Expert pregnancy ultrasound imaging at every stage of your journey, from early viability to growth and presentation scans. CQC-registered clinic at 29 Weymouth Street in London's Harley Street Medical Area, with same-day appointments often available and no GP referral required. Pregnancy imaging is one of the private scans in London that Sonoworld provides, alongside women's, men's, cardiovascular and screening ultrasound.
Not sure which scan you need? Call our clinical team for guidance.
At Sonoworld, we understand that every stage of pregnancy brings its own questions, emotions, and clinical needs. Our consultant sonographers are highly experienced in obstetric ultrasound, providing thorough, compassionate assessments using high-resolution GE ultrasound equipment.
Whether you need early reassurance, accurate dating, a growth check or a presentation scan, our team provides expert care in a calm, private environment. All scans are available without a GP referral, and same-day appointments are often available at our clinic on Weymouth Street, in London's Harley Street Medical Area.
Choose the scan that matches your stage of pregnancy. If you are unsure, our clinical team can advise on the most appropriate scan for you.
Confirms the presence of a pregnancy, checks for a fetal heartbeat, and estimates gestational age. Provides vital reassurance in the first trimester, especially for those with previous complications or early symptoms.
Accurately determines your baby's gestational age and estimated due date by measuring the crown-rump length. Confirms fetal viability and checks for multiple pregnancies. Can be combined with early Down's syndrome screening.
A detailed structural assessment of your baby's anatomy, checking the brain, heart, spine, kidneys, limbs, and face. The most comprehensive diagnostic scan of pregnancy, recommended by NICE guidelines for all pregnancies.
Determines the sex of your baby with high accuracy from 16 weeks. A popular choice for parents who wish to find out the gender before birth, plan their nursery, or simply satisfy their curiosity.
Monitors your baby's growth, position, amniotic fluid levels, and placental health in the second and third trimester. Recommended for high-risk pregnancies or when there are concerns about fetal growth or movement.
A live, moving 3D experience of your baby's face, hands, and movements. The optimal bonding scan, best performed between 26 and 32 weeks when your baby has developed facial features but still has room to move. Includes printed images and a digital recording.
Confirms your baby's position (cephalic, breech, or transverse) in the final weeks of pregnancy. Essential information for birth planning and for women considering a home birth or VBAC.
Use this guide to find the right scan for your stage of pregnancy.
Confirm pregnancy, check heartbeat, rule out ectopic
Early Pregnancy Scan →Accurate due date, confirm viability, check for twins
Dating Scan →Find out your baby's sex
Gender Scan →Detailed structural check of baby's anatomy
Anomaly Scan →Live 3D/4D bonding experience with printed images
4D Baby Scan →Arrive at our clinic at 29 Weymouth Street. Partners and family members are welcome to attend. Please bring any previous scan reports or referral letters if available.
Your consultant sonographer will perform the scan using high-resolution GE ultrasound equipment. Most pregnancy scans are performed abdominally; an internal (transvaginal) approach may be used for early scans to obtain clearer images.
Your sonographer will explain their findings immediately after the scan, including measurements, position, and any relevant observations. You are welcome to ask questions.
You will receive printed scan images to take home. A written report is provided for all diagnostic scans. 4D scans include a digital recording of your baby's movements.
Sonoworld offers five pregnancy scans, each matched to a stage of pregnancy. All are £235, performed through the abdomen, and your partner is welcome. The right scan depends mainly on how many weeks pregnant you are and the question you want answered.
| Scan | Price | Time | Gestation | What it answers | Preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early pregnancy scan | £235 | 20 min | From 6 weeks | Is the pregnancy viable, correctly located and how far along; reassurance after pain or bleeding | None specific |
| Dating scan | £235 | 20 to 30 min | 8 to 14 weeks | Heartbeat, accurate due date, early development | Comfortably full bladder |
| Gender scan | £235 | 20 min | From 16 weeks | Boy or girl, plus placenta, fluid and wellbeing | None |
| Growth scan | £235 | 20 to 30 min | From 28 weeks | Measurements, estimated weight and growth percentile | None |
| Presentation scan | £235 | 15 to 20 min | 32 to 40 weeks | Head-down, breech or transverse before labour | None |
If you are under 8 weeks, or you have had pain, bleeding or a previous loss, book the early pregnancy scan. From about 6 weeks it can show a heartbeat, confirm that the pregnancy is inside the uterus and estimate the gestation, which is what most people need for reassurance at this stage. From 8 weeks the dating scan takes over: the measurements become accurate enough to set a due date, and with a comfortably full bladder the view through the abdomen is clear. Many people book a dating scan between 8 and 12 weeks to see the heartbeat before their NHS 12-week appointment, and both scans include images to take home.
The gender scan is offered from 16 weeks, when the external anatomy can be seen reliably. It is more than a reveal: the sonographer also checks the position of the placenta, the amount of fluid and the baby's wellbeing, and will tell you if anything needs following up with your midwife or hospital. It is not a substitute for the NHS 20-week anomaly scan, which looks at the baby's anatomy in structured detail, so keep that appointment as well.
A growth scan from 28 weeks measures the head, abdomen and thigh bone to estimate weight and plot growth against the expected range. It is the scan to choose if you have been told the bump is measuring small or large, if you have a condition such as gestational diabetes, or simply for reassurance about growth in the last trimester. The presentation scan, from 32 weeks, answers one question: which way the baby is lying. It is short, needs no preparation and is useful when a midwife is unsure of the position or when you want certainty before deciding on the birth plan. Between 36 and 40 weeks it can be repeated if the baby was breech earlier.
None of these scans replaces the NHS pathway, and the clinic will always encourage you to attend your booked NHS appointments, in particular the 12-week dating and screening scan and the 20-week anomaly scan. What a private scan adds is choice of timing and an unhurried appointment: a heartbeat check in the anxious weeks before the first NHS scan, a growth check when your midwife has raised a concern and the hospital slot is some way off, or a presentation check in the final weeks. If the sonographer sees anything that needs review, the report will say so clearly and you can take it straight to your midwife or maternity unit the same day.
Only the dating scan benefits from a full bladder; the others need no preparation. Every pregnancy scan is performed by a consultant ultrasound practitioner, includes verbal feedback during the scan, printed or digital images, and a written report within 24 hours that you can share with your midwife. Same-day appointments are usually available, and there is no GP or midwife referral needed.
Heavy bleeding, severe one-sided pain, fainting or reduced movements later in pregnancy need urgent assessment through your maternity unit, not a booked scan. Use the Scan Advisor, call 020 3633 4902, or book the scan that matches your main symptom: the clinician will tell you on the day if a different examination would answer your question better.
Evidence-based guides written by our clinical team to help you understand your pregnancy scans and what to expect.
Understanding the causes of first-trimester bleeding and when an early pregnancy scan is the right next step.
Read the guide →Why 26–32 weeks is the optimal window for a 4D bonding scan and what affects image quality.
Read the guide →Understanding breech presentation, when a presentation scan is needed, and what your birth options are.
Read the guide →How growth scans assess fetal wellbeing, what measurements are taken, and what the results mean.
Read the guide →How private pregnancy scans differ from NHS scans in terms of timing, detail, and access.
Read the guide →Pregnancy scans are timed to what can actually be seen at each stage. Scanning too early usually produces an inconclusive result rather than reassurance, so the week ranges below matter.
| Weeks | Scan | What it answers | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–11 | Early pregnancy scan | Confirms the pregnancy is in the uterus, checks for a heartbeat, and dates the pregnancy. Before six weeks there is usually nothing to see beyond a thickened endometrium. | £235 |
| 8–14 | Dating scan | Establishes gestational age and estimated due date from crown-rump length. | £235 |
| From 16 | Gender scan | Determines fetal sex, with a general check of growth and wellbeing. | £235 |
| 24–34 | Growth scan | Measures fetal size against expected centiles, amniotic fluid volume and umbilical blood flow. | £235 |
| From 36 | Presentation scan | Confirms whether the baby is head down, breech or transverse ahead of delivery planning. | £235 |
If you are bleeding or in pain, read bleeding or pain in early pregnancy first; some symptoms need same-day assessment rather than a booked scan.
No. All our pregnancy scans are available on self-referral, and no GP letter is required.
No. Private scans complement NHS antenatal care rather than replacing it. The NHS dating and anomaly scans remain part of your standard pathway, and we would encourage you to keep them.
Yes. You are welcome to bring family, and there is no charge for anyone accompanying you.
Diagnostic ultrasound has been used in pregnancy for decades and uses no ionising radiation. Scans are performed by consultant-level practitioners using the lowest output consistent with obtaining the necessary images.
We explain what we can see during the appointment rather than leaving you waiting. Where a finding needs onward care, we direct you to the appropriate NHS service, the same day if it is urgent.
