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Fetal Wellbeing Scan in London

This special 3rd trimester scan can be performed to exclude late pregnancy anomalies and check the baby’s growth and wellbeing. If technically feasible, a 3D/4D scan will be included.

Wellbeing, Developmental and Growth Pregnancy Scan at London Pregnancy Clinic.

Let’s be sure

The NHS fetal screening program in the UK does not include any additional scans after the 18-20 weeks anomaly scan for pregnant women with no risk factors. This means that for the majority of women, the 18-20 weeks scan is the last pregnancy scan. However, in many other countries, there are additional third trimester ultrasound scans which include an evaluation of fetal growth and development.

3D baby ultrasound at London Pregnancy Clinic. Please note that in some cases after 30 weeks it would be impossible to get 3D/4D images due to fetal position or other reasons

3D baby ultrasound at our clinic. Please note that in some cases after 30 weeks it would be impossible to get 3D/4D images due to fetal position or other reasons.

Late Anomaly Scans and an examination of Fetal Wellbeing

During the wellbeing scan we perform a thorough examination of the fetus, placenta position, amniotic fluid, and the womb.

This scan is very similar to our 3rd trimester anomaly scan at 26-29 weeks, however beyond 30 weeks it is impossible to perform a complete check-up of fetal anatomy. The baby is big, and the scan is dependent on fetal position. Some babies will hide their faces, others will cover their heart with both arms. In any case we will put in the maximum possible effort to check your baby’s structures. Fetal position will not affect its wellbeing examination.

The full details of the fetal wellbeing scan include:

  • Examination of the heart (quality of the scan depends on fetal position) with colour doppler flow imaging (looking at how the blood flows through the heart),

  • An examination of the brain, kidneys, and other structures visible by this stage (which are dependent on fetal position),

  • A fetal growth scan to estimate the baby’s weight,

  • A fetal wellbeing examination (fetal movements, amniotic fluid, and fetal dopplers used to detect the fetal heartbeat),

  • An examination of the placenta – to check for Placenta Previa.

More information than usual

According to a recent publication by two London-based hospitals, a quarter (24.8%) of all fetal anomalies are diagnosed in the third trimester (35-37 weeks). The study found that the main organs affected by late manifesting anomalies were the brain, the heart, and the kidneys.

The fetal brain develops throughout all stages of pregnancy and continues developing even after birth. Unfortunately, some severe brain anomalies can have delayed development or manifestation, thus not being picked up by some of the anomaly scans performed earlier in the pregnancy and even at the 3rd trimester anomaly scan at 26-29 weeks. 

At our wellbeing scans, we are trying to exclude late developmental events affecting the fetal brain like progressive development of ventriculomegaly or unfortunate events of bleeding into the brain. We will perform maximal effort to confirm normal development of the brain, however, understandably ultrasound cannot exclude all cases of brain anomalies or disabilities.

Fetal Doppler studies of Ductus Venosus blood flow at London Pregnancy Clinic'sWellbeing Scan

Fetal Doppler studies of Ductus Venosus blood flow at our Wellbeing Scan

Frequently Asked Questions

You have a question? We have an answer.

What is offered by the NHS?

Some NHS Trusts in London have local protocols for routine 3rd trimester growth scans. You can check with your midwife if this is the case for your hospital.

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 and videos 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 scan, including some high-quality colour printouts for you to take home with you!

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

Should I opt for the COVID-19 Vaccine in pregnancy?

We strongly recommend following the advice of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives regarding the COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy. It is strongly recommended to take your COVID-19 jabs, including the booster jabs, to protect yourself and your unborn baby from infection. If you have an underlying health condition, it is strongly advised to discuss your COVID-19 vaccination with your regular GP or healthcare provider.

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