Our pregnancy scans

Bristol Pregnancy Scans offer scans throughout pregnancy. All the scans are performed by Consultants or Midwife Sonographers with post graduate qualifications. All have completed Fetal Medicine Foundation training.

We use the most up to date ultrasound machines, in comfortable surroundings, with time to look at your baby. We encourage clients to bring a family member or two and pictures of each scan are provided as a record to take home. We will also give you a full report for your medical records.

You can book direct. We recommend you keep your midwife informed of your visit to the clinic. The scans available are:

Reassurance and Dating scans

Reassurance scans can be performed at any stage of pregnancy. They can confirm that all is well, and show you the baby moving.You and can also see and hear the heart beat.

Dating scans are best performed at 7-12 weeks, to confirm that all is well, to date the pregnancy and provide an estimated date for delivery (EDD). This is also the best time to check for a twin pregnancy.

Fetal normality scans

This scan is performed at 20 weeks, to check the vital internal structures of the baby, and check the sex if requested.

4D fetal Wellbeing Scans

This scan combines measurements of the baby, to make sure the growth is going according to plan, and to see the baby in 3 dimensions in real time (making it a 4D scan). We record the scan on a DVD for you to take home. If you bring a CD with your favourite music on it, we can use it as background music on your DVD. The best time for this scan is between 26 and 32 weeks.

Growth scans

These can be performed at any time in pregnancy. If you have been told you have a 'low placenta' we recommend a scan at 36 weeks.

Amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling

These are the invasive, diagnostic tests which can detect or rule out a chromosomal abnormality, such as Down’s syndrome.

These tests involve the insertion of a fine needle into the amniotic fluid at about 16 weeks (amiocentesis) or into the developing placenta (CVS) after 11 weeks. Both carry a small increase in the risk of a miscarriage (about 1%). Our consultants will discuss these tests in detail with you. We get an initial result within 48 hrs, to exclude Down's, Edward's and Pataus' syndromes and a further analysis to rule out other, smaller chromosomal anomalies follows in 2 weeks.

One of our experienced fetal medicine consultants can provide a private amniocentesis or CVS for you.