4D Baby Scan Barnstaple
See your baby’s world before they arrive
Our 4D baby scan (also known as a 3D/4D or bonding scan) offers you the extraordinary chance to watch your baby yawn, smile, stretch or suck their thumb—live and in detail. It’s a powerful moment of connection and reassurance that many families treasure forever.
Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, seeing those tiny movements and expressions on screen can bring a new depth to your bond—something even the best photos can’t quite match.
What is 4D baby scan?
A 4D scan creates a moving 3D image of your baby in the womb, like a live video. It builds on traditional 2D scans by capturing three-dimensional images over time—the fourth dimension being motion in real time.
At Sneak-a-Peek Ultrasound in Barnstaple, we use high-quality ultrasound technology to show you clear visuals of your baby’s face, limbs, and movements in real-time. It’s not a diagnostic scan—it’s a bonding experience.
You might also hear these referred to as:
- 3D/4D ultrasound
- HD live scan
- Bonding scan
When is the best time to book a 4D baby scan?
For the clearest images and most memorable experience, we recommend booking your 4D scan between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. At this stage:
- There’s usually enough fluid around your baby
- Your baby’s features are more developed
- There’s still enough room for them to move if we require little one to change position to obtain a clear image
Scan quality can be influenced by your baby’s position, how much fluid is present, and your body’s unique factors, but trust that we’ll always aim to get you the best possible view.
What will I see during the scan?
During your bonding scan, you may see:
- Facial expressions (smiles, yawns, frowns)
- Arm and leg movements
- Stretching, blinking, and thumb-sucking
- Baby responding to your voice or touch
Every baby is different, and that’s part of the magic.
This isn’t just an appointment—it’s an unforgettable experience.
Can I bring guests or children?
Absolutely. We’re a family-friendly clinic and and welcome you to bring your partner, older children, or a loved one to share the moment - up to 5 guests in total. Our calm and private scanning room has space for you all and a large screen so everyone can see.
We offer keepsakes such as:
- Printed photos
- Digital images and video clips
- Heartbeat recordings
- Heartbeat bears
- USB sticks to store all scan images and videos
These are lovely mementos to share with friends, grandparents—or to keep for your baby one day.
What if we can't get a good image?
We know how much this scan means to you, and we’ll always do our best to get clear visuals. But sometimes babies hide behind the placenta, turn away, or cover their face.
If we’re unable to get suitable images:
- We may offer a free rescan, depending on how far along you are
- We’ll explain what we can see clearly and what’s more difficult
- We’ll make sure your time here still feels special and personal
Why choose Sneak-A-Peek for a 4D baby scan?
Sneak-a-Peek is run by NHS-trained obstetric sonographer, Maria Birch, who has cared for thousands of families through their pregnancy journey. We’re based in Barnstaple and welcome clients from Bideford, South Molton, and across North Devon.
How does a 4D baby scan with us differ from any other?
We genuinely care about your experience—not just the scan.
Your appointment is for 45-minutes - twice as long as most other scans. This gives you plenty of time to meet your baby, explore their features, and learn about their development.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What’s the difference between 3D and 4D scans?
A 3D scan gives you a still image of your baby’s face or body. A 4D scan is a live video of baby in 3D — capturing movement in real time.
Do I need a full bladder?
No. For 4D scans, a full bladder is not necessary. You can come comfortably.
What if my baby’s face is covered?
Sometimes babies are camera shy! If your baby’s face is obscured, we may gently try to encourage movement—or offer a rescan depending on timing and visibility.
What if the images are unclear?
The time you get also means there's a much better chance - in comparison to other 4D scans - of seeing your baby's facial features clearly.
If your placenta, cord, or any other anatomy is in front of your baby's face, there's time to wait for them to move into a better position - which isn't the case with most 4D scans.
And as a back-up, if you don't manage to see your baby's face in 3D/4D, you will be invited back for a free rescan so we can try to catch them in a better position.
Can I combine this with a gender scan?
We will happily offer our opinion on baby's gender during your well-being + 4D scan. However, contrary to popular belief it's not always as easy to see baby's genitalia at a later gestation due to lack of space and the fact that baby's legs are often closed!
What parents say about 4D baby scans
“
I was initially was put off a little by the price
I've had scans in the past in [LOCATION REMOVED] for £40 cheaper. But trying to find someone to have our other 5 children for more than a hour wouldn't have been easy - especially being the summer holidays. So I decided to have a scan with Maria as it's closer to home.
What I found was that Maria took her time, explained everything, and answered all my questions, which was very reassuring. At other places you are more rushed. With Maria we explored my baby's body and found that he looks perfect and content.
She's also a lovely lady and made us feel very welcome comfortable. I can't fault our experience. It was 100% worth the price!
- Vicky Roddis
“
This was the most wonderful scan so far - we felt calm, relaxed and enjoyed every single minute.
The scan was so much more than we imagined. We booked the 3D/4D scan to see more details of our baby but we didn't expect to come away feeling as reassured as we did. We liked the calm atmosphere and the time taken over the scan. Nothing was rushed and baby had the time to move into different positions for us, not us moving baby.
The wellbeing check on baby was exactly what we needed. Having a baby in a pandemic has been difficult for my partner and he really felt involved and able to ask questions. We came away just knowing she was growing how she should be and that we could relax more for the last part of the pregnancy.
We would just like to say a huge thank you for the experience you gave us. It was so intimate and special. We felt totally relaxed in the scan and we couldn't have asked for anything more.
- Hatty Atkins
“
So worth the money!
The experience was amazing and so worth the money. The scan was so detailed and I felt like we got so much time to get a really good look at the baby. Maria was so thorough and took the time to really explain everything to us in such a reassuring way. I've had private scans before but this was by far the best experience we've had.
It was probably the most reassured I'd felt, and I've never had everything explained to me so clearly or in so much detail.
We were delighted to be able to both attend as we were unsure if my husband would be able to come to the NHS scans. We are so glad we had this experience.
The atmosphere is lovely, the scans are extremely clear and detailed and I've never had anywhere near that amount of time seeing baby. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would absolutely go back to Maria.
It was like being scanned by a friend. She was incredibly professional but we instantly felt at ease and I felt able to ask any questions without feeling silly.
I really hope to go to Maria again in the future and would highly recommend her to anyone considering a scan. We could not have asked for a better experience or a more knowledgeable, professional sonographer.
- Laura George
“
Seeing my baby in 3D was one of the best experiences of my life.
I loved seeing his beautiful face for the first time, knowing that he is growing well, and having many pictures and videos to show my partner - who hasn’t been allowed to any scans due to the virus. I feel like he is now more of a part of my pregnancy because of the numerous pictures we got. It was so personal, relaxing and amazing. Thank you x
- Ella Adams
“
Being first-time parents we were so unsure what to expect.
We booked our first scan as early as 6 weeks for reassurance because I was told because of my intense chemo and radio therapy treatment, I wouldn’t be able to have children, so we couldn’t wait until the normal 12 weeks NHS scan to see if the test was true!
Being first time parents we were so unsure what to expect. But the moment we walked in the door we felt right at ease. We couldn’t of felt anymore comfortable with Maria. It was such a big sigh of relief when we got to see our little 6 week old miracle baby, only the size of a tiny seed but it felt much bigger in our hearts.
From there we continued to go back to Maria for well being scans and she was so detailed and explained to us every single part of the baby’s body which was amazing.
We have recently had a 4D scan at 30 weeks pregnant and it was the most magical experience we could ever of asked for. The quality of the scan was so amazing, it felt like our baby was there with us.
We have never felt rushed in our 3 experiences we’ve had and we got so many lovely videos and pictures that we will cherish for ever.
We couldn’t of felt any more welcome by Maria and we would highly recommend this experience to anyone and everyone"
- Zara Hemmings
What you get for your money
Regular | Premium | |
|---|---|---|
Well-Being + 4D Scan: 45-minute appointment so you have time to savour the experience | ||
7-Step Fetal Well-Being Assessment: comprehensive health check of you and your baby | ||
Digital Scan Pictures & Videos: all scan images sent by email to download | ||
5 x Premium Scan Prints: 5 colour scan pictures - suitable for frames and scrapbooks (A6 size) | ||
BONUS | ||
2 x Premium Scan Prints: 2 extra colour scan pictures - suitable for frames and scrapbooks (A6 size) | Cell | |
USB Stick: all digital scan pictures pre-loaded on a USB stick | Cell | |
Price | £187 | £190 |
Cell | ||
Premium bonus: USB stick and 2 extra 4D baby scan prints
With a regular 4D baby scan, you will get an email with a link to download your scan pictures and videos. If you opt for the premium scan, you'll also get a USB stick with your images/videos on. Simply pop into your computer for easy access and sharing, or give as a gift to a relative or friend.
"We have the whole scan on USB to share with friends and family as well as a fridge magnet to put a scan photo in. It was the best experience ever and we have been to other private scans before." - Kira Warner
Not quite ready to book a 4D baby scan?
We get it. Deciding whether to book a 4D scan can feel like a big choice—especially if it’s your first time, or you’re unsure what to expect.
If you’re feeling uncertain, have questions about the experience, or just want to talk things through with a friendly expert before deciding…
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
We offer a no-pressure, one-to-one Scan Clarity Call with our lead sonographer, Maria. It’s a short, private video or phone call where you can:
- Ask anything on your mind (there are no silly questions
- Learn more about what a 4D scan includes
- Talk through your hopes, concerns, or hesitations
No sales pitch. Just clarity and support.
It’s the perfect next step if you’re not quite ready to book—but don’t want to leave with questions unanswered.