Pregnancy Scan

Also known as an obstetric ultrasound

What is a pregnancy scan?

An obstetric or pregnancy scan, uses high frequency sound waves that bounce off your baby and internal organs. These waves create echoes, which are recorded and displayed in real time on a monitor. Ultrasound doesn’t use radiation and is considered completely safe during pregnancy.

If you need a pregnancy scan, here’s everything you need to know.

Before your scan

When you make your appointment, our booking team will give you a rundown of everything you need to know. For example, you may be asked to drink water and avoid going to the toilet, or arrive 10 minutes prior. Unless you’ve been asked not to, you should continue eating and drinking normally and take all your usual medications.

Note: If you have children, please ensure that they have adult supervision whilst you undergo your scan. Children cannot enter the scanning room as the sonographer needs to fully concentrate while performing a high quality scan for you. Our reception staff cannot supervise children in waiting areas.

Please also remember to bring your completed doctors referral form with you, if this has not already been sent to us. This will ensure the branch reception has all the necessary information required so our expert team can provide you with the best care possible.

On the day of your appointment

When you arrive, check in with reception and we’ll make sure your details are correct.

An adult family member or friend is welcome to attend during your scan to support you on the day, however we kindly ask you not to bring any children to your appointment and to keep to a maximum of one person only.

The skilled sonographer performing the examination will ask you questions about your scan, listen to you and make you comfortable. The procedure will be explained in detail and the sonographer will answer any questions you have before starting the examination.

Generally, you’ll be able to stay in your own clothes, but your sonographer will ask you to bare your stomach, from chest to lower hips, so it’s a good idea to wear a top and trousers or a skirt. Your scan will last between 30 and 45 minutes. There are two types of obstetric scans:

External ultrasound

where the transducer (imaging device) is moved over your skin, using a water-based gel to help the transducer glide and obtain images of baby and other structures.

Internal ultrasound

where the transducer is inserted in the body like a tampon. This will only be used in cases where the sonographer can’t get a clear image from the external ultrasound. This will ensure they obtain the best view of baby and placenta with the transducer as close to the cervix as possible. You’ll lie on your back and you may have a cushion positioned underneath you. The small transducer is inserted into the vagina – this may be slightly uncomfortable, but not painful. You have the option of guiding the transducer in yourself should you wish.

Important Note: We understand that an internal ultrasound can be a sensitive and personal procedure. You are therefore more than welcome to request a female sonographer to perform this obstetric scan – so please make this known at the time of booking your appointment. You also have the right to decline.

As you will appreciate, these medical appointments are very important and the quality of the scan is heavily dependent on the sonographer being able to concentrate on performing them without too much interruption. Whilst our sonographers do their best to explain what they are seeing on the screen, sometimes they need to remain quiet so they can focus entirely on your assessment. The sonographer has a list of anatomical structures they are required to provide the radiologist so that a detailed report can be provided. We appreciate your patience during these times and encourage you to watch the monitor screen so you can observe the scanning of your baby. Sometimes we are able to see the gender of your baby, however depending on baby’s position it is not always possible.

NO FILMING OR RECORDING IS PERMITTED DURING THE SCAN.

After your scan

Once all images are taken by the sonographer, these are sent to the radiologist who reviews the images and provides a detailed report, which is sent to your referrer. Your referring primary care provider will receive these within two working days.

If you have had imaging with us before, register for myARG (our Patient Portal) to access your images immediately after your scan. If you haven’t had imaging with us before, you can still register and you will get access within one working day of your scan. Your imaging reports will be available after ten working days, to give your primary care provider time to go over the results with you. Please note that the Sonographer won’t be giving you a printed photo or USB after your scan, the new portal is a more environmentally friendly, sustainable and convenient way for you to access your images.