Baby scans

1. Baby scans If you've just found out you're pregnant, you probably can't wait to have a baby scan and get official confirmation that your baby is healthy and doing well. Having a baby is so exciting, but in the early weeks when the risk of miscarriage is higher, you can't help but worry. You are probably just counting the days down before you can have the reassurance of that first baby scan. Seeing your baby on screen for the first time makes it all seem real and is a milestone in your pregnancy, confirmation that you're really on the road to becoming a parent. SCANS CAN REASSURE If you don't want to wait to have the NHS booking scan at around 9 to 11 weeks, you can opt to have your baby scan done privately at a date and time to suit you. Even if you've had the NHS scan, you can still book another scan privately if you just want some added reassurance; the appointments are longer too and you can bring more guests along. There are many different types of baby scan on offer; Ultrasound Direct offer a total of 14 scans from as early as six weeks into your pregnancy, and many couples say it's money well spent to have the peace of mind that comes from seeing their baby is thriving - saving weeks of fretting and worrying. Even when there is bad news, finding out earlier that a pregnancy is not progressing may save a lot of heartache in the long run. EARLY SCANS Private ultrasound companies such as Ultrasound Direct offer baby scans from the very early weeks of your pregnancy right through to the last trimester. Scans are particularly reassuring in the early weeks, especially if you have experienced a previous pregnancy loss or are experiencing spotting or bleeding. Early baby scans on offer include:

2. Early scans: These are available when your reach six weeks until 11 weeks and can be booked at a time convenient for you at your nearest centre. A trained sonographer can confirm your pregnancy, check your baby's heartbeat and measure them to check they're growing as expected for your dates. The first baby scan is usually incredibly reassuring and it's also your first real chance to get a look at your baby. If sadly, however your baby has not developed as expected and there's no heartbeat, you are in expert hands and will be counselled about what your options are and directed to the relevant medical care and psychological support. Non Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) scan: These can be carried out between 10 and 22 weeks and consist of a Harmony™ prenatal blood test for Down's syndrome and other genetic conditions, plus a scan to date the pregnancy and check on the baby's wellbeing. You'll get your baby's DNA results within seven days. Dating scans: Also known as booking scans, these are performed at 12 to 16 weeks to confirm how many weeks pregnant you are and check on your baby's health and wellbeing. A dating scan can also tell you if you're expecting one baby or a multiple pregnancy (they can't tell you the sex of your baby, though). MID PREGNANCY SCANS Some parents also need reassurance their baby is doing okay in the middle months of pregnancy, and there are a number of diagnostic scans available in this period. These include: Anomaly scan: Also called 20 week scan, anomaly scan can be carried out between 19 and 24 weeks and they check your baby's growth and the development of their internal organs (heart, brain, kidneys, etc) and take about 40 minutes. Your sonographer is also able to tell you the sex of your baby - but only if you want to know! Gender scan: As the name suggests, gender scan tell you the sex of your baby and can be performed anytime between 16 and 32 weeks.

3. THIRD TRIMESTER SCANS Some parents worry about whether their baby is growing well in the third trimester; others are anxious about the baby's position. A number of private baby scans can give extra reassurance during this time. They include: Growth scan: These can check on how your baby is growing and give you an estimated weight at the time of the scan. Doppler ultrasound can also be used to assess how well the placenta, the pregnancy organ that supplies your baby with food and oxygen, is functioning. A growth scan can be performed anytime between 24 to 36 weeks. Presentation scan: These can be carried out any time between 37 and 40 weeks and check for medical conditions such as low-lying placenta or your baby being in the breech position (feet first). They also include a fetal wellbeing check, growth report and can give you an estimated fetal weight. OTHER SCANS Other baby scans that can be carried out in both the second and third trimester include the 4D bonding scan, which gives you the chance to see your baby moving in real time and also includes a growth report and estimated fetal weight. The simply4DScan gives you a shorter 15-minute appointment (so less time to see your baby), but much the same information. All baby scans are carried out for medical reasons and performed by a qualified sonographer who will be able to answer your questions and give you a detailed report of their findings.