Anomaly Scan at the London Pregnancy Clinic

Our private anomaly scan perfectly complements your NHS scan, with a more extensive checklist.

Anomaly Scan - Our Anomaly Scan perfectly complements your NHS scan

The most detailed examination of the Fetal Anatomy

The ultimate detailed ultrasound scan of the fetal anatomy. It takes a close look of your baby, including an extensive checklist of the internal organs and structures, with special attention to the heart and brain.

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Your baby’s brain at 20 weeks – we are experts in Neurosonography

Most extensive checklist of fetal anomalies

By 20 weeks of pregnancy, you are roughly halfway through your journey. This is an ideal time to re-examine the anatomical development of your baby using our anomaly scan in London. More specifically, we recommend the London Pregnancy Clinic scan to be performed at 22 weeks, when the major structures of the baby’s brain are completely developed.

The mid pregnancy scan involves a thorough examination of the fetal anatomy including a top-to-toe examination of the baby and its environment in the womb. Whilst checking your baby, we have the most comprehensive list of organs and structures that we examine, paying special attention to the fetal brain and heart defects.

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Choose our Anomaly Scan

We perform meticulous top-to-toe screening tests of the fetus and check more structures than any other institution,
We perform an advanced fetal heart examination for every baby we scan,
Our anomaly scan in pregnancy is scheduled at a slightly later gestational age (preferable 21-22 weeks) because some important structures of the brain are not completely developed at 19 weeks, which is when the majority of the NHS scans are performed,
We check the corpus callosum, an important midline structure of the brain, which is challenging to examine,
We have immense experience in screening for fetal anomalies,
On your clinician request we can perform a doppler examination of your uterine arteries blood flow and/or cervical length measurements (no add-on fee for the test),
We screen for vasa previa, which is a rare, but potentially dangerous condition that can lead to fetal bleeding and distress in labour,
We use the most advanced ultrasound scanners equipped by state-of-the-art high-resolution probes,
We have the latest 3D/4D technology available to our healthcare professionals (quality of image depends on general resolution of the scan and can sometimes be low before 25-26 weeks),
We provide you with your black and white images and videos, which can be downloaded by you from our secure cloud server.

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We have a comprehensive checklist, even your baby’s tiny feet

Frequently Asked Questions

You have a question? We have an answer.

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THE NHS ALSO PROVIDES AN ANOMALY SCAN FOR EVERY PREGNANT WOMAN. WHY SHOULD WE GET THIS SCAN AT LONDON PREGNANCY CLINIC?

The NHS provide a free screening programme, performed by specially trained sonographers, for fetal anomalies in mid-pregnancy (the anomaly scan).

Please visit the NHS page for more information.

How is the Anomaly Scan performed?

Most of the time, a fetal anomaly scan is performed transabdominally; however, in a small number of cases, when the baby is in an awkward position and does not wish to move, we may need to perform a transvaginal scan (TVS, internal scan) to check the lowest part of the baby. Similarly, if the placenta is low or praevia (covering the birth canal), we may also need to do a TVS.

You do NOT need to have a full bladder for the scan. We want you to feel comfortable!

Can we exclude all anomalies or genetic syndromes using this scan?

Unfortunately, there is no test that can diagnose or exclude all fetal anomalies or diseases.

The anomaly scan can detect the majority of fetal anomalies, while some (up to 25% of all anomalies according to new research) are not visible or not developed at 20-23 weeks. As a result, those would go undiagnosed. Fortunately, the majority of those anomalies are mild and treatable after birth, although some of them, such as brain anomalies and tumours can be very serious.

Therefore, because the anomaly scan cannot exclude all anomalies with late manifestation and there is no routine scan after 20 weeks on the NHS, we strongly recommend having a follow-up by the 3rd trimester anomaly scan at 28 weeks.

Unfortunately, some chromosomal or genetic conditions have no ultrasound features and therefore are not detectable by ultrasound at any stage of gestation.

Can you exclude Down’s syndrome by Anomaly Scan?

Definitely not! Some of the babies with Down’s syndrome have no features on the ultrasound and will have a normal appearance on the anomaly scan.

Currently the best screening test for Down’s syndrome is NIPT. You can have the NIPT add-on for your anomaly scan (requires additional payment for the blood test).

Learn more about our harmony test or invitae NIPT options.

Should I still get my NHS Anomaly Scan even after having done one at London Pregnancy Clinic?

Yes, we strongly recommend having your scheduled scans by your NHS provider. It is important for the continuity of prenatal care, as well as for planning your follow-up and delivery.

Can I have my images from the scan? What else will I get?

Yes, of course. We use Tricefy which is a secure cloud system to upload images from your scan to be viewed before you even leave the scanning room! You will also receive a hard and soft copy of your detailed ultrasound report as well as some high-quality colour printouts for you to take home with you.

Tricefy also allows you to download the images from the scan to share with your loved ones via message/social media.

We provide still ultrasound images for you to take away with you on the day. We also send these to you electronically, with a couple of video clips. We provide a USB stick with the full 3D/4D experience.