Private Gender & Foetal Wellbeing Ultrasound Scan
From 16 - 18 Weeks

Our gender and foetal wellbeing scan gives you the critical information you need about your baby’s health to feel confident and supported on your pregnancy journey. It does not replace your Foetal Anatomy (Anomaly) Scan.

The NHS offers the anomaly scan at the 18 to 24-week mark. We also provide safe and private anomaly scans for pregnant people who are ineligible for NHS cover or do not wish to use NHS-provided antenatal care.

The scan is offered at 16 to 18 weeks. During the scan, our specialised consultants perform the following:

• Foetal biometry measures your baby’s size. Our consultants provide the estimated foetal weight (EFW) and plot it on a growth chart, so you can see how your baby is growing.

• Assessment of the amniotic fluid, which surrounds your baby.

• Assessment of the placenta’s location.

• Assessment of the cervix. In most cases, this takes place during a transabdominal ultrasound. The transducer, which is called an ultrasound wand, is placed on your tummy. If your specialist sonographer suspects an anomaly, they request your permission to perform a transvaginal ultrasound. During a transvaginal ultrasound, a small, tampon-like probe is inserted into your vagina. The process is quick and shouldn’t hurt.

• Determine the gender of your baby, if requested.

• A basic anatomy scan, which does not replace your anomaly scan. The NHS offers the anomaly scan at the 18 to 24-week mark. We also provide safe and private anomaly scans for pregnant people who are ineligible for NHS cover or do not wish to use NHS-provided antenatal care.

Building your family is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences. However, it doesn’t come without ups and downs.

As an expectant parent, the health and development of your baby are your top priority. Our foetal wellbeing scan gives you the reassurance that everything is progressing as it should be.

If an anomaly is suspected, we offer a pregnancy scan to provide you with the necessary information and support to ensure the best possible outcome before, during, and after delivery.

In addition to keeping you informed and up-to-date with your growing baby’s development, we may recommend a foetal wellbeing ultrasound if anomalies were detected previously.

Regular ultrasounds do not cause harm to you or your baby and empower your healthcare team to take any required precautions.

During your ultrasound, the specialised sonographer calculates the size of your baby using head, tummy, and thigh bone measurements to estimate the weight of your baby (estimated foetal weight or EFW) and plots this on a growth chart.

If your baby is bigger or smaller than expected, your specialist provide guidance on any next steps or further testing.

In addition, your specialist assesses your amniotic fluid and the placenta’s location. Then, we check your cervix and perform a basic foetal anatomy scan. Finally, we perform a baby gender scan.

If you’d like to keep your baby’s gender a surprise, let your specialist know.

Throughout the process, we encourage you to ask questions and raise concerns. We understand how meaningful this journey is to you and your family, and we are committed to making your experience as positive as possible.

Thus, though ultrasounds are pain-free and non-invasive, if you feel any discomfort, let your attending ultrasound technician know immediately. We are here to help.

While it can be scary to find out your baby is not developing as expected, anomalies are not typically dangerous.

Your appointed ultrasound specialist sonographer can find out the issues and explain their findings, and recommend further testing, if necessary. The more information you have, the better you can care for your baby, whatever that may require.

Foetal biometry is the process of measuring a baby’s size using ultrasound images.

Your specialist sonographer performs foetal biometry with precision, allowing your healthcare team to estimate your baby’s age, weight, size, and growth – all of which offer valuable information about his or her health and wellbeing.

Your consultant takes several measurements during the foetal biometry process. Depending on the position of your baby, these might include:

• The diameter and circumference of your baby’s head

• The crown-rump length (CRL), which measures the length from the top of your baby’s head to his or her bottom

• The circumference of your baby’s tummy

• The length of your baby’s thigh bone, called a femur

Foetal biometry shows whether your baby is small, average, or large for his or her age. Your specialist can advise on the next steps should your baby fall outside the average range.

Yes, if you want. During your gender and foetal wellbeing scan, your specialist can tell you whether your baby is male or female.

However, if you do not wish to know, inform your specialist beforehand. They will keep it a secret till your gender reveal party or delivery day surprise.

Yes. You will get the high-resolution digital images and print outs if you would like along with a report so that you can keep them or show them to any healthcare specialist.

Harley Street Ultrasound Group provides the best private ultrasound scans in London.

They have specialist senior sonographers who have years of experience in this field.

They ensure every patient has a comfortable time and gets to know how the baby is developing. You do not need a referral.

You can just book an appointment anytime, get a one-on-one specialist appointment, and get answers super quickly.

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Yes. Ultrasound is completely safe for your pregnancy as it does not have radiation, harmful sound waves, or other risky elements.

Of course not. There are no known risks associated with ultrasound scans.

Unlike other medical imaging technologies, ultrasounds don’t use radiation. Instead, they use harmless sound waves to capture images of your baby and the inside of your body.

We advise drinking a few glasses of water an hour before your ultrasound as a full bladder will improve the visibility of your pregnancy on our external ultrasound scan.

There is no particular type of care required after a female health check ultrasound. You may resume your regular diet and daily activities unless your doctor advises you differently.

There are no confirmed adverse biological effects on patients or instrument operators caused by exposures to ultrasound at the intensity levels used in diagnostic ultrasound.

But depending on your particular results, the doctor may give you additional or alternative instructions after the procedure.

Many parents attending a 16–18 week gender and foetal wellbeing ultrasound have already had Noninvasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Screening, which uses cell–free fetal DNA and ultrasound to evaluate the risk of chromosomal conditions such as trisomy 21, trisomy 18 and trisomy 13. In case you didn’t, this is also an option from 10-40 weeks.

Many of our patients are concerned that if they come to us for an ultrasound, they won’t be able to go back to public health. That simply is not the case.

Our goal is to give you answers as quickly as possible and get you on the right treatment path fast – no strings attached.

When you come to us, you will be seen by a qualified specialist who can determine if your situation is serious or not that same day.

We don’t want you to wait weeks on end for an appointment because every minute counts when it comes to something as important as your health.

If your situation is serious, our specialist will write to your doctor on the NHS advising them that you need an urgent appointment.