Your scans

• If you are unable to keep your appointment, then please contact the Radiology department as soon as possible on: Telephone 0121 335 8263 between 9.00am and 4.00pm (Mon to Fri)
• Please attend your scan promptly and with a full bladder to prevent any delays. You will need to drink approximately 4 glasses of water, one hour prior to your appointment.
• If you are driving to the hospital, please allow enough time to get parked and to make your way to the department. You can check the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s website for further information on parking at the Birmingham Women’s Hospital.
• Please be advised that we cannot guarantee the gender of your sonographer. You may be scanned by a male or female sonographer. If you would like a female chaperone present during the scan, then please let the receptionist know this when you book in for your scan.
• We highly recommend that you do not bring children with you when you attend your appointment, as we do not have any childcare facilities on site. It is important that the sonographer can concentrate whilst performing the scan, in a quiet environment, with minimal distractions.
• We advise that only one adult accompany you for your scan, as the rooms are small and cannot accommodate more than one additional person comfortably.
• If you require an interpreter and one has not already been prearranged, then please contact the department on the above number and we can arrange one for you.
• If you wish, you will be able to purchase pictures of your Dating and mid-trimester scans at a cost of:
  • £5 for 1 picture
  • £9 for 2 pictures
  • £14 for 3 pictures
  • £18 for 4 pictures
• In the Radiology department, payment for pictures can be made by using the payment kiosk at reception. This only accepts card transactions, no cash. It is advised that you do not pay for any pictures until after your scan, but you will need to inform the sonographer of the number of pictures you require on entering the scan room. 

• The scan will take place in a dimly lit room.
• You will be asked to lie on the couch and expose your tummy.
• A paper towel will be tucked in your clothing.
• Water-based gel (which may be cold) will be applied to your tummy.
• The sonographer will move the ultrasound probe over your tummy, applying a little pressure, to visualise the baby.
• The sonographer may be quiet whilst performing the scan, this is only because they need to concentrate whilst checking that everything looks as it should.
• It may occasionally be necessary for the sonographer to obtain a second opinion from another sonographer; this should not cause any worry.
• Once the scan is finished, a detailed, printed report of the findings will be given to you.

If your baby is in a position that makes it difficult to obtain what is required, you may be sent for a walk to help move the baby.  It may also be necessary to arrange a further appointment for a different day. 

The purpose of the dating scan is to check the following:

• The pregnancy is in the correct location inside your womb
• Whether you are expecting more than one baby
• Estimate how many weeks pregnant you are by taking some measurements
• Work out your estimated date of delivery

Your dating scan will be performed either in the Radiology department or a community setting and will last approximately 15 minutes. 

Prior to this scan, you will be able to decide whether to accept screening in the form of a Nuchal Translucency scan.  This part of the scan needs to be performed between 11 and 14 weeks and involves measuring the nuchal fold, which is a fluid-filled space at the back of your baby’s neck.  Measuring the thickness of this, alongside a blood test, will help assess the risk for Down's Syndrome and other genetic problems. If you are outside this date range and have accepted screening, you will only have a blood test.

The mid-trimester scan is a screening test to check your baby’s health and wellbeing.  The purpose of the scan is to:

• Screen for major birth defects
• Check if you have any conditions that may affect your baby’s health and development by checking for signs of 11 different conditions
• Check your baby’s growth
• Check your placenta and the fluid around baby

The scan will be performed between 18 weeks and 20+6 weeks gestation within the Radiology department or at the Varsity clinic in Selly Oak and will take approximately 20 minutes.   Should we not be able to complete the scan at this appointment, a further scan will be arranged before 23 weeks gestation.

For most women, the scan will be normal, but if there are any concerns, your midwife / Obstetrician will be made aware, and you will be referred to the Fetal Medicine department for further testing or scans.

Should you wish to know the sex of your baby, please ask the sonographer at the start of your scan.  If this is possible, the sex of your baby will be documented in the report you are provided with at the end of your scan. Sometimes, due to your baby’s position, it may not be possible to identify the sex. Please be aware that we are not able to extend the length of your scan for this reason.

In addition to the screening scans identified above, there are times when you may be required to have further scans to monitor your baby's growth or to check the location of the placenta or length of the cervix.  

These scans can be performed in the Radiology Department or the Day Assessment Unit and will take place at different gestations.