Skip to main content

Private Early Pregnancy Scans in London

We are experts in early anomaly detection, and comprehensive fetal screening at every stage of pregnancy. At LPC, we utilise the latest 2D, 3D and 4D imaging to screen for your baby’s health. Our team are experts in fetal echocardiography and neurosonography.

At London Pregnancy Clinic we offer private early pregnancy scans in London.

Viability Scan

The viability scan is the first scan in your pregnancy journey. It is sometimes referred to as the “dating scan” or “early pregnancy scan”.

Learn more

Early Fetal Scan

The early fetal scan, which is our signature private pregnancy scan, aims to provide reassurance as early as possible, regarding the health and development of your baby.

Learn more

Anomaly Scan

By 20-22 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 the anomaly scan/anatomy scan.

Learn more

3rd Trimester Anomaly Scan

The NHS fetal screening program in the UK does not include any additional scans after the 18–20-week anomaly scan for pregnant women with no risk factors. This means that for most women, the 18–20-week scan is the last scan in their pregnancy. However, in many other countries, there are additional pregnancy ultrasound scan schedules for the third trimester, the scan findings aim to evaluate fetal growth and development.

Learn more

Wellbeing Scan

Special 3rd trimester scan aiming to exclude late pregnancy problems and also check the baby’s growth and wellbeing. 4D scan included.

Learn more

10 Weeks Scan

This is the earliest and most technologically advanced private ultrasound scan at 10 weeks which aims to exclude 10 major fetal anomalies visible at this stage. At 10 weeks of pregnancy, your baby’s main structures have already developed which allows us the chance to perform a first structural examination.

Learn more

NIPT Test

We combine advanced NIPT for Downs syndrome and other chromosomal anomalies with our expert ultrasound anomaly scan to check baby’s health as early as possible.

Learn more

Presentation Scan

The main aim of the presentation scan is to diagnose breech position or other abnormalities in the baby’s position. The clinician assisting you with the delivery will use this information to prepare for your baby’s birth!

Learn more

Read more about our 1st trimester scans here.

Weeks 6 – 9
Weeks 6-9

Viability Scan/Dating Scan

The viability scan is the first scan in your pregnancy journey. It is sometimes referred to as the “dating scan” or “early pregnancy scan”.

If you are planning to have NIPT, the viability scan will help you to see how many babies you have and establish proper dating for your earliest NIPT appointment.

Read more…

Weeks 10 & 11
Week 10 & 11

10 Week Scan

This is the earliest and most technologically advanced anomaly scan at 10 weeks which aims to exclude 10 severe fetal anomalies visible at this stage. 10 weeks of pregnancy is the best time to use 3D medical technology for your baby’s health check-up.

Undoubtedly this scan is the best ultrasound examination to have together with NIPT. 

Read more…

Weeks 12 – 16
Weeks 12 – 16

Early Fetal Scan

This is our signature scan. The early fetal pregnancy scans include thorough top-to-toe examination of the young baby to exclude anomalies as early as possible.

We are trying to exclude >100 serious anomalies, which are usually screened for by the NHS at 19-20 weeks.

Read more…

Weeks 20 – 25
Weeks 20-25

Anomaly Scan

Our anomaly scan has a more comprehensive checklist of fetal structures than the 19–20-week NHS scan. We perform a thorough examination of the baby’s face, brain, heart, fingers, and other important organs. The best time for our anomaly scan is 22-23 weeks.

By request you can have uterine arteries dopplers and cervical length measurements at the same scan.

Read more…

Weeks 26 – 29
Weeks 26 – 29

3rd Trimester Anomaly Scan

The NHS fetal screening program doesn’t offer any routine scans after the 18–20-week anomaly scan, meaning most women won’t have any additional baby checks before birth. This scan aims to screen for birth defects with late manifestation (especially for anomalies of the brain, heart and the kidneys). This period is the best for clinical use of 3D/4D.

Read more…

Weeks 30 – 35
Weeks 30 – 35

Wellbeing Scan

We carefully check fetal wellbeing at this stage in order to confirm normal growth and development of the baby. This is more than just a growth scan: we check fetal growth and weight, perform fetal blood flow studies (dopplers) and look for placenta and amniotic fluid. We also perform the maximal possible checks for fetal anatomy and if possible, we perform 3D/4D.

Read more…

Weeks 36 – 40
Weeks 36 – 40

Presentation Scan

The main aim of the presentation scan (or pre delivery scan) is to diagnose breech position or other abnormalities in the baby’s position. We also perform a thorough check-up of fetal growth and estimate the fetal weight. We assess fetal wellbeing by umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery dopplers.

Read more…

Weeks 6-40

Scan upon request

Our fetal medicine consultants can offer a diagnostic second opinion and same day reassurance scan at any stage of your pregnancy. Contact us and our doctors will put in maximum effort to accommodate you as soon as possible.

Please note that we have NO facilities for urgent treatment and if you have serious abdominal cramps, pain or bleeding, leakage of fluid, absence of fetal movements or any other abnormal symptoms please go to hospital.

Read more…

Weeks 12-18
Early baby Scan Fetal Echocardiography Scan London Pregnancy Clinic

Early Baby Heart Scan

(Early Fetal Echocardiography)

Our Early Fetal Echocardiography is our special scan to confirm the normal development of the baby’s heart. From 12 weeks we can exclude up to 80% of prenatally detectable severe fetal heart defects.

This scan is highly recommended if your baby has an increased nuchal translucency (NT), or other unusual findings or anomalies on your 1st trimester scan.

Read more…

Other Scans you may have seen elsewhere…

At London Pregnancy Clinic, we believe that every scan should be as meticulous as possible. With every scan, our doctor will endeavour to check every aspect of your baby’s development to produce a comprehensive diagnosis. That is why we don’t offer the scans below as standalone scans; these examinations are organically included (for free) into our other scans. If there is clinical indication, our doctor will recommend you have additional examinations during your mainstream scan.

Furthermore, while we extensively use 3D/4D imaging for our medical scanning, the scan is performed for medical purposes, not just to get nice images of your baby. Please note that in some cases it is also impossible to get good quality baby’s pictures due to its position or other technical reasons.

On your request we can reveal the baby’s gender at any scan from 13 weeks. 

Frequently Asked Questions

You have a question? We have an answer.

WHAT IS OFFERED BY THE NHS FETAL ANOMALY SCREENING PROGRAMME?

Currently, NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme includes screening for… 

  • Down’s syndrome is offered to all eligible pregnant women and takes place between 10⁺⁰ and 20⁺⁰ weeks of pregnancy.

  • Edward’s syndrome and Patau’s syndrome are offered to all eligible pregnant women and take place between 10⁺⁰ and 14⁺¹ weeks of pregnancy.

  • 11 physical conditions as part of the 20-week scan are offered to all pregnant women and take place between 18⁺⁰ and 20⁺⁶ weeks of pregnancy. Scans can be completed up to 23⁺⁰ weeks of pregnancy.

Your first scan with the NHS is likely to be the nuchal translucency/dating scan at 11-13 weeks. This scan is predominantly designed to screen for the same chromosomal anomalies (Down’s, Edward’s and Patau’s syndromes) as NIPT using an older methodology developed in the 1990s. NIPT is a far more advanced test developed in 2011 with a much higher accuracy.

Most crucially, majority of NHS Trusts have no protocols for structural anomalies screening at 11-13 weeks. Our scans are especially designed to screen for every anomaly detectable from an early gestational age and will improve the management of the pregnancy.

The second scan by the NHS is usually done at 19-20 weeks, this is called an anomaly scan and includes screening for 11 conditions:

  • Edwards’ syndrome (T18)
  • Patau’s syndrome (T13)
  • anencephaly
  • spina bifida
  • cleft lip
  • congenital diaphragmatic hernia
  • gastroschisis
  • exomphalos
  • congenital heart disease
  • bilateral renal agenesis
  • lethal skeletal dysplasia

At London Pregnancy Clinic, we screen for these 11 conditions among other 100 anomalies at the 12-16 week early fetal scan, however we are well aware that in some cases those abnormalities can have delayed manifestation (for example diaphragmatic hernia) or being too small to be detected (cleft lip). 

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’ll provide a USB stick with the full 3D/4D experience.

HOW MANY SCANS CAN I DO DURING PREGNANCY? IS IT SAFE TO HAVE MULTIPLE ULTRASOUND EXAMINATIONS?

You can have as many scans as needed for appropriate management of your pregnancy. Some mothers with complicated pregnancies, in order to confirm fetal wellbeing, can have scans a few times a week. There are no cumulative effects from repeated scans. 

Ultrasound is very safe for your baby because it uses low intensity sound and there isn’t any radiation exposure. The results of the WHO systematic review on safety of ultrasonography in pregnancy has showed that ultrasonography in pregnancy was not associated with adverse maternal or perinatal outcome, impaired physical or neurological development, increased risk for malignancy in childhood, subnormal intellectual performance or mental diseases.

The only known effect from the use of ultrasound equipment is its potential to increase temperature of the body. It can happen only with prolonged (more than hour) uninterrupted scanning with high intensity ultrasound modes and with use of outdated equipment. 

During every private pregnancy scan in London, we control thermal index (TI) as an on-screen guide of the potential for tissue heating and strictly following ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable) during all scans. For early pregnancy scans we perform an ongoing audit of thermal index (TI) and time of the scan.

How many scans would you recommend during pregnancy? What is the best scan schedule?

We think that the best scan schedule for uncomplicated pregnancy is:

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL PRIVATE TESTS; HOWEVER, WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES. WHICH SCANS AND TEST WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS A MINIMUM FOR MY BABY?

We think that essential scans for every future mother for uncomplicated pregnancy are:

  • 10 Weeks Scan and NIPT (affordable Invitae NIPS) at 10 weeks in London Pregnancy Clinic
  • NHS NT scan preferable at 13 weeks
  • NHS anomaly scan at 19-20 weeks
  • 3rd Trimester Anomaly Scan at 28 weeks in London Pregnancy Clinic

This minimalistic schedule will give you:

  • earliest scan to exclude major anomalies (10 weeks Scan)
  • best option for Down’s syndrome screening (Invitae NIPS)
  • screening for anomalies with late manifestation and early fetal growth disorders which can be invisible at 19-20 week at NHS anomaly scan (3rd trimester anomaly scan)  
WHAT IS THE MOST ADVANCED AND COMPREHENSIVE SCAN THAT I CAN DO EARLY IN THE PREGNANCY FOR MY REASSURANCE?

Early fetal echocardiography is the most advanced and comprehensive ultrasound scan in early pregnancy.

We will perform:

  • Special examination for fetal heart
  • Top-to-toe examination of all baby’s organs and structures

You can have also NIPT for the most accurate Down’s syndrome screening as add-on option during this scan

We perform all the spectrum of expert scans in pregnancy

Please contact us if you have any requirements for specific ultrasound scan or test