Who will perform my scan?
Your scan will be performed by a fully trained sonographer.
Does the 3D/4D scan present any risk to mother or baby?
The scanning equipment used by The baby skan studio is the GE Voluson 730 Pro a state-of-the-art scanning machine. Ultrasound technology has been researched extensively in hundreds of clinical studies over the past 35 years and has not been shown to cause any harm to either mother or baby with routine scanning now a normal procedure in all pregnancies. In 3D/4D scanning, exactly the same type and intensity of ultrasound is used as with conventional 2D scanning. 3D and 4D ultrasound both utilise sound waves to look inside the body. A probe placed on the body emits sound waves into the body, listens for the return echo and generates an image. 4D ultrasound will be similar therefore to a conventional scan in terms of exposure.
What if an unexpected abnormality is found?
Scans performed here at the baby skan studio are not meant as a check for foetal abnormalities. If however any incidental abnormality is discovered the sonographer will explain the findings as fully as possible to you. At your request we will liaise with your GP or maternity unit to pass on this information.
At what stage of my pregnancy is it best to have a 3D/4D scan?
For best results we advise having your scan done between 24 and 30 weeks. In order to make sure you can get an appointment at the optimum time you should therefore aim to book around 4 weeks in advance if possible.
When is the best time to have a scan if I am having twins?
Double trouble!- because twins tend to have less space around them we usually advise having a 3D/4D scan slightly earlier than usual at around 20-26 weeks.
What does the 4D image depend on?
- Your baby’s position
- Position in the placenta
- Amount of amniotic fluid around your baby
- Size of the mum to be
Please remember our sonographers can only show you what your baby is doing at the time of the scan and we are unable to actually make your baby do something they don’t want to do. With all our 4D scans the optimal time is between 24 – 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Do I need to book an appointment?:
Yes, appointments are necessary to have a scan performed.
Can I bring my family and friends along with me to watch my scan?:
Yes of course! This is, after all your experience and we encourage you to invite your loved ones along to enjoy the wonderful experience with you (especially since numbers are usually restricted during routine hospital scans). We can comfortably sit 4 but if family members don’t mind standing additional guests are welcome and we do have a large wall mounted screen so everyone should be able to see but please be a little reasonable with numbers.
You can ring our booking number on 01872 261006. When the studio is closed you can still book an appointment by email or facebook private message.
Will I always get great pictures and images of my baby?
In most cases yes. Unfortunately however it may not be possible and babies don’t always behave the way we would like them to! Sometimes baby may be laying face down towards the spine or placenta which can make it difficult to see baby’s face. If this happens we may ask you to take a gentle walk outside or have a drink and hope that baby moves, we will then scan you again. If baby is still in an awkward position and we can’t get any images we will book you a further appointment at your convenience and at no extra cost.
Is there anything else I can do to improve my chance of getting great images?
Baby’s position and the amount of water around baby are the two most important factors in getting good images. However, in many cases, extensive abdominal fat can have some impact on the quality of images. In answer then, there is not much you can do to improve your chance, after all baby is in charge of the show!!
What type of ultrasound scanning equipment do you use?
At The Baby skan studio we use the latest GE Voluson 730 Pro 3D/4D ultrasound scanning equipment.
What do I need to bring with me ?
You only need to bring your hospital/antenatal notes along with you. This enables our sonographer to accurately date your pregnancy and containes contact details of your health professionals if they become necessary.
Do I need a full bladder ?
It is not always necessary to have a full bladder when you attend for your scan appointment but sometimes it can help particularily when having an early scan. Please therefore ask at time of booking.
How do I make an appointment ?
You can ring our booking number on 01872 261006 We are open 9 am to 5 pm seven days a week. If however we are busy scanning and are unable to take your call you can leave a message and we will ring you back at your convenience..
Does this replace my hospital scan/do I still need to attend hospital ?
Yes definitely. Your baby skan studio scan is completely optional and is in addition to your routine NHS antenatal care. You must still attend all of your normal hospital appointments.
How long will my scan appointment last ?
We would advise that you allow 1 hour for your appointment. Your scan time can vary depending on the option you choose but depending on how co-operative baby is feeling on the day it may take us a little longer to get you the best images.
What if I don’t want to find out the sex of my baby ?
If you do not wish to know the sex of your baby please let us know and we will do our very best to respect your wishes
Will you be able to tell me the sex of my baby ?
We do not routinely check the sex of baby but if you do wish to know we will do our best to find out for you. This is usually possible in most cases with a 95% accuracy although sometimes depending on babies position this may not be possible.