Private Baby Scans

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times of life, but it can also be incredibly nerve-wracking and scans can help you to follow the progress of your baby’s growth and development, as well as ensuring that doctors identify any potential issues at the earliest possible stage. Scanning is an integral part of all pregnancies and there are various options available, including NHS ultrasound scans and private baby scans. This guide will detail private baby scans, enlightening you to the world of private antenatal care and providing answers to the questions many people have about private baby scans, potential issues highlighted by scans and the differences between NHS and private care.

Ultrasound scans use sound waves to create black and white images of the baby in the womb (the uterus); when you have a scan, the sonographer will apply ultrasound gel to your skin and slowly guide the scanning probe over your tummy to check the baby’s whole body. Ultrasound scans enable you to see your baby and watch it move, as well as providing the antenatal team with important information related to the development of the foetus, including its measurements and predicted weight.

There are several different stages of pregnancy and private baby scans offer you the opportunity to see how your baby is growing and changing though every stage. Traditionally, scans take place at 12 and 20 weeks, but with private scans, you can arrange a scan at any time; this provides more detailed information for prospective parents, enables parents to gain a better understanding of what is going on at what stage and also gives parents the opportunity to see their unborn baby at more regular intervals. Scanning is useful, not just for diagnostic and clinical reasons, but also a means of reassurance for parents, especially those who are going through pregnancy for the first time.

A private baby scan is simply a scan, which is offered through a private provider, rather than the NHS. The NHS service will invite you to a scan at a given time and place at specified stages of your pregnancy (usually around 12 and 20 weeks), while a private scan is available on demand; this gives you flexibility and greater control over when and where your scans take place.

Private baby scans are carried out by sonographers; sonographers are trained to use ultrasound equipment to obtain clear and accurate images of your baby and provide clinical information for doctors. In the case of irregularities or potential abnormalities, the sonographer will contact a doctor for an expert opinion.

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