What does the anomaly scan check?
It is a detailed, systematic examination of your baby’s anatomy: the brain and skull, face and lips, spine, heart and its four chambers, lungs, stomach, kidneys and bladder, abdominal wall, arms, legs, hands and feet. Your sonographer also measures growth, checks the amniotic fluid and the placenta’s position, and performs a uterine artery Doppler to assess blood flow to the placenta.
When should I have the anomaly scan?
Between 18 and 24 weeks, with 20 to 22 weeks the ideal window: the anatomy is developed enough to assess in detail, and there is still time to arrange further tests if anything is found. It is the scan most parents know as the 20-week scan.
How long does an anomaly scan take?
Around 40 minutes. It is the longest of the pregnancy scans because every part of your baby is examined in turn, and some views depend on your baby’s position. Your sonographer talks you through each structure as it is checked, so the time passes quickly.
What conditions can an anomaly scan detect?
It can identify many structural conditions: spina bifida, cleft lip, major heart defects, abdominal wall defects, kidney problems, limb abnormalities and skeletal conditions among them. Detection rates vary by condition, from very high for spina bifida and anencephaly to lower for some heart defects, and your sonographer is honest about what has and has not been seen.
Can an anomaly scan detect Down’s syndrome?
Not reliably. Down’s syndrome is a chromosomal condition, and most babies with it have no structural abnormality visible on ultrasound, although certain markers can raise suspicion. For accurate screening you need NIPT, a blood test available from 10 weeks, which detects more than 99% of cases.
Can the anomaly scan detect cerebral palsy or autism?
No. Cerebral palsy and autism are not structural abnormalities visible on ultrasound; cerebral palsy usually arises from events around birth, and autism is diagnosed in childhood from development and behaviour. The anomaly scan looks for physical conditions such as spina bifida, cleft lip, heart and kidney defects. A normal scan is reassuring about those, but no prenatal test can rule out cerebral palsy or autism.
Can the anomaly scan tell me the sex of my baby?
Yes, if you would like to know and your baby’s position allows a clear view. Tell your sonographer at the start whether you want the sex revealed, kept off the screen, or sealed in an envelope.
What is the uterine artery Doppler?
A measurement of blood flow in the arteries supplying your womb and placenta, taken during the scan with no extra procedure. High resistance in these arteries at 20 to 24 weeks is associated with a higher chance of pre-eclampsia and growth restriction later on, so it helps identify pregnancies that benefit from closer monitoring.
Do I need a full bladder for the anomaly scan?
No. By 20 weeks the womb and baby are clearly visible through your tummy without it. Come as you are; comfortable, loose clothing makes the scan easier.
What happens if the anomaly scan finds something?
Your sonographer explains it to you in the room, honestly and in plain English. A consultant radiologist reviews the finding the same day, and we arrange prompt referral to a fetal medicine specialist with your report and images, through our hospital partners, so that you get expert answers quickly rather than waiting weeks.
Can an anomaly scan miss something?
Yes. Ultrasound cannot see every condition, and some problems develop or only become visible later in pregnancy. A normal anomaly scan is very reassuring, but it is not a guarantee. We tell you clearly if any view was limited, for example by your baby’s position, and offer a repeat scan where it would add information.
Should I have a private anomaly scan if I am having one on the NHS?
Many parents do, for a longer and more relaxed appointment, an earlier date, a second opinion on an NHS finding, or simply more time with a specialist sonographer explaining everything. A private scan never replaces or affects your NHS care, and if anything needs attention we write to your midwife or consultant.
Is the anomaly scan different for twins?
Each baby is examined in full, so the appointment is longer and may be split over two visits if the babies’ positions make some views difficult. Your sonographer also checks the shared or separate placentas and the fluid around each baby. Tell us when you book so that enough time is set aside.
Can my partner and children come to the anomaly scan?
Yes, they are welcome throughout. The screen faces you so that everyone can see. Because this is a detailed medical examination, your sonographer will need periods of concentration, but there is still plenty of time to show you your baby.
How much does a private anomaly scan cost in London?
£260 at Harley Street Ultrasound, all fees inclusive: the full anatomy survey, the uterine artery Doppler, your sonographer’s time, scan images and your written report the same day. Book online without a referral; same-day and next-day appointments are usually available.
What if something needs a closer look?
Your sonographer tells you in the room, gently and in plain English, and explains exactly what it means. You are never sent home to wait for a letter. Most of the time a finding simply needs a repeat scan in a week or two, or a measurement checked again at the next routine scan.
If something genuinely needs attention, a consultant review is available the same day, and we arrange the next step for you: a referral to a fetal medicine specialist or early pregnancy unit, with your report and images, through our hospital partners. You will not be left alone with a worry.
Do I need a referral?
No. Harley Street Ultrasound is a private clinic, so you can book an anomaly scan in London directly online or by phone, with no GP or midwife letter and no waiting list. Same-day and next-day appointments are usually available, and we are at 99 Harley Street, a short walk from Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations.
The price is published before you book: £260, all fees inclusive, covering the scan, your sonographer’s time, your scan images and your written report. Pregnancy scans are usually self-pay; if you are insured, check whether your policy covers pregnancy scanning before you book.
How soon will I have the written report?
The same day. You will already know what was seen, because your sonographer explains everything on screen as the scan happens, and your written report is published to your secure patient portal with your images before the day ends, ready to share with your midwife, GP or consultant.
Your scan images are on your secure portal the same day.
Is ultrasound safe for my baby?
Yes. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, and has been used in pregnancy for more than fifty years with no confirmed harmful effects on babies. Our sonographers keep scan times to what is clinically needed and use hospital-grade equipment, so a scan can be repeated safely whenever it is useful.
Can I still have my NHS scans afterwards?
Yes, completely. A private scan with us never affects your NHS maternity care: keep every NHS appointment as planned. Many parents book with us for extra reassurance between NHS scans, or for a scan the NHS does not routinely offer. If anything needs attention, your sonographer writes to your midwife or GP so that you re-enter the NHS pathway with the findings already in hand.
