Private baby scans are usually available quicker and more often than the baby scans available on the NHS. That said you should still attend all of the NHS baby scans that have been offered to you, private baby scans are an added bonus and are useful if you need that extra peace of mind.
There are many different private baby scans available such as early gender scans, early pregnancy reassurance scans, and 4d scans.
At a private baby scan, a sonographer will take a detailed look at your baby’s heart, bones, brain, face, spinal cord, abdomen, and kidneys. In doing this they will check for a range of conditions. Not everything can be detected on a baby scan, but if anything does show up that looks slightly unusual or not quite right the sonographer will be able to tell you.
Private baby scans are perfectly safe and will not cause any harm to you or your baby, the earliest scan you can have is at about 6 weeks, this is the earliest that you will probably be able to see anything. The sonographer will be able to take measurements from the crown to the rump at this stage and confirm when your due date will be.
Private baby scans should be carried out in a clean and welcoming clinic. Your scan should be a memorable experience and most clinics will have DVDs and pictures available to take home and treasure forever.
A good private baby scan clinic should have fully qualified sonographers or doctors, providing you with a safe and clinical environment in a warm and welcoming environment.