The 4D Baby Scan experience – A sonographer’s Point of View

I have now been an employee and lead Sonographer for One Stop Clinics for a few years and feel it is an absolute privilege to be a part of bringing so much joy to so many families.

In our NHS setting we often do not have the time to make the pregnancy scan experience as pleasurable as possible alongside the medical scan. However in the private clinic setting we can spend more time making sure parents can fully enjoy their scan experience and see their unborn baby in a way not usually seen in their hospital setting.

It is amazing to see so much detail with the 4D scans and see this little person behaving in a way we only usually see when the baby is born. Mothers and Fathers love to see their baby sucking its thumb or toes, smiling and wriggling around. Mums tend to bond with their babies more easily as they feel their baby moving but I have found fathers to get very emotional as they ‘meet their baby’ in a way they can relate to - we have had many a tear in the scan room!

Mums too, love to see movements which they can not feel and also get very emotional. Siblings are always welcome to see the scans and we try to involve children as much as possible so they too feel involved with this new little person.

It happens occasionally that the baby is not in a good position to achieve optimal 4d ultrasound images –babies certainly have a will of their own - and it can be frustrating for parents and sonographers. Over the years, we have developed many a technique to get our own way in the end!

As experienced sonographers, we enjoy providing this valuable service but we are also proud to perform a general pregnancy ultrasound scan alongside the 4D baby scans to ensure all is progressing as it should be. This part of the examination, known as the wellbeing scan, is also vital and we offer a full scan report to include fetal growth measurements for the parents to keep along with their hospital obstetric notes.

This additional pregnancy ultrasound scan information has at times proven to be invaluable, as we sometimes find a baby to be much smaller than was expected. On a number of occasions, we have found a problem not previously known, and this information has helped those involved with the pregnant woman’s care to ensure she gets all the care she needs. We do play our part in ensuring a good outcome with a healthy baby.

It is not usual practice for a ‘normal pregnancy’ to be scanned beyond the 20 week scan in the NHS setting, and so this free fetal well-being scan available with 4D baby scans also provides reassurance for mum and dad that all is as it should be. When problems are found, senior consultant opinion is available immediately to advise on the next step and referral for the most appropriate pregnancy care.

One Stop Clinics as a company has grown over the years and our good name has spread far and wide. Our aim is to provide the best possible service to our clients and we work within strict guidelines to make this happen. It is certainly good to be a part of this successful and caring team and make the whole 4d scans experience pleasurable to so may families.

Sharon Smewing
Lead Sonographer
One Stop Health Clinics