Maternity Ultrasound Department                02476 865 072

 

Scan reminderPlease attend your scans with a full bladder.

We recommend 6 glasses of water an hour before the scan. 

Coming in for an ultrasound scanIf you wish to purchase a photograph following your scan appointment we offer the following: 

1x scan for £5

3x scans for £10 

Please note that scan images can now only be purchased by card payment only. We do not accept cash payments. The machine to purchase your scan images is located in the scan waiting area

  • If you think you are pregnant, please visit your GP or contact a Community Midwife as soon as possible.
     
  • Booking Appointment - You will have your first appointment with your Community Midwife around 8 - 10 weeks. Your midwife will help you to plan your pregnancy and initiate a few checks and tests to support a healthy pregnancy.  They may also provide you with useful advice and tips to help mum and baby have a healthier pregnancy. 
     
  • Booking Blood Test - you will be offered a blood test at your first appointment with the midwife to check your blood group and antibodies, a full blood count to check for anaemia, we will also check if you have sickle cell and thalassemia, as well as Hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis. Screening Tests Advice
     
  • If you are a negative blood group, your midwife will offer you an anti D injection at around 28 weeks. Rhesus Disease advice 
     
  • During the winter months (September—March) we recommend pregnant women have the Flu Vaccine. Please speak to the midwife after your Anomaly scan.
     
  • You will be provided with a set of Green Notes which you will need to bring with you to all of your meetings and we will record the progress of your pregnancy.

  • Dating Scan - All pregnant women are offered an ultrasound scan at approximately 11 - 14 weeks  of pregnancy. This scan is called the dating scan. Its used to see how far along in your pregnancy you are and check your baby’s development.  You will receive a letter in the post with details of your scan appointment.
     
  • Nuchal Translucency Scan - This is also offered to pregnant mums at the same time as the Dating Scan. This in conjunction with a blood test to assess the chance of having a baby with Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome and Patau’s syndrome. 
     
  • Nuchal translucency is a collection of fluid under the skin at the back of your baby's neck. All pregnant women are offered a nuchal translucency (NT) scan if they are below 14+1 weeks of pregnancy. A different screening test is offered after 14+1 weeks and will only give an assessment on the chance of having a baby with Down syndrome. Both of these screening tests are optional.
     
  • Children under 14 years of age are not allowed to the scan appointments but partners are invited . This scan tells you lots of information about your baby and checks to see that your baby is growing and developing as expected. 
     
  • Scans are performed by trained sonographers or midwives trained in ultrasound. They put a cold gel on your tummy and move a small, hand held probe called a transducer over your skin to get a view of your baby. High frequency sound waves are used to transmit an image of your baby onto a computer screen. 
     
  • Prior to your scan, if you wish to purchase a scan photo please pay for this in the scan waiting area. Please note we only accept card payments. 

Anomaly Scan - An anomaly scan takes a careful look at your baby and your uterus (womb). This is taken at approximately 18—21 weeks to check that everything is developing as expected with your baby, and where the placenta is lying in your uterus. It checks their health including the baby’s size, heart  and other organs. The scan looks for a number of specific differences but is unable to identify all changes or subtle differences. Sometimes the babies position may mean you require a second scan to ensure that everything is seen clearly.  A second scan doesn’t mean that something is wrong. Some findings may need to be reviewed by a specialist Consultant and the Screening midwife will discuss these with you, if  one is requested

During the Anomaly scan we may be able to tell you the sex of the baby if they are in an optimal position, however we are unable to repeat the scan just to find out the sex of the baby. The sex of the baby is not recorded and we therefore cannot tell you after the scan is performed if you did not previously want to know. 

We also recommend that women have their Pertussis Vaccine or whooping cough vaccine. This will be offered after your 20 week scan. 

28 week blood test - at around 28 weeks you will be offered another blood test to recheck your blood group and antibodies and a full blood count. 

Other scans - you may be offered further scans in your pregnancy to monitor your baby and this will be discussed with you at the time. 

We also offer Antenatal Education Classes open to all women.

If you had low iron in your pregnancy and your GP prescribed you iron tablets, your midwife may recommend that you have a repeat blood test to check your iron levels. 

You may want to consider having a tour of the unit and thinking about your preferences for birth, planning your route to the hospital and what to pack in your hospital bag.