A dating scan tells you how many weeks pregnant you are and checks the general health and development of your baby. In the UK, a dating scan is normally offered at 11 – 14 weeks gestation. This scan is provided free of charge by the NHS. It is possible, however, to attend a dating scan much earlier than this if you book with a private ultrasound clinic. Scan prices vary from one clinic to the next.   What’s the earliest you can have a pregnancy scan? You can attend a dating scan from as early as 7 weeks gestation by making a booking at a private ultrasound clinic. Here at First Encounter ..read more

NHS pregnancy care in the UK typically includes two ultrasound scans: one at 12 – 14 weeks, and another at 18 – 20 weeks. However, no two pregnancies are the same, and it’s common for an expectant mother to schedule additional check-ups throughout her pregnancy for various reasons. For example, in some cases, the mother or baby may be at elevated risk of certain health issues, so doctors like to keep a closer eye on them. Parents can also book extra scans at private ultrasound clinics for added reassurance, or to get a few more glimpses of the baby before he or she is born. So, while it’s not ..read more

  The NHS will typically offer an expectant mother two free ultrasound scans over the course of her pregnancy: one at 12 weeks, and another at 20 weeks. However, a lot of parents-to-be find themselves wanting additional opportunities to check on the condition of their unborn baby, and that’s where private pregnancy scans come in. Private ultrasound clinics (like First Encounters in Cardiff) enable families to book additional scans and keep a closer eye on their newest member. This can be particularly important to mothers who have previously miscarried, but that isn’t always a factor—some ..read more

A baby bump is one of the most obvious outward signs of pregnancy, but when will it start to show? Read on to find out!    How Early Can You Start Showing When Pregnant? If you’re worried about suddenly having a large pregnancy belly, fear not: the baby bump comes on gradually, and usually doesn’t start showing until at least 12 weeks. It’s perfectly normal for the bump not to show until 16 weeks. If you are pregnant with twins, you will probably show sooner rather than later – after all, your uterus is having to expand around two babies! In the very first four weeks or so of pregn ..read more

Finding out the gender of your baby is an exciting moment, and in recent years, having a gender reveal party to announce the sex of your baby has become increasingly popular. If you’re expecting and are looking for unique and exciting ways to announce the sex of your baby, you’re in the right place! Here at First Encounters, we’re thrilled to be a part of your pregnancy journey, and have put together a list of our top 10 suggestions for a memorable gender reveal to help get you inspired.   What is a gender reveal? A gender reveal is when the expecting parents announce the sex of their ba ..read more

  NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) is a screening test that aims to determine whether an unborn baby has chromosomal abnormalities that are likely to result in genetic conditions like Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome or Patau's syndrome. The results are determined by looking at the baby’s DNA in the mother’s blood, which is taken via a simple, non-invasive blood draw.   When is the best time for non-invasive prenatal testing? The VERACITY Premium NIPT test can be carried out from as early as ten weeks into your pregnancy. If you haven’t had your first ultrasound scan yet, you ..read more

  An ultrasound scan is a medical procedure that’s used to examine unborn babies while they’re still in the womb. Ultrasound can also be used to diagnose a range of health conditions and to guide surgeons during certain procedures.   How do ultrasound scans work? Ultrasound scans work by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off part of the body to create a moving image.   How does ultrasound produce images? During an ultrasound scan, images are produced by the sound waves as they reflect off the area of the body being scanned. For example, in a pregnancy scan, the waves from the ..read more

  Drinking during pregnancy is a something of a grey area when it comes to prenatal health.   There is no well-defined limit for expectant mothers to follow, and so it can be difficult to establish how much alcohol - if any - it's safe to consume while pregnant.   While there are some guidelines to assist women in their decision, the final choice can only be decided by the individual, based on the facts provided by healthcare professionals.   Risks of Drinking While Pregnant Alcohol is able to rapidly reach your baby through the placenta, which can lead to miscarriage, p ..read more

If you're looking to book a private ultrasound scan, there are a few things you should consider in order to ensure that you are not only getting the best value but equally the most comprehensive scan for your money, without compromising any aspects of the service.   Listed below are a few things you should keep in mind before you book a private scan for yourself and your baby.   Is the company regulated, and will your scan be carried out by qualified healthcare professionals with experience of obstetric ultrasound and 4D? It's easy to spot a regulated private ultrasound sc ..read more

  It's understandable that expectant mothers want to go for a pregnancy scan as soon as possible. If you are interested in an early pregnancy scan, we recommend our earlyAssure™ package, which is available from 8 weeks onwards.   Early Pregnancy Scan Benefits Most of the mothers who come in for an earlyAssure™ scan have yet to attend their first NHS appointment, which means that we really are giving them their very first glimpse at the child that's growing inside them!   The earlyAssure™ scan is primarily intended as a viability and reassuranc ..read more