Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Window to the Womb private baby scans
Making A Booking
Why should I book a scan at Window to the Womb?
How old do I have to be to book a scan?
You must be an adult (18 years old or over); if you are a child (16 or 17 years old), a responsible adult must accompany you to your appointment. A responsible adult is defined as a person who is of or over the age of 18 years and is your parent, step-parent, legal guardian, grandparent or a person who is acting in place of your parent and who could reasonably be expected to exercise responsible supervision of you. A child is anyone who has not reached the age of 18 years. We cannot scan anyone under the age of 16.
I’m having twins; do I have to pay more?
I want to book/amend/cancel my appointment?
When is the best time for my scan?
This all depends on the scan package you are looking for, but our most frequently asked questions are:
- Gender Scan + Fetal Well-being: We are extremely proud of our 99.9% gender accuracy from 15 weeks. Before this time gender determination is not possible. Even if you are a couple of days before we would not want to compromise the accuracy rate as baby can change so much in the early stages.
- 4D Scan + Fetal Well-being: We suggest the best time to come for your 4D scan is between 26 – 30 weeks when baby has started to lay down plenty of fat, making their facial features clearer and allowing us to get some fantastic 3D/4D images.
- Multiple Pregnancies: If you are carrying more than one baby you still need to attend your Gender Scan + Fetal Well-being from 16 weeks. However, when booking a 4D scan we do recommend you attend your scan between 22-26 weeks, so the babies do have more wiggle room.
- Anterior Placenta: If you have an anterior placenta you can of course still have a 4D scan with us however we do recommend attending in the earlier weeks so between 24- 27 weeks, so we still have some room to get baby moving.
Will it matter if I have had a scan already at the hospital?
Are these scans the same as the NHS?
Your sonographer will conduct a limited diagnostic checks as part of your fetal health / well-being scan. These checks are completed in less than 5 minutes and are not as detailed as your NHS 20 week anomaly scan (FASP) which will take 25-30 minutes.
We are only able to check for a limited number of conditions which are displayed in our Fetal Ultrasound Policy within our clinics. You must be attending your NHS antenatal ultrasound scans to ensure you are screened for a much more extensive list of conditions.
I am experiencing pregnancy symptoms but have had a negative test results?
In order to book an early pregnancy scan with us we do require you to have had a positive pregnancy test at least 2 weeks previously. If you are experiencing early pregnancy symptoms but you are having negative tests then we would recommend waiting a week then taking another test, if this comes back negative again we recommend booking an appointment to see you GP who may complete a blood test to identify any concerns. Please book a scan for after you are 6 weeks pregnant. If you are not able to drink much at all or if you are not passing much urine, please contact your GP who may be able to help with your sickness as we don’t want you getting dehydrated.
Do you need to know about any previous pregnancies?
I've had fertility treatment abroad, can I have a scan?
Yes, we offer scans for women who have had fertility treatment, but please ensure you will be at least 4 weeks after your embryo transfer date.
When can I come for a scan following fertility treatment?
I am experiencing pain and bleeding, what are my next steps?
Gender Scans
When can I have a gender scan?
Please ensure that you are at least 15 weeks before coming for your gender scan with us, as sexing is not possible before this time. It is also helpful for you to come with a full bladder so we can get the best view of your baby.
I don’t want to know my baby’s sex; can I still have a scan?
4D Scans
What is a 4D baby scan?
3D Scans show still images of your baby in three dimensions where 4D scans show moving 3D imagery of your baby. 4D Scans allow you to meet your baby and see all their little features before they arrive into the world. From ears to nose to their tiny fingers and toes the experience is something extremely special that you and the whole family can treasure.
What if you can't get clear 4D images on the day?
We will always make every effort during the scan to get clear images of your baby, however ultimately the decision is down to them. If for any reason, we are unable to complete your scan at your appointment time we may encourage you to go for a walk, empty your bladder or have glass of cold water to try get baby moving around. If this still doesn’t work, we will rearrange your appointment for an alternative day and one more time. If we are unable to get facial images at your second appointment, we will focus on ensuring you have images of their tiny hands and feet to take away. (Who doesn’t love their baby’s tiny toes!)
The Day Of Your Scan
What should I do before my scan?
As we always want to ensure you get the most out of your scan with us, we have put together some handy pointers for you:
- If you are attending for a scan pre 10 weeks a transvaginal scan will be offered to provide more accurate results so a full bladder is not required.If you are 10 weeks+ your scan will be abdominal and a full bladder is required.
- To keep you hydrated, please aim to drink an extra 2 glasses of water per day on the week leading up to your scan.
- On the day of your scan we do suggest having a snack a couple of hours before you are due to arrive with us.
- It does help if you arrive a little early, have some water and a little walk just to try and wake baby up for us. If you are joining us for a well-being and gender scan a full bladder is required in order to lift baby.
- If you are attending for a later gestation scan such as 4D, please ensure that you come to the clinic well hydrated with a comfortably full bladder as this can sometimes help the sonographer when trying to get good 4D pictures of baby.
- Please bring your hospital notes with you to every scan, as we cannot scan you without them.
What should I wear to my scan?
With any pregnancy scan we would always recommend comfortable two-piece clothing.
How long will my appointment last?
What if you find something unexpected?
All our private baby scans at Window to the Womb start with a 2D Well-being check of baby, during this time we will assess the following: confirm the number of babies, heartbeat confirmation and visualisation, show baby and placenta positioning, detect a limited number of conditions, check baby is growing as expected (subjectively).
All our sonographers are fully trained and qualified so if there is a problem you are in good hands. They will explain any concerns to you and ensure that you are then referred to your local antenatal clinic or fetal medicine unit for on going care.
Please note, our fetal health / well-being checks are limited when compared to the NHS anomaly scans (FASP). The checks are completed within 5 minutes whereas your NHS anomaly scan will take 25-30 minutes. A fetal health / well-being scan is not a suitable replacement for your NHS anomaly scans and you MUST be attending NHS antenatal care including ultrasound scans.
Can I purchase extra products on the day?
Who will complete my scan?
A fully qualified and registered diagnostic Sonographer will complete your scan. There will also be one of our staff with you whilst you are scanned; they are trained and will act as a chaperone. They will be with you every step of the way from when you arrive at the clinic.
What if I can't see anything on my early pregnancy scan?
If your scan results show inconclusive it may be, either your pregnancy is still too early, or the baby has already passed.
A rescan with us or at the hospital will be recommended in two weeks’ time to determine pregnancy viability.
Will the scan be fully explained to me?
When you arrive for your appointment you will be asked to complete a few details with regards to your pregnancy and at this point your chaperone will run you through what to expect from your appointment.
After Your Scan
Interval between successive Scans
The safety of our customers and their pregnancies are of paramount importance to us.
We advise that scans are booked with a 2-week minimum interval to ensure that our Sonographers can provide the most accurate information and that national safety guidance principles are adhered to.
There are however, as always in medicine, justifiable exceptions and we aim to treat each request and each pregnancy individually. It may be that a physical or psychological concern justifies a shorter interval between scans however we always leave at least 7 days between successive scans. Our clinics are always happy to discuss individual circumstances and provide appropriate guidance.
What happens if I need ongoing care?
In the event that your scan results require a referral, our clinic teams have relationships with local NHS trusts and will work with you to book a follow up appointment for your ongoing care.
