Early Pregnancy Scans
No-rush reassurance from 6 weeks
Hello there 🙂
If you're less than 12 weeks pregnant, I'd like to ease your mind as soon as possible.
My name is Maria Birch. I have a daughter called Mabel and I've been an obstetric sonographer for over 9 years.
And without a doubt, the best part of my job is supporting expectant parent's like you in early pregnancy.
Why? Because I've been in a similar position to you, and I know how nerve-wracking it can be.
For example, when I was around 7 weeks pregnant, I kept asking myself...
Are they healthy?
There wasn't really any need for me to feel anxious.
I hadn't experienced any pain or bleeding...
... and I hadn't suffered any miscarriages or struggled to conceive.
In fact, there were only two signs that I was pregnant:
1) Two blue lines on a pregnancy test, and
2) I was running to the loo every hour or so to be sick
Even though I knew sickness was normal in pregnancy, I also realised that I was flushing vital nutrients away, and worried what effect it might be having on my baby.
Ultimately, I knew that I'd be worried, no matter what, until I'd seen my baby with my own eyes.
An early pregnancy scan eased my mind
I couldn't bear the idea of waiting another 5-7 weeks for my first NHS scan...
... so I booked a private early pregnancy scan.
Although I'd scanned thousands of women, I'd never before been on the other side as a patient, and I was really nervous.
Looking back, I think I was scared of what the scan might reveal, rather than the scan itself.
On the day of the appointment, as I walked up the stairs to the clinic, I could feel my heart pounding against my rib cage, and my mind was totally blank.
It was like going to a job interview - only worse!
As I lay on the couch, the sonographer lifted my top and tucked some tissue into my leggings.
She squirted some gel onto the ultrasound probe and I jumped a little as she pressed it gently into my abdomen.
The tension was palpable as she moved the probe around, looking for a baby.
"Should I look?" I wondered, worried about what I might see.
I did, eventually, glance at the screen.
And after a few seconds of scanning, the sonographer smiled.
There, right in front of my eyes, was Mabel's racing heart.
I felt like I was floating.
But the scan was rushed...
What seemed like a few short minutes after seeing Mabel's heart beating, I was being ushered out of the room.
Yes, the sonographer was friendly. And I was relieved to know that Mabel was healthy. But I just wanted to take a deep breath, let go of my anxieties, and savour the relief.
Reflecting on the experience with my new perspective as a mother and patient, I realised that the scan itself is only part of the experience.
I hadn't suffered from miscarriages, pain, bleeding, or struggled to conceive. And I'm not usually an anxious person. I also had the advantage of knowing what I was looking at on the scan. Therefore, it was just about enough to ease my mind and give me the confidence to let go of my early pregnancy worries.
But I know that there are many other parents who aren't as fortunate as I was. This is one of the reasons I decided to open Sneak-A-Peek Ultrasound a few short months later.
I wanted to give other parent's the option of an early pregnancy scan with time to take it all in, time to ask questions, and time to learn exactly what they're looking at.
Finally - a personal early pregnancy scan!
My private early pregnancy scan lasted 15 minutes at most.
At Sneak-A-Peek, you get 30-minutes, twice as long.
That means, if all is well, you can relax, let go of your anxieties, and enjoy the experience.
If it's not, you won't be rushed. I'll make sure you understand the situation and we can discuss what to do next - which may include referring you for NHS care.
Either way, I promise that you won't be rushed and you'll be treated kindly, with compassion, and with the utmost respect.
What Parents Say About Early Pregnancy Scans at Sneak-A-Peek Ultrasound
“
We had a bad experience at [COMPANY REMOVED] in [LOCATION REMOVED] so we were apprehensive about another private scan
But Maria’s reviews were so good that we took the chance, and I’m so glad that we did! Due to previous miscarriages we have felt quite anxious throughout this pregnancy, but Maria was so welcoming and kind, made us feel instantly at ease. We didn’t feel rushed and she took her time to explain everything. Coming away with all of the photos and videos that we watch over and over! Oh and a lovely free fridge magnet! I would 100% recommend Sneak-A-Peek Ultrasound to anyone. Thank you so much!
- Rhea Whiting
“
If I hadn’t experienced a miscarriage previously I probably would have been patient and waited for my 12-week scan
But I loved the personal experience we had when seeing our baby for the very first time. We didn’t feel like just another couple and just another scan, it very much felt like a personal experience.
Maria is incredibly knowledgeable and talks you through everything she can see on screen. We felt reassured heading into the Christmas period that our baby is growing as expected and is healthy. This will allow us to enjoy Christmas without wishing it to be over to get to January to have our 12-week scan.
I would 100% recommend Sneak-A-Peek, the experience exceeded our expectations and we were so pleased with our lovely images and videos of our baby. The environment is so relaxing and nothing like the clinical environment you’d receive within the hospital. Thank you so so much for such a lovely experience.
- Lauren Meredith
“
It was mostly nerves and anxiety that might have prevented me from booking a scan
But being able to take our son was great, and we had more time than we usually would at the hospital to take it all in and really enjoy watching our baby for a little while. We felt very reassured and happy. Our son was over the moon to see his little brother/or sister! Overall, it was a wonderful experience and being able to watch the videos back with my family is fab! Huge thank you to Maria x
- Holly Parr
“
The distance might have stopped us from booking as [COMPANY REMOVED] is closer to our home.
I'm glad we booked, though. Seeing our first baby for the first time and having the reassurance that everything is okay was the best part! We also liked getting confirmation of pregnancy and the reassurance that there was a heart beat as well as measuring on track. Maria was very welcoming and friendly. The location was easy to find, thanks to the emails sent after booking, and the room was lovely. I also appreciated the videos and information sent prior to the appointment to put my mind at ease as to what to expect.
- Becca Jones
What You Get For Your Money With An Early Pregnancy Scan at Sneak-A-Peek Ultrasound
Regular | Premium | |
|---|---|---|
Early Pregnancy Ultrasound Scan: 30-minute appointment so you don’t feel rushed | ||
7-Step Fetal Well-Being Assessment: comprehensive health check of you and your baby | ||
Rapid NHS Referral: if necessary, you will be referred to your local NHS service immediately | ||
Digital Scan Pictures: all saved scan images sent by email to download after scan | ||
4 x Regular Scan Prints: a roll of 4 printed black & white scan pictures (similar to NHS) | ||
BONUS | ||
2 x Premium Scan Prints: 2 individual scan pictures suitable for frames and scrapbooks (A6 size) | Cell | |
Price | £112 | £115 |
Bonus: 2 Premium Scan Prints
With a regular early pregnancy scan, you get a roll of 4 black and white printed pictures of your baby.
With the premium version, you still get 4 prints in a roll, but you also get 2 premium pictures. These are individual prints - thicker, glossier, and A6 size - ideal for a scrapbook, picture frame, or gifting.
The Sneak-A-Peek Ultrasound guarantee
If you feel let down for any reason, I insist that you email me after your scan and I will issue a full refund.
How To Book An Early Pregnancy Scan At Sneak-A-Peek Ultrasound
If you'd like an early pregnancy scan, the next step is to request an appointment. Here's why:
You get the best possible experience. The best timing for an early scan depends on your personal circumstances. Request an appointment and we can look for a date that gives you the best possible experience.
You can ask questions. If you're unsure about anything, tell me on the form below - or in our subsequent email exchange - and I'll happily answer your questions (even if you ultimately decide not to book).
You can join the waiting list. I'm very short of appointments, so if there aren't any suitable dates after requesting an appointment, you can join our waiting list and be notified of cancellations.
With the above in mind, I encourage you to request an appointment sooner rather than later. I only have the capacity to do 32 scans per week and most of those are booked in advance.
Click the button below to begin: