There is a lot to consider when thinking about whether to have a private pregnancy scan. And once you’ve decided that you would like to have one, how do you choose where to go? With that in mind, we at Window to the Womb in Doncaster have put together this Q&A-style guide to our services, clinic, and to what happens during your scan.
What is your earliest scan?
The earliest we can provide an accurate early pregnancy scan is from 6 weeks gestation. This is calculated as 6 weeks since the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). Alternatively, if for any reason you are unsure of your last menstrual cycle dates, you can have an early scan two weeks following your first positive pregnancy test. We would recommend visiting closer to the seven-week mark to avoid any potential discrepancy with dates.
I’m unsure about having a transvaginal (TV) scan. What are the benefits of a TV scan?
In early pregnancy scans it is medically recommended that the scan is carried out trans-vaginally in pregnancies under-10 weeks. TV scans offer much clearer and more accurate results. Because the results are clearer, the sonographer has a better view of baby, meaning that you are more likely to leave your scan feeling reassured about your pregnancy and your baby. But if you do not wish to have a TV scan, an abdominal one can be provided instead.
What if I don’t know how far I am?
We will measure your pregnancy based on your LMP (last menstrual period). If you’re unsure of your dates, we can book you in 2 weeks after your first positive pregnancy test. This ensures you’re at least 6 weeks. We do, however, recommend waiting until nearer the 7 week mark. This is just in case there’s a slight discrepancy with your dates. Baby has doubled in size from 4mm (week 6) to 8mm (week 7) and so we can tell you a lot more about your pregnancy and baby from week seven compared to week six.
What kind of early scans are available?
Our private early pregnancy scans include early dating, reassurance & viability scans from 6+ weeks. We also provide specialist early scans that can be adapted to suit all pregnancy needs. These include scans for IVF pregnancies and specialist scans for mums who have suffered past miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies. More information about our early scans can be found on our website here.
Fetal health, gender, growth, and 4D scans from 16 weeks’ onwards
From 16 weeks’, we provide a range of scans to suit your needs. All of these scans contain a primary medical element, the fetal health checks on you and your baby, and many have additional elements such as gendering, 4D imaging, measurements and estimating weight. You can find lots more useful information about these scans on our website.
I’m excited to find out if I’m having a boy or a girl. When can I come for a Gender scan?
Our gender scans from 16 – 23 weeks. Our Gender scans are 99.9% accurate.
Why don’t we gender from 14 or 15 weeks?
We don’t gender at 14 or 15 weeks’ because the baby is less developed and so it is often too early to clearly see a baby’s gender at this time. This means it is more likely that the sonographer doing the scan may get the gender wrong or not be able to tell the gender at all. We’d rather be able to tell you whether you’re having a little girl or a little boy with confidence and not risk making a mistake and we’re sure you’d prefer this too.
What if I don’t want to know the gender of my baby?
If you don’t want to know the gender, just let us know before your appointment and we will be able to put the gender in an envelope for you.
What gender reveal items do you offer?
We offer a range of gender reveal items, including bespoke heartbeat bears, cannons, and balloons, all available in the clinic. There is no need to pre-order these, just ask about them when you come for your scan.
When can I come for a 4D Scan?
We offer a range of 4D + fetal health scans from 24-34 weeks. These include a full fetal health check, report, photo prints, and digital images and scan movie to take away. We recommend the best time to come for a 4D scan is between 26–30 weeks, with the best weeks being 27-28 weeks. This is when baby has started to lay down plenty of fat, making their features clearer and allowing us to get some fantastic 3D/4D images. If you have an anterior placenta, we recommend booking a little earlier around 24-27 weeks. This allows plenty of room to get baby moving if needed. This does not mean to say that we will be unable to obtain 4D images after this point it can just make this a little more challenging. For multiple pregnancies we recommend 22-26 weeks as there is already less room in there for babies to move around. We also offer HDLive with our 3/4D scans, which can add an amazing level of high definition detail to images of your baby.
Watch VIDEO of Baby Sucking it’s thumb 💜
Do you listen to the baby’s heartbeat?
Prior to 16 weeks we will offer heartbeat visualisation however we will not record or listen to baby’s heartbeat. This is due to current national safety protocols set by BMUS (British Medical Ultrasound Society) and the RCOG (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) which states that dopplers (to device that listens to baby’s heartbeat) should not be used in the first trimester. Any sonographer doing this would be acting against medical advice.
Do I need anything before my scan?
We recommend you’re well hydrated prior to your scan (1-2 glasses of water about an hour before). We understand in the early days you may not have had a scan yet, so you won’t have any hospital notes. If you have had a scan, then please bring notes with you. If they’re digital, you can bring details of your hospital/midwife with you. At the end of your scan you’ll be provided with a report to add to your maternity pack.
Window to the Womb is a diagnostic scan clinic. Why is being diagnostic important?
Our priority is always the health of mum and baby. The way we safeguard you and your baby’s health is by only ever employing fully qualified, registered, and experienced, medical sonographers, who are trained to perform fetal health checks and identify medical conditions that can develop in unborn babies. Thankfully, such conditions are rare, but because a medical sonographer is performing your scan we can give you peace of mind that you have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Non-diagnostic providers do not have to employ medical sonographers and are under no professional or legal obligation to carry out medical checks. They don’t even have to tell you if they did see something of concern, if they could recognise it at all. Some non-medical “sonographers” have taken courses lasting only a few weeks so they can learn to operate a scan machine but receive no training in being able to know if a baby is healthy or not. When considering booking a scan, always read the terms & conditions of the scan provider. Many scan companies, including some well-known ones that say they carry out well-being checks, are in fact non-diagnostic, which is something they often only admit in their small print.
Guests
We currently allow up to three guests to attend with you at your appointment.
Can I change/amend/cancel my appointment?
Yes, you can change your appointment. The easiest way to do this it to contact the clinic directly either by phone on 01302 613092 or direct message from Facebook. To message directly from Facebook, just visit our Facebook page.
Location and parking
We are located in Woodfield Park, a beautiful park setting on the outskirts of Doncaster. As well as our clinic, in the park, you will find a café and walled garden nearby, which you may wish to visit before or after your scan with us. We also have plenty of free parking, meaning you can avoid the sometimes stressful and costly process of finding a parking space. You can see our location and get directions to the clinic via our Google maps listing here.
FAQs and more information about our services on our website:
For more information about our clinic and scans please visit our website. We also have a handy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section, which can be found here.
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