All of our scans are conducted by highly qualified sonographers with extensive experience from the NHS
Dating Scan
Determining gestational age is the primary purpose of the dating scan. It ensures the health and wellbeing of both the fetus and the mother by providing essential information for monitoring and managing the pregnancy effectively.
The key objectives of the scan:
- Determining gestational age which is crucial for assessing the stage of pregnancy and ensuring the fetus is developing at an appropriate rate.
- Fetal biometry which involves measuring various fetal structures (like head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, etc.) to assess growth and development and the measurements are compared to standard values based on gestational age and guidelines provided by NICE*.
- Confirming fetal viability to ensuring the fetus is alive and healthy.
- Identifying the number of fetuses which is important for multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.).
- Determining the position of the placenta as this information is essential for assessing potential risks such as placenta previa (where the placenta covers part or all of the cervix), which can affect delivery plans.
*National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK
Your 10-minute appointment includes:
- Confirmation of the fetal viability and an opportunity to hear your baby’s heartbeat (at 12+ weeks)
- Baby wellbeing report with fetal biometry
- Detection of major structural abnormalities
- Sexing of baby at 16+ weeks of gestational age (optional)
- Two 2D thermal photo prints
- 3D/4D preview of your baby (not guaranteed, depends on conditions)
- Digital images and mini video clips sent to your email
The appointment is ideally suited for pregnancies between 11 to 20 weeks of gestational age.
This scan is also suitable for those who missed their First Trimester dating scan.
We can only offer you a sneak peek of a 4D scan during your appointment. If you would like a full 4D scan, please book a dedicated 3D/4D scan appointment.
We ask you to have a full bladder so that a transabdominal scan gives us best possible visualisation and information, we recommend that you drink at least 0.5 litre of water before your scan. If possible, please refrain from emptying your bladder just before your scan.