What can we do for you…
Does the 3D/4D scan present any risk to mother or baby?
The scanning equipment used by Before the Stork is the GE Voluson 730 Pro. Ultrasound technology has been researched extensively in hundreds of clinical studies over the past 30 years and has not been shown to cause any harm to either mother or baby with routine scanning now a normal procedure in all pregnancies. In 3D/4D scanning, exactly the same type and intensity of ultrasound is used as with conventional 2D scanning. 3D and 4D ultrasound both utilise sound waves to look inside the body. A probe placed on the body emits sound waves into the body, listens for the return echo and generates an image. 4D ultrasound will be similar therefore to a conventional scan in terms of exposure.
HD Live is simply the latest version of 3D 4D scanning technology by GE.
Who will perform my scan?
Your scan will be performed by a fully qualified NHS trained sonographer.
What happens if an unexpected problem is detected?
Whilst we do not wish to worry you about your pregnancy, sometimes there may be a problem detected that is completely unexpected. It is important for you to understand that if the sonographer believes there may be a problem he/she has a ‘duty of care’ to discuss these findings with you and provide you with as much information as he/she reasonably can.
If necessary and with your permission we may contact your local hospital early pregnancy assessment unit (EPAU), maternity unit in case a medical follow-up is required. He/she may also write a letter explaining his/her concerns.
Occasionally the sonographer may require s second opinion. This does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong; many scan findings just need a ‘second look’ for reassurance. The sonographer will inform you of any such uncertain findings and discuss what your options are.
Do I need to book an appointment?
Yes, appointments are necessary to have a scan performed. This done via telephone only but you can message us any questions queries prior by email or any of our social media platforms. A deposit of 20 is required to secure a booking which is non refundable if the appointment is cancelled or moved within 48 hours of the appointment time and date.
At what stage of my pregnancy is it best to have a 3D/4D scan?
For best results we advise having your scan done between 26 and 32 weeks (around 26/27 weeks is optimum for a 3D/4D scan). In order to make sure you can get an appointment at the optimum time you should therefore aim to book around 4 weeks in advance if possible. This allows us the opportunity to advise you on the best time to visit.
When is the best time to have a scan if I am having twins?
Double trouble!- because twins tend to have less space around them we usually advise having a 3D/4D scan slightly earlier than usually at around 24 weeks.
Can I bring my family and friends along with me to watch my scan?
Yes of course! This is after all your experience and we encourage you to invite your loved ones along to enjoy the wonderful experience with you (especially since numbers are usually restricted during routine hospital scans). We can comfortably seat 4 guests but any extras are more than welcome as long as they don’t mind standing. We do have a large wall mounted widescreen TV so everyone should be able to see but please be a little reasonable with numbers.
With regards to any scan at a very early stage of your pregnancy it may not be as appropriate to bring additional guests or children with you as there is a higher possibility of receiving unexpected news.
Will I always get great pictures and images of my baby?
In most cases yes. Unfortunately however it may not be possible and babies don’t always behave the way we would like them to! Sometimes baby may be laying face down towards the spine or placenta which can make it difficult to see baby’s face. If this happens we may ask you to take a gentle walk outside or have a drink and hope that baby moves, we will then scan you again. If baby is still in an awkward position and we can’t get any images we will book you a further appointment at your convenience and at no extra cost if the sonographer feels that the images may be improved. Please allow at least 3 hours for a visit to us for any gender or bonding scan to ensure that we have enough time to try and determine gender or get you the best images possible.
Is there anything else I can do to improve my chance of getting great images?
Baby’s position and the amount of water around baby are the two most important factors in getting good images. However, in many cases, extensive abdominal tissue can have some impact on the quality of images. In answer then, there is not much you can do to improve your chance, after all baby is in charge of the show!! Some research has shown that being well hydrated in the days prior to a scan can affect the amniotic fluid around baby and may help us achieve clearer images.
How do I pay for my scan?
We accept the following methods of payment which you can use on the day to pay for your scan: Visa, Mastercard, Switch, Maestro, Delta. Alternatively, if the scan is for a gift you can pay over the telephone prior to you appointment.
What type of ultrasound scanning equipment do you use?
At Before the Stork we use the Voluson E8 ultrasound machine, which is an industry standard machine used in many local NHS ultrasound centres and allows high quality images.
What if I don’t want to find out the sex of my baby?
If you do not wish to know the sex of your baby please let us know and we will do our very best to respect your wishes.
What do I need to bring with me?
You only need to bring your hospital/antenatal notes along with you. This enables our sonographer to accurately date your pregnancy and containes contact details of your health professionals if they become necessary.
Do I need a full bladder?
It is not always necessary to have a full bladder when you attend for your scan appointment but sometimes it can help particularily when having an early scan. Please therefore ask at time of booking.
How do I make an appointment?
You can ring our booking number on 0151 280 0543 our scanning times are as follows
- Monday 5.30pm – 9pm
- Tuesday 10am – 2pm
- Wednesday 3pm – 7pm
- Friday 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 10am -5pm
- Sunday 10am -5pm
We are available to take bookings 7 days a week from approximately 9am to 9pm. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call any time or leave us a message if we are unavailable and we will call you back. Alternatively, please drop us a message on any of our social media platforms.
do I still need to attend hospital for my scans?
Yes definitely. Your Before the Stork scan is a non diagnostic scan for entertainment purposes and is completely optional. Our scans are not intended to replace any of your routine NHS scans or care. You must still attend all of your normal hospital appointments.
How long will my scan appointment last?
We would advise that you allow 1 hour for your appointment depending on which scan you have booked. Your scan time can vary depending on the option you choose but depending on how co-operative baby is feeling on the day it may take us a little longer to get you the best images. It may be better putting aside a maximum of around 3 hours for a 3D 4D bonding scan to allow us the best chance of obtaining images on the day you visit.
Will you be able to tell me the sex of my baby?
We do not routinely check the sex of baby but if you do wish to know we will do our best to find out for you. This is usually possible in most cases with a 99% accuracy although sometimes depending on baby’s position this may not be possible.
Where can I find more information about the risks of ultrasound scanning?
To find out more about the risks of ultrasound scanning and to make an informed decision about having any ultrasound follow this link below
Get in Touch
Before The Stork Ltd
29 Sefton Street
Litherland
Liverpool
L21 7PD
0151 280 0543