Second-Opinion Pregnancy Scans

• Desiring the expert opinion of a specialist in 1st trimester ultrasound and fetal anomalies.
• Seeking confirmation of the accurate diagnosis before making any challenging decisions regarding the continuation of the pregnancy.
• Expressing dissatisfaction with the initial diagnosis or suspecting that something might have been overlooked.
• Having your baby diagnosed with Down’s syndrome (or another genetic syndrome) and wanting to gather information about the associated physical features or structural anomalies.
• Your previous scan being incomplete, for instance, where the sonographer was unable to see some organs or measure NT.
• Having concerns about the speed of previous scans and questioning whether the sonographer had sufficient time to thoroughly examine your baby.
• Feeling uneasy or worried about the unusual baby position and/or experiencing difficulties during previous scans.
• Seeking peace of mind.

Dr Fred Ushakov carries out the second opinion scan with a thorough examination of your baby using advanced ultrasound equipment, such as the Voluson Expert 22. There’s no need to have a full bladder; in fact, we recommend keeping it empty.

In the first trimester, the scan may involve a transvaginal ultrasound in many cases, which can offer valuable insights into your baby’s health. You can choose to opt out of this if you prefer.

Dr Ushakov likes to approach the scan without preconceived notions from your previous scans, allowing him to form an independent opinion on your baby’s condition and possible ultrasound diagnosis. After completing the scan, he’ll discuss the findings and request your previous ultrasounds and test results (such as the combined screening test, NIPT, CVS, or amniocentesis if applicable). If necessary, Dr. Ushakov may recommend a rescan to reevaluate any specific concerns raised in previous scans or tests.

Following this, he’ll explain the diagnosis, answer your questions, prepare a report, and, if desired, securely share relevant ultrasound images and clips through a cloud link.

It’s important to note that Dr Ushakov provides diagnostic services and is not involved in counselling, managing the pregnancy, treatment options, or decisions regarding termination.

Second Opinion Scan: Suitable for addressing concerns related to the abnormal development of the baby from as early as 10 weeks until the end of pregnancy. The Second Opinion Scan is an expert anomaly scan, offering a comprehensive examination of all structures of your baby which are visible at this specific stage of gestation.

Early Fetal Echocardiography: This comprehensive scan includes a specialized examination of the heart, along with a top-to-toe assessment of all fetal structures. Fetal echocardiography can be conducted starting from 12 weeks.

At your earliest convenience. We firmly believe in minimising any potential delay for this scan and will make every effort to accommodate you promptly into our schedule. Dr. Fred Ushakov works in the London Pregnancy Clinic a few times a week and will do his utmost to be available on short notice.

Some people may consider delaying the second opinion scan to a later stage when their baby is more developed, thinking it will be better visualized. Contrary to this belief, we argue that any suspicious or uncertain finding needs immediate evaluation. Early scans often resolve concerns and provide reassurance to parents.

Please don’t delay your second opinion scan; reduce the duration of your stress and uncertainty.

Before the scan, we’ll need some basic information to ensure a smooth process. We will send you a content form which is better to fill out before coming to our clinic. Please be prepared to provide details such as your full name, date of birth, contact information, relevant medical history, and any specific concerns you may have regarding the pregnancy (if you wish to share this information before the scan). It is very important to us to know, your gestational age or estimated due date. 

For your appointment, kindly bring along all details related to your pregnancy care, as well as previous ultrasounds and test results (including the combined screening test, NIPT, CVS, or amniocentesis, if applicable). Dr. Ushakov will review this information following the scan to address any concerns you may have.

Absolutely! During your second opinion scan with us, you have the opportunity to undergo NIPT.

London Pregnancy Clinic is a leading provider of NIPT in the UK, specializing in advanced options. If we believe NIPT can provide valuable insights into your situation, we’ll recommend the test and guide you through the available options.

For our regular scans, we provide immediate reports at the conclusion of the procedure. However, the process differs for Second Opinion Scans.

Second-opinion ultrasounds are often more time-consuming due to the thorough examination and discussion about potential diagnoses. Consequently, the generation of the comprehensive scan report is not immediate or standard. The report is usually created at the end of the scanning session, which may extend into late evening, depending on the clinic schedule. In such cases, we promptly send an electronic record (PDF) via a secure link or email.

Rest assured, you will receive your examination report by the end of the day on which you took your scan. Along with the report, we can also send you relevant ultrasound images and clips about your baby’s health condition (optional).

You are encouraged to share the results of your second opinion pregnancy scan with your healthcare provider, especially your fetal medicine unit. We strongly recommend sharing this information, as it may influence your pregnancy management and could facilitate any necessary additional tests through the NHS or private doctor.

We kindly request your permission to securely share your ultrasound results with your doctors and midwives via email. To streamline this process, we recommend having the email addresses of your healthcare providers available during your visit to our clinic.

Additionally, we offer the option to provide you with relevant ultrasound images and video clips through our secure cloud. This allows you to easily share this information with your healthcare specialists for their interpretation.

We fully understand the sensitivity of the situation, and if you choose not to share the second opinion scan information with anyone else, we will respect and honour your decision.

We strive to make our second opinion scans affordable, ensuring access to quality care for everyone.

Despite employing sophisticated and costly ultrasound equipment, like the Voluson Expert 22, for our second opinion scans, we’ve chosen to keep the pricing aligned with our standard ultrasounds. We recognize the added effort and time invested in the second opinion scan and report preparation.

This decision reflects our understanding that fetal anomalies can impact individuals from diverse financial backgrounds, ensuring accessibility for everyone.