Best place for private growth scan in London?

[pizzanoodle]

Hi everyone,

We were thinking to go for a private growth scan and are wondering where would be the best place to do it. Does anyone have suggestions as to where might be best?

Some context:

I am 36 weeks + 3 days pregnant now and I just had a scan with the NHS at Queen Charlotte and Chelsea Hospital. The weight of the baby has dropped from 70th percentile to 25th percentile and it's worrying us.

So we're thinking a private scan can confirm the size of the baby in case there's measurement errors. And we can do other tests to see if the baby is doing well.

Would appreciate your suggestions / thoughts on the issue!

Fetal Medicine Centre

The weight of the baby has dropped from 70th percentile to 25th percentile and it's worrying us.

What is your NHS HCP saying about this?

That's a significant drop in centiles. Do you have another scan booked with your NHS hospital in a couple of weeks? Did a consultant review the scan this time? What plan have they made for you?

As a previous poster has said, the FMC have a good reputation

I would also suggest the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley St. I’ve had lots of scans there.

For something serious I’d either be on the phone to a proper private hospital (eg the Portland), or badgering my own hospital to do more.

I had a similar issue with DD (now 7 months and fine) and I did the latter. I needed to push, but once I was seeing the right people I got excellent care at Kings. I wouldn’t want to lose continuity of care at your stage.

And I really, really wouldn’t trust one of the commercial places (eg Window to the Womb) who won’t be set up for anything potentially serious. Not saying that’s the case for you at all, but if they are mostly focused on selling gender reveal crap it won’t be what you’re after.

It is a significant drop.

I was supposed to have a post-scan review with the doctor but because of lack of appointment availability I wasn't given one.

So there hasn't been any proper discussions with consultants on this. I'm not sure if any consultant has properly looked at my scans.

The sonographer has got me to book another scan in 2 weeks at the hospital and that was all the advice I was given.

That is a very good point re continuity of care. I just always have this fear that because of staff shortage we are falling through the gaps with the NHS. Never been with the private hospitals in terms of antenatal care so I also don't know what I'm comparing with though!

I really would follow up with your existing hospital in that case OP (your situation is really similar to mine!).

It’s really sad, but I found I only got the case I needed by phoning A LOT and quoting relevant NICE guidance. The staff are great but there aren’t enough of them to see everyone who needs them it seems.

Thanks for the suggestion! What NICE guidelines were you quoting?

It was very specific to other issues I had so I can’t tell you what exactly, but do look into your own circumstances

Ah I see, thanks for the suggestion, I will certainly look into it.

I also went to the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley Street

As did I. They are a proper outfit rather than a place flogging 4D snapshots for your baby shower.

You really don't need to go elsewhere, it's shocking you have no plan from a doctor. I have checked the website and can't identify the number myself three should be a department called something like antenatal day assessment unit but ring the maternity helpline if that sounds completely unfamiliar. Basically the number you have for reduced fetal movements/ labour etc. Explain that you've been sent home after an abnormal scan with no plan and they'll be as shocked as me and get a doctor to look at the situation. The additional tests (fluid volume and blood flow) will have been performed at growth scan today. By all means seek a second opinion but the main thing is to get a plan for monitoring and delivery with your current care givers I agree with PPs.

If that is the only number you can find, I'd ring first thing in the morning rather than now though.

Another one who had to push for my scans to be reviewed by fetal medicine at hospital due to it being totally chaotic and short staffed. It took me too long to do this thought and resulted in a decision to induce the very next day and baby born on 1st centile (but healthy thank goodness!). I wish I had followed my gut earlier

Another vote for the Fetal Medicine Centre

Yes, that’s the place to go. Good luck and sure it’s fine!

FMC were very good with mine. Those scans are notoriously inaccurate, but best to keep an eye on it and get it checked out. Any changes to movements? Good luck, keep us updated x

We had a problem with the 20 week scan (short femur length) very poorly explained by the sonographer, in a corridor at West Middx. We went home, fretted a lot, googled a lot and then both of us went to the maternity day assessment unit the following day and asked for someone to explain. We were totally calm, pleasant and patient and the staff were responsive and reassuring. The consultant gave us 10 mins of her time and was able to sketch out the likely issues. Suspect having DH with me and being very polite (and clear about needing the explanation, in a respectful way) helped.

Queen Charlottes’s is a fetal medicine centre and one of the best in the country. I would put my trust in them wholeheartedly .