Question 1

Do I need a full bladder?

Accepted Answer

If you are coming for an Early Scan and you are under 14 weeks, then yes, you will need a full bladder. If you are attending for a Gender scan or a 4D scan, then you do NOT need a full bladder.

Question 2

What is the difference between 3D, 4D and HD Live?

Accepted Answer

A 2D ultrasound is the standard procedure used during obstetric ultrasound, producing 2-dimensional images of what is happening inside the mother's and baby's body. The ultrasound used to make the 4D/HD-Live images is the same as that used for the 2D black and white images you see in hospital. We use a special probe, and the machine's software processes the images differently to make a 4D image. 4D is simply a moving 3D image; the live scan you see on the screen is called 4D, and the still images we print out are 3D. HD is another version of 4D providing clearer pictures — again, it is simply a moving 3D image.

Question 3

When is best to have a 3D/4D scan?

Accepted Answer

A 4D scan can be done at any time in your pregnancy from 16 weeks. For the best results we advise having your scan done between 27 and 32 weeks, though scans outside this range can still give fantastic results.

Question 4

What factors can affect my scan?

Accepted Answer

The quality of the images can be affected by a few factors. The position baby is in at the time of the scan can affect the images we obtain; if baby isn't in the right position we will ask you to move around to try to get baby to move. Your placenta can also affect the scan if baby's face is touching it — again we would ask you to move around. Mummy's BMI can also affect the images, because ultrasound uses sound waves that travel through tissue; the more tissue, the further they travel, so the less clear the image will be.

Question 5

How old do I have to be?

Accepted Answer

Precious Glimpse only offers scans to expectant mothers over the age of 18. We will ask for your date of birth when you complete your client information form on arrival, and may need proof of age should staff have any doubt. On some occasions we will ask at the time of booking. Unfortunately we cannot provide a scan should you be under 18.

Question 6

What if I don't wish to know the gender of the baby?

Accepted Answer

If you don't want to know the gender of your baby, please let your ultrasound technician know and they will base the majority of the scan around the facial features.

Question 7

How long should I leave between successive scans?

Accepted Answer

The safety of our clients and their pregnancies is of paramount importance to us. We advise scans are booked with a 2-week minimum interval so we can obtain accurate information and national safety guidance principles are adhered to.

Question 8

Who can I bring to my appointment?

Accepted Answer

Our scanning room can seat up to 4 people. If you wish for more people to attend, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate. Children are more than welcome; we just ask that they are accompanied by another adult.

Question 9

What should I bring with me?

Accepted Answer

On the day of the scan you do not need to bring anything. If you are coming for an Early Pregnancy Scan, all you will need is a full bladder. We do not need to see any hospital notes.

Question 10

Can I use this scan in place of a hospital scan?

Accepted Answer

No. Precious Glimpse offers the scan with the understanding that you are receiving appropriate antenatal care and have had a normal hospital scan. Under no circumstances should a Precious Glimpse scan be used in place of your hospital ultrasound scan.

Question 11

Will my scan detect any abnormalities?

Accepted Answer

Precious Glimpse is a non-diagnostic and non-medical scanning studio. All mothers should attend their routine hospital scans. We do not provide anomaly reports. However, should we detect a problem, we will — with your permission — refer you to the relevant department within the NHS.

Question 12

Can you scan twins/triplets?

Accepted Answer

Yes. However, twins/triplets can get quite cosy in your womb and cuddle up, so if you are considering a 3D/4D scan, the best time would be between 22 and 26 weeks gestation. Twin/triplet gender scans can be done from 16 weeks. There is a £20 twin supplement added to the scan package.

Question 13

Can I hear my baby's heartbeat?

Accepted Answer

Hearing your baby's heartbeat is a beautiful thing — there's nothing quite like that thudding sound, like a train chugging or galloping horses. We often get asked if baby's heartbeat can be heard during a scan. The answer is yes, but not in the first trimester as part of an early pregnancy scan. The first trimester is a vital stage in development and the tiny heart is only a few cells thick. It is a miracle we can see these tiny hearts flickering away at anything from 110–180 beats per minute (bpm). To listen to a baby's heartbeat using ultrasound we would need pulse-wave doppler, which on an ultrasound machine is a bit stronger than the handheld doppler your midwife would use. Because baby's heart is so tiny and developing at this stage, it is best to wait until a little later, after this early development stage, to avoid any potential risks.

Question 14

What happens if my scan isn't fulfilled?

Accepted Answer

Precious Glimpse offers a free rescan, as a gesture of goodwill, with all of our standard-priced scans. Promotional or offer scans are not eligible for a free rescan, as they are already heavily discounted. There are a number of reasons a scan may not be fully successful, varying by stage of pregnancy. We offer early scans from 7 weeks, calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period; however, dates are commonly slightly out, and if you are earlier than expected we may not see anything clearly on an abdominal scan. Please attend within our recommended gestation windows: early scans from 7 weeks, gender scans from 14 weeks, and 4D/HD Live scans from 16 weeks (best imaging typically 27–32 weeks). If you attend outside these timeframes, you will not be eligible for a free rescan. If you have booked a standard scan package within the recommended time frames (early, gender or 4D HD), you will be entitled to a free rescan if needed. This rescan must be booked on a weekday. For gender and 4D scans, baby's position is very important. If baby is not in a suitable position, we may ask you to go for a short walk to encourage movement. If baby still does not move, we will offer a free rescan as a gesture of goodwill with all standard packages. If you have booked a special offer or discounted scan, a free rescan is not included, but we can arrange a rescan for a £20 supplement.

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