Private Scan- Clinic Recommendations

[AllSinging]

Hiya! So we’ve decided to book a private scan prior to our 12 week scan so that my husband can be fully involved. I’m currently 9 weeks and looking at the following clinics but wondered if anyone had any recommendations/reviews. We’re in the Chester area but I know these clinics are across the UK:

• Baby Ultrasound Clinic
• Ultrasound Direct
• Window to the Womb.

Any good/bad experiences would be helpful! Thank you

I’ve used the ultrasound direct clinic in bolton on numerous occasions. They were amazing! First time round was under bad circumstances as they discovered my MMC but they looked after me so well and contacted the EPU for me and arranged an appointment. This pregnancy I have been twice once for an early scan at 6w5days and again for our gender scan where we even had a 4d scan for free as part of the gender scan. Cannot fault them felt so at ease and so looked after when I was very anxious. Highly recommend!

@NS1988 amazing! It’s so good to hear that they supported you. Thank you for sharing!

I have used Ultrasound Direct before for an early scan at 7+5. Was amazing, would definitely recommend!

You are welcome! Had my 20 week scan a couple of weeks back but even considering booking another scan with them again at some point so I can see our baby again. Hope the scan goes well with whichever clinic you choose!

@expectinglittlebear ahh amazing! Glad you had a good experience. Thank you!

@NS1988 I don’t blame you, so exciting!! Thank you so much

I used ultrasound direct in Kent for my second pregnancy. Cannot fault them, really professional and made me feel at ease. I have a gender (sexing scan) booked with them for this pregnancy in a few weeks

@stormelf definitely a lot of positive experiences with Ultrasound Direct. I noticed that they send scan images to your mobile, do you have an option of a “paper” copy too or is it just digital?

I’m in the south west and have used ultrasound direct a couple of times including for a nipt test and scan, but found it awful. The scan picture quality was awful and the appointments were so rushed and non informative. Whereas I’ve had several more with window to the womb where even at 6 weeks the scan image was amazingly clear, the sonographer was super informative at showing us in detail everything.

At both scan places we were given a couple of printed copies and then send lots digitally to my mobile. Have some amazing video captures from the window to the womb ones.

I’ve used ultrasound direct in Essex and they’ve been amazing.

I used Ultrasound Direct and when I discovered they discovered my mmc, they were appalling. Absolutely disgusting to me. I can't even drive past the clinic now with the memory and that was over two years ago.

I've used window to the womb a number of times and they are superb.

@Moominmiss ah sorry to hear that you didn’t have a great experience. The quality of the image is so important so that’s rubbish! Thank you for sharing, I’ll have another look into our local window to the womb too!

@RosieGirl27 amazing! Thank you

We've used ultrasound direct (early & gender scans) and window to the womb (gender scan).

WTTW you have to download their app to get your digital pics, UD email them for download. Both give you printed pictures too.

I wouldn't get an early private scan again, one we did have we saw hb at 8+3 & miscarried at 9+3 and found it harder than mc's where I'd not had scans. Gender scans I would definitely have again as they break up the anxious wait between dating and anomaly scans, either company though WTTW are cheaper.

As an example these are my ultrasound direct scan pics from 12+6

And these are my window to the womb ones from 2 days earlier at 12+4

@Chelyanne thank you so much, that’s really helpful. I haven’t wanted an early scan nor felt the need for one, but with cases rising in our local area, there’s a risk that my husband won’t be allowed in at our 12wks and as it’s our 1st, we thought we’d get a private scan so that (whatever happens) we can experience it together for the 1st time. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you ❤️

@Moominmiss oh wow, that is a difference! Thank you for sharing, I really appreciate it!

Another fan of Ultrasound Direct here. Excellent images, including short video, both hard copy and sent to my phone. Really friendly and professional team, every time.

We used Ultrasound Direct with our first and can't fault them. Both sonographers were also employed at the hospital (so I guess did extra shifts for some extra money) and were lovely and knowledgeable. We got great pics.

I assume they are either franchises or just heavily dependent on the staff as to the experience you get, so check reviews online for your branch first.

Thanks @Peacefulspirit and @Elune it’s so helpful to hear of your experiences! I’ll definitely check out local reviews too, thank you!

I used ultrasound direct and had good experiences with my first two children, until last year when I had a mmc which they discovered and like @Chanel05 they were awful. If I hadn’t have been so upset and traumatised by how I was treated I would have complained (I should have complained). We saw a different sonographer to the one we’d seen in the past and she couldnt deal with giving us bad news, even though we knew it was bad news from the moment she started the scan….

@Mayneedanextraroom oh I’m so sorry to hear that. There seems to be quite a big difference in people’s experiences but I can’t imagine how difficult that was for you ❤️ What clinic was it if you don’t mind me asking (totally understand if you don’t, so no worries!)