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 4D Ultrasound 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the common questions we get asked - However if you don't find what your looking for here please email or call us and we will be happy to help. 

  List of Questions - Click on them to find the answer. 

  1. When is the best time for a 4D scan ?

  2. How much does it cost for a scan ?

  3. How long is the waiting list for a scan?

  4. On which days can I have a scan ?

  5. Do I need to drink before the scan ?

  6. I don't want to know the sex  - is this a problem?

  7. How do I pay ?

  8. How can I make an appointment ?

  9. Where is Preview Ultrasound ?

  10. Is the scan safe?

  11. What is the difference between 4D and Normal Ultrasound?

  12. What if you find a problem during the scan?

  13. How accurate is the sexing?

  14. I'm having twins -do you charge more?

  15. Do you have branches closer to my home?

  16. Who can come to the scan?

  17. Can you guarantee good pictures?

  18. Can I have a scan with Preview rather than the hospital?


When is the best time for a 4d scan  ?

We recommend that between 24-30 weeks is the ideal time for a 4d Scan. At this stage your baby has begun to put on a little weight but still has room to move around and so we get the best opportunities for good pictures. 

We can perform 4D scans from around 16 weeks but earlier on the baby is much smaller and has less body fat and so pictures look a little 'skeletal'

After about 32 weeks the baby has grown so much that there is much less fluid in the womb - without fluid it is difficult to get good images and so we may struggle to get the best images. We can scan up to 36 weeks but the chances of good images are greatly reduced. 

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How much does it cost ?

Preview offer a range of packages that are described on our fees and packages page. 
2D scans start at £55 and 4D scans start at £90.

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How long is the waiting list for a scan ?

There is no  real waiting list for a scan appointment with Preview - 
Even though Saturday appointments are more popular we can normally get you in in 2-3 weeks. 
Weekday appointments are more flexible - we can normally give you an appointment in the same week. 

To make an appointment that suits you please call us on 01536 790389

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On which days can I have a scan ?

Preview  offer scans  Monday to Saturday - 9.30am - 5.30pm 

Scans are strictly by appointment only  - please call ahead to book an appointment. 

By special arrangement we can  sometimes offer scans outside of these hours - again call us to arrange an evening appointment. 

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Do I need to drink before the scan ?

Eat and drink normally before your 4d Scan  

For early reassurance scans it sometimes helps if you can have a drink before the scan - say half a pint of water - but please don't make yourself uncomfortable!

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I don't want to know the sex  - is this a problem? 

Many of our customers want to enjoy a scan but do not want to know the sex of the baby - this is not a problem at all - simply tell the Sonographer that you do not want to know before the scan starts - they will then ask you to look away from the screen for a few moments when they first put the probe on - this will allow them to identify your baby's position so they can stay away from the 'crucial area' during the scan. 

The important thing here is that Preview's Sonographers have many years of experience in scanning and have scanned thousands of baby's so they are used to being able to focus on one particular area. 

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How Do I Pay ?

Payment for your scan is by cheque or cash on the day. 

We do not accept credit cards. 

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How can I make an appointment ?

The simplest way to make an appointment is to call us on 01536 790389.

Our normal office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,  Friday and Saturday 9.30 - 6.30 

The office is closed for booking appointments on Sundays. 

Outside of these times there is a message service - please leave a message - It will get picked up and replied to. The message service also works at very busy times when we cannot answer your call. 

If you would prefer us to contact you you can email your name and Number to enquiries@previewultrasound.co.uk 

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Where is Preview Ultrasound ?

Preview's studio is located at Mawsley Medical - A brand new medical centre based in the new village of Mawsley between Northampton and Kettering.  The Address is :


Mawsley Medical
School Road
Mawsley
Kettering
Northamptonshire
NN14 1SN

Because the Village is so new many of the internet map sites do not have accurate maps of the village - and some GPS/ Satnav systems do not have an entry for the post code. 
Simple Directions can be downloaded from here:  Click to Get Directions 

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Is the scan safe?

There has been much research done on the safety of ultrasound and it concludes that ultrasound is safe If carried out by qualified, experienced professionals on high quality, well maintained equipment. 

At Preview our Director, Claire Shields, is qualified with the Diploma in Medical Ultrasound (DMU) and has over fifteen years experience working in hospitals all over the world. All of the other Sonographers are similarly qualified. 

The GE Voluson Equipment we use is the latest in 4D technology and is  checked  & serviced regularly by the manufacturer to ensure it is performing  optimally.  

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What is the difference between 4D and Normal Ultrasound?

The ultrasound pictures you have probably seen at the hospital are considered to be two dimensional - that is they look like a flat 'slice'. We term these images as 2D images. 
The specialist scanners that Preview use can take many of these 'slices' and layer them together to produce a volume or 3d ultrasound picture. The 3d ultrasound has much more information in it and so provides a more detailed image that looks much more like the baby. 
As well as the third dimension the GE Voluson system is powerful enough to process the images in a real time - so when the baby moves you can see it on the screen, time is considered the 4th dimension in ultrasound ,  so the moving 3D image we can produce is described as 4-Dimensional or 4D ultrasound. 

To see some examples of the images we can produce visit our gallery page 

If you want more information on ultrasound a good place to start is the 'how stuff works' website - http://health.howstuffworks.com/ultrasound.htm

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What if you find a problem during the scan ?

Even though your Preview bonding scan is not a medical examination, on occasions we may detect a problem with your pregnancy. In this rare event we will normally try, with your permission, to contact your midwife or GP to let them know what we have found so that they can advise you on what to do. If required we will issue a report for you detailing  the findings of the scan. Please note that for weekend appointments it may be difficult to get hold of your GP or midwife and we would normally contact them on the next working day.

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How accurate is the sexing?

If you want to know the sex of your baby we will do our utmost to find out. Sometimes it is not possible to tell the sex immediately - (if baby has its legs crossed or is in an awkward position)- On these occasions we will ask you to take a break - have a short walk, some water and then we will try again. Usually this does the trick - however if we still cannot tell the sex we will offer you a second, free of charge, appointment a few days later in the hope that baby has moved around.

In reality it is very rare for us to have to do this ( maybe once or twice a year) since our Sonographers are all very experienced. We can take the time point out and explain what you are looking at on the screen to leave you in little doubt as to your baby's gender. 

We also survey our customers to find out and check how accurate our sexing is - in the  four years to May 2007 we have had over 1000 responses to our surveys and have so far been correct on all occasions - a 100% success rate !

Whilst we can ever 100% guarantee accuracy we feel our results speak for themselves. 

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I'm having twins  - do you charge more ?

We scan and  charge by the womb not the occupancy ! 
We do not charge more for scanning twins, triplets or more!

We  do however recommend that you might plan the scan a little earlier than 26-28 weeks for multiple pregnancies. Please call us to discuss the best time to have the scan based on your individual requirements. 

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Do you have branches closer to my home?

Currently our only studio is at Mawsley between Northampton and Kettering.  

Kettering is an  less than hour from London by train or an hour by road from Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Peterborough, Cambridge, Stevenage, Luton, and Oxford. 

Preview's studio is located in a rural village and so parking and traffic are never a problem. 

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Who can come to the scan?

At Preview we allow you to choose who you want to come to the scan with you.  
We do not limit the number of people you bring along - Children are most welcome and often find that seeing the scan allows them to get used to the idea of a 'new arrival' . Grandparents always enjoy being involved in the experience as well. 
The scan is projected on a large, wall mounted monitor so everyone can see. 

Of course if you prefer to come alone or with your partner the that is fine too !

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Can you guarantee good pictures?

No Ultrasound company can guarantee good pictures every time - there are many factors that go to making a great scan - not least of which is baby's position which is out of our control !

What we can say is that we have had thousands of satisfied customers since 2003 who are pleased with our service and will testify that we do all we can to get a good image. 

Preview follow these rules to give us the best chance of getting good images:

 - Highly experienced and qualified staff
 - State of the art equipment
 - Extended appointment slots - we never rush to get you through.
 - Repeat appointments available on the rare occasions that we cannot get an image.

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Can I have a scan with Preview rather than the hospital?

Our packages offered on the website are all intended as bonding or reassurance scans and do not replace the normal scans that you  would have at the hospital. We  strongly recommend that you consult your GP/Midwife as soon as you believe you are pregnant and follow the guidance given by them. 

We are able to offer a private Ultrasound service for both Pregnancy and Abdominal ultrasound examination with a referral from your GP or midwife. on these occasions we will produce a report on our findings and forward it to your GP. 

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Phone - 
   01536 790389

 Email - 
 enquiries@preview   ultrasound.co.uk

Copyright 2008 Preview Ultrasound LTD. All rights reserved