Pregnant women are commonly offered two routine ultrasound scans within their NHS care. The Nuchal Translucency Screening is offered from 11 to 14 weeks of pregnancy to determine if there is an increased likelihood of a major chromosomal or structural condition. The second routine ultrasound scan offered is performed between 20 to 24 weeks of pregnancy to assess for major structural conditions which could not have been determined at an earlier gestation. A Reassurance Scan is not usually offered by the NHS unless:

• There have been unexpected symptoms such as bleeding

• The baby bump appears too big or too small

• The parents to be are suffering pregnancy related anxiety

• The Midwife or Doctor has not been able to hear your baby's heartbeat using a stethoscope. It is common in early gestations for this to happen in a normal pregnancy.
• A previous history of miscarriages in the second trimester

A Reassurance Scan is performed any time from 12 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Parents to be usually choose this pregnancy scan to provide extra reassurance, commonly after screening for chromosomal conditions such as Downs syndrome has already been performed by Nuchal Translucency screening or NIPT by the NHS or their private pregnancy clinic.  

An early fetal anatomy scan will be performed by our Specialist Sonographers. You will be able to see your baby's heartbeat and first movements before you can feel them. Our Sonographer will assess baby's head, brain, face, heart, stomach, kidneys, bladder, hands, feet, spine, and abdominal wall within the limits of your pregnancy gestation. How many weeks pregnant you are determines how much of baby's anatomy the sonographer can check at this stage. Other pregnancy related structures such as amniotic fluid and the position of the placenta will be assessed. 

• To reassure that baby's heart is beating, the baby is growing and developing well
• Our Specialist Sonographers perform advanced detailed ultrasound scans earlier than your NHS 20 week Anomaly Scan
• If adverse pregnancy symptoms such as pain or bleeding occur
• The mother to be feels a change in pregnancy symptoms
• Baby's movements cannot yet be felt or the pattern of movements have changed
• The Midwife was unable to hear baby's heart beating with a stethoscope or perform a good assessment of baby's growth with a tape measure
• If you have a medical history which indicates that an assessment of the cervix should be performed. The Cervical scan can be performed in addition to the Reassurance Scan. 

The sonographers are highly skilled and accredited in the performance of this scan. They will listen to your concerns and answer your questions. The Sonographer will recommend further pregnancy scans, or Consultant referral where needed. 

• In the majority of pregnancies a Reassurance Scan can be performed by one of our experienced sonographers. All our sonographers are fully qualified and accredited, so you are in safe hands. They have received additional training in the early fetal scan. 
• If however, you are experiencing complications with your pregnancy or need a second opinion, a Reassurance Scan with our consultant is recommended.

We offer morning, afternoon and evening availability during the week, as well as weekend appointments. A surcharge will be applied for evening and weekend appointments. We have a wide range of availability therefore same day appointments can be easily arranged. Our Sonographers are here to reassure even at short notice. 

The Birth Company is the first clinic in UK to offer this service allowing you to share your pregnancy ultrasound with friends and family wherever they are in the world. This optional recording can be shared via Email, Facebook and X formerly known as Twitter. We will offer this to you routinely at the end of the scan. The transmission is instantaneous. Please note that the video of baby moving will not have any sound. It is a national policy not to permit patient or partner's phone recording in a room. Simply tell your sonographer that you would like an electronic transmission of your scan. It will appear on your phone immediately.

• A moderately full bladder will improve the visibility of the pregnancy by transabdominal scan.

A further Reassurance Scan can be done anytime if there is a continuing concern. The next scan that we fully recommend is the Anatomy scan at 20 - 22 weeks. If you are over 24 weeks then we recommend a Wellbeing/Growth scan.