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| For more detailed information on the above scans click on diagnostic scans and click on the scan title you're interested in. |
If the questions above haven't answered all your queries and you would like more information regarding what we can offer,
then
click here to find out how to get in touch.
