A routine part of your Kingsbridge Private Hospital antenatal care package includes an extensive 3D ultrasound service. This will include an early pregnancy scan, nuchal scan, detailed normality scan and foetal cardiac scan. 4D ultrasound is also included and can be arranged as a standalone examination.
Ultrasound Scans
Ultrasound scans are usually performed to:
- Confirm pregnancy
- Accurately determine gestational age
- Determine viability - to confirm presence of heartbeat
- Determine fetal number
- Reassure the mother that her baby appears to have no gross structural or growth abnormalities
- Determine placental morphology and localisation
Preparation: Please attend your appointment with a full bladder to improve image quality.
Early pregnancy scan: performed at 8-16/17 weeks
Determines the presence of a heartbeat, multiple embryos and gestational age. If there is concern over a possible ectopic pregnancy or in the very early stages of pregnancy, a trans-vaginal scan may be carried out from 6 weeks.
Detailed Normality scan: performed at 18-20 weeks
This scan will provide detailed information of the baby's major organs and any structural abnormalities present. The sex of your baby may also be determined at this point. Your Obstetrician and/or Ultrasonographer will look closely at the baby's face, spine, head, limbs, chest and abdominal structures and heartbeat. The position of the placenta and amount of amniotic fluid present are also noted.
Foetal Cardiac scan: performed at 22-23 weeks
This scan is carried out by a paediatric Cardiologist (Dr F Casey) and is used solely to image the baby's heart to identify the presence of congenital defects or cardiac abnormalities.
4D Ultrasound: performed at 24-32 weeks
This 4D pregnancy scan has the added dimension of real time imaging enabling you to capture the miracle of your baby’s development including smiling, yawning, arm stretches, kicking and sleeping.
Kingsbridge Private Hospital has invested in the highest quality 4D Ultrasound* technology to allow you to view stunning real life images and bond with your baby in a more personal way.
The scanner used at Kingsbridge Private Hospital is of the highest specification available locally and thus you can be assured that the images obtained will be the best you can possibly achieve so long as your baby is in the optimal position.
In addition to the best possible scanners, we also pride ourselves in employing only the best healthcare professionals, and in purchasing a scan from Kingsbridge Private Hospital you will have access to the most experienced ultrasonographers in the country. Collectively they have over 20 years’ experience in antenatal scanning, much of it in 4D.
This scan has the added dimension of real time imaging enabling you to capture the miracle of your baby’s development including smiling, yawning, arm stretches, kicking and sleeping.
Included with your 4D Scan:
- A detailed scan of your baby using the new generation of 4D Ultrasound scanner
- A printed report
- DVD of your scan
- Colour/black & white images of your baby
The best time for a 4D scan is between 6 and 7 months (26 and 30 weeks) when there is a greater volume of amniotic fluid and image quality is not compromised by the size of the baby.
This scan is available as part of the Kingsbridge Private Hospital Private Antenatal Care Package or can complement your NHS fetal normality scan as a standalone examination.
*There is a chance the scan pictures may not be optimal due to the position of the baby, which is beyond our control. In order to improve the results, the sonographer may stop scanning and ask you to take a walk around to help improve the position of the baby. If your baby’s position is still not favourable, you will be offered ONE COMPLIMENTARY RESCAN appointment
