FAQs
How many guests can I bring to my scan?
We are now welcoming five guests of any age to accompany you!
When is the best time for a 4D scan?
We think the sweet spot is around 28-31 weeks gestation. This is when the baby’s features are developed enough to see their faces, but not too big so there’s enough room in the womb to see them! If you have an anterior placenta we recommend the same time frame; 28-31 weeks.
Are you accredited?
Our clinic is registered with the CQC (Care Quality Commission). The CQC make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care. This means that we have been rigorously tested and screened to ensure that all of our Sonographers and staff are fully qualified, that our working practices are safe and that we provide a service of exceptional quality.
Do I need to drink lots of water before I come?
No. Except for the early reassurance scans, where a full bladder may be helpful.
What if my baby is shy?
We have a free rescan policy which means if baby is shy on the day you come, or in the wrong position, we will invite you back on another day at no extra charge. However, we also have cold water and chocolate on hand to get baby moving, and will also ask you to go for a walk or jiggle about a bit :) Please check our rescan policy for eligibility criteria.
Is 4D scanning safe?
Yes - we use the same technology as the hospitals except our machines include more advanced imaging software allowing us to view your baby in 4D and adjust the lighting. Please see a more detailed answer further below.
Do I need to bring my medical notes?
You do not need to bring your notes with you, however if you have a question to ask the sonographer they might be useful.
What do you stock for gender reveals?
We always have plenty of confetti cannons in stock which you can purchase for £15, or gender reveal scratch cards at £2 each. We also have gender reveal lighting by which you can be told the gender! (Free of charge!). We welcome you to video the moment to share with your loved ones or on your socials, or even have a video call in the scan room at no extra charge.
What products to you sell?
Gender reveal scratch cards - £2
Extra prints - £4 each
Digital download of all images - £10
Digital download of scan video - £10
Confetti Cannons - £15
Heartbeat bear - £30
FAQs - Technology
What is the difference between a 2D and 4D scan?
4D scanning is the best opportunity to really see and bond with your baby before it is born. We use advanced imaging technology to turn a conventional ultrasound into a real 3D image of your baby, which you can see in real time (4D). You’ll see baby moving around your womb, giving you a glimpse of your baby’s personality as well as their face.
As part of your NHS treatment, you will receive ultrasound scans during your pregnancy at 12 weeks and 20 weeks. From the NHS point of view, these are purely diagnostic scans to ensure your baby is developing correctly. From the parents’ point of view, they hold far more emotional significance; they are the moment you are able to see your baby for the first time. The NHS recognise this and even let you pay for a photo during these scans.
However, the scanning equipment used by the NHS is designed only for diagnostic purposes, it does not have this important emotional connection with your baby in mind. You can only see a 2D cross-section of your baby, including their bone structure and maybe a faint outline of their features.
Our equipment is able to perform all the same diagnostic functions to allow us to perform a full peace-of-mind wellbeing scan with every visit, as well as a gender confirmation scan if you wish. But our scanning technology has been further developed to enhance the emotional bonding experience of really meeting your baby for the first time.
Advanced 3D imaging software intelligently creates light and shadow and realistic skin tones to enable you to see an incredibly detailed 3D image of your baby. And because it all happens in real time, where you are able to watch your baby move, yawn, suck their thumb and sometimes even smile, it is known as a 4D scan – the 4th dimension refers to the real-time movement.
We are able to capture these images and movement for you on a range of photos and video options, which you can share with your friends and family, and even show to the baby one day.
Is 4D scanning safe?
Yes, 4D scanning is considered to be perfectly safe. 3D and 4D scanning use the same ultrasound technology that hospitals use during normal diagnostic scans, the technology simply includes more advanced imaging software, which creates the 3D image. This technology has been used for many years, and there is no current evidence of any biological risk to mother and foetus associated with obstetric ultrasound scans. (Obstetric ultrasound, biological effects and safety (no 160, June 2005) SOGC clinical practice guidelines from JOGC) Despite this, we take the safety of you and your baby very seriously and see no need to take any unnecessary risks. We have adopted the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Possible) principle, which means that we have our equipment set to the lowest possible settings, whilst imposing a maximum amount of time we will expose your baby to the ultrasound. Therefore, even our longest scans will not last for more than 20 minutes. We also follow BMUS (British Medical Ultrasound Society) guidelines for the safe use of diagnostic ultrasound equipment and we regularly update our procedures based on BMUS guidance. For added peace-of-mind, we only use the most advanced, modern equipment available, which is regularly serviced. If you have any doubts, please feel free to ask advice from your own doctor or midwife before visiting us.
For information from Public Health England visit >> Ultrasound: what it is, how it works and impact of exposure - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For National Institute for Health and Care Excellence visit >> NICE | The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
What equipment do you use?
We have invested in a brand new Mindray DC-70 ultrasound machine with ‘SmartFace’ software. It is the absolute top of its class for 4D baby scanning and diagnostic ultrasound. It encompasses a range of cutting edge technologies, like an Echo-enriched Beamformer and 3T Traducer Technology to capture flawless 2D, 3D and 4D images in stunning high definition.
You will be amazed at the difference in quality of even the 2D images, compared with what you might get at your 20 week NHS scan. The iLive software ensures the best quality images for 3D and 4D scans.
We are confident that using this cutting-edge technology is the only way to get the very best images of your baby before it is born.
What is HDLive / iLive technology?
Integrating traditional ray casting algorithms with new virtual lighting modality, iLive generates amazingly detailed pictures of your bundle of joy with realistic skin tones and shadows, bringing the 3D image to life.
We are able to change the imaginary light source, enabling us to play with a variety of effects and pick up little details about your baby that you otherwise wouldn’t notice.