Private 20 week scans in London 

Our scans are all carried out using the latest in advanced diagnostic technology. During your scan we will be able to: 

• Carry out a careful check of your baby's anatomy 
• Measure your baby's growth, including the head and brain, body and limbs 
• Check your baby's organs and limbs for abnormalities 
• Check and measure the placenta, amniotic fluid and the umbilical cord 
• Identify your baby's gender
• Show detailed images of your baby in 3D and 4D (video images)

If you want to know the sex of your baby, you should be able to during this scan – as long as the genitals are not obscured. Just let our sonographer know at the start of your appointment.

You can actually book a 20-week pregnancy scan any time between 18 and 24 weeks into your pregnancy. You can calculate these dates from the first day of your last period.

We offer flexible appointment times to suit your schedule, including weekend and same-day appointments. This means if you have urgent concerns at this stage, you can get reassurance from a specialist clinician at short notice. 

At the 20 week scan we can detect structural defects including spinal defects, cleft lip/palate, significant clubfeet, body wall abnormalities, major urinary abnormalities, and major heart defects. Our specialist, Ms Ciara McKenna, is highly skilled in foetal ultrasound and can identify a variety of subtle markers that may indicate Down’s syndrome.

Source: Radiopaedia (https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-44795)

Very occasionally the 20-week scan can pick up abnormalities related to chromosome disorders that might have been missed in an earlier scan. However, this is becoming less common as the accuracy of tests increases, and Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing becomes more commonplace.

You'll meet our prenatal ultrasound specialist, Ms Ciara McKenna, and we allow one hour for the whole appointment, so you don’t feel rushed. You’ll have time to talk through the process and ask as many questions as you need.

Ciara will carry out an abdominal scan, which allows her to obtain the clearest and most accurate images of your baby, and the actual scan takes around 30 minutes. 

During this time you'll be able to see the 3D images of your baby on screen, and Ciara will talk you through what she’s seeing.

Ciara will look at your baby's anatomy, including organs and the placenta, and will take detailed measurements in order to calculate your baby's growth. She will check these measurements against a set of foetal growth charts, which are used to predict your baby's development. We'll keep a record of these measurements so we can compare them with your earlier and subsequent scans.

After your appointment, we will send you and your doctor a digital link where you can view the images from your scan, as well as a detailed clinical report.

The majority of pregnancies are healthy, and this scan typically provides reassurance. In the unlikely event that any variations from normal development are detected, Ms Ciara McKenna, who is highly skilled and experienced in diagnosing prenatal complications, will be able to offer specialist advice. 

We understand how difficult this may be, which is why she will spend as much time as you need discussing the findings and she can liaise with other specialist clinicians. We also have  expert consultants available to discuss any unexpected findings, and to help plan the next stage of your pregnancy and your postnatal care.