Wine glasses for drinking during pregnancy
 
Can you drink while pregnant? Drinking during pregnancy is a something of a grey area when it comes to prenatal health.
 
There is no well-defined limit for expectant mothers to follow, and so it can be difficult to establish how much alcohol - if any - is safe to consume while pregnant.
 

who to bring to ultrasound

Whether it’s your first ultrasound, gender reveal or 4D scan appointment, deciding who to bring along to your ultrasound scans can be difficult. Many women are torn between keeping their ultrasound scans a private, intimate affair by bringing only a select few, and sharing their special moments with all of their nearest and dearest.

Unfortunately, some hospitals have strict policies on the number of people you can bring to your ultrasound scans, and some don’t allow children into the room either.

But here at First Encounters, we offer space for you and up to 6 guests (including children) to attend your ultrasound scan

Your Significant Other

Ok, this one may seem like a bit of a no brainer, but it goes without saying that your significant other should take top priority when it comes to deciding who to bring to your ultrasound.

Significant others can sometimes feel a little left out during your pregnancy. After all, you’re the one carrying the baby and feeling the full effects of pregnancy while they take a more supportive, secondary role.

Having your significant other by your side for your ultrasound scans (when possible), will give them the opportunity to see and hear how the baby is progressing, making them feel much more involved in your pregnancy.

Taking Children to your Ultrasound

If the baby on board already has a sibling or two waiting to meet them, its likely that you’ll want to share this wonderful experience with them and make them feel involved in your pregnancy too.  

It can be hard for young children, especially, to grasp the idea that ‘mummy is having a baby ‘. Having baby’s siblings involved in your pregnancy helps them understand what’s happening and, more often than not, it sparks excitement about the arrival of their baby brother or sister. That’s why your children are more than welcome to attend your First Encounter’s ultrasound scan.

We know that it can be difficult to find childcare, and in circumstances where children can’t attend ultrasound scans, significant others and other family members can be forced to miss your ultrasound as they take on the role of baby sitter. We definitely don’t want that to be the case for you here!

Bring the Grandparents!

Whether you want to bring baby’s grandparents or your own grandparents along to your ultrasound, getting the older generations involved in your scans can be an unbelievably touching experience. Grandparents are often just as excited as you are to meet their new grand or great-grandchildren, so it’s worth giving them a thought when choosing who to invite.

With up to 6 guest spots available at First Encounters, you can invite your parents, your grandparents, your significant other and even a cousin along to share the special experience with you, if you like. We think that, particularly if you’re having a 4D scan, bringing guests in the room to meet your baby will be an unforgettable experience.

Book an Ultrasound Scan Now!

If you have any questions or if you’d like to book your scan over the phone, call us on 02920 732671.

In this age of instant uploads and social media sharing, we realise that many of our customers wish to access and share their scan images quickly and efficiently via their mobile phones & laptops.

 
In order to give expectant parents both a physical keepsake and an easy-to-access digital copy of their scan images, we have decided to introduce a brand new photocloud service for First Encounters customers. This service allows you to access the scan images that come with your chosen package on your personal devices, enabling you to instantly view, download, and share your precious imagery. You can print and distribute your images from our photocloud™ however you like!
 
You will be able to access your scan images via photocloud™ for up to one month after the date of your scan, and we try to upload your images to the photocloud™ within one hour of your scan finishing. 
 
Click here to browse our full range of scan packages, or if you've already had your scan with us - head over to the photocloud™ page and use your unique password to access your photos!
HD Live Scans
 
Manufactured by GE Healthcare, HD Live is the most advanced 4D ultrasound technology currently on the market. With its improved frame rate and enhanced colour palette, this equipment allows sonographers to capture clearer, crisper images than ever before, which is great news for expectant parents who want a more detailed glimpse of their unborn baby.
 
The images below should give you a good impression of the difference between HD Live technology and standard 3D/4D ultrasound equipment.
 
Left image captured by GE Voluson i. Right image captured by GE Voluson E6 with HD Live technology.
 
We at First Encounters were extremely impressed when we first witnessed what HD Live technology was capable of, and so we are very pleased to announce that HD Live scans are now available at our ultrasound clinic in  Cardiff. All of our 4D scans now use HD Live technology as standard.
 
Click here to compare our 4D scan packages and book your high-definition ultrasound experience online.
 

Accept no substitutes!

Here at First Encounters Ultrasound, we're proud to offer families a superior scan experience using genuine HD Live technology from GE Healthcare. The machine we use for HD Live scans is the GE Voluson E6.
 
We've seen a lot of other scan providers claiming to provide HD Live scans, but more often than not, these claims prove misleading upon closer inspection. Some providers who purport to use HD Live equipment actually carry out scans using a GE Voluson i, the machine we used to use before our clinics upgraded to the Voluson E6!
 
Before you book an HD Live scan, be sure to ask the provider what equipment they use to perform the scan. If it's not the genuine article, we strongly recommend that you look elsewhere - otherwise, you may end up feeling very disappointed with the quality of your scan footage!
 
For more information about HD Live scans, please feel free to contact the First Encounters team.

In case you missed our last few blog posts, we’re currently running a special spring offer which allows First Encounters Ultrasound customers to get a selection of FREE scan souvenirs along with their chosen scan package!

This offer is available to anyone who books our Deluxe4D™, Deluxe4DPlus™ or 4DgenderAssure™ packages before the 10th of April (that’s this Sunday!) If you take advantage of this offer, you’ll get a selection of great scan gifts which would normally be worth £23.50 when purchased separately. This package includes both digital and physical copies of your chosen scan images, but for a closer look at what we’re offering, please click here.
 
This offer is valid to anyone who books a scan before Sunday, and it is available to customers in both our Cardiff and Bristol ultrasound clinics. This is a fantastic opportunity to save money on adding extra items to your scan package, so if you’re thinking about booking a scan with us, now is definitely the time to do it. Remember, this is your last chance to book this offer and take advantage of this one-of-a-kind deal, so take the plunge and book your scan before it’s too late! 
 
Remember, your scan can take place at any time of your choosing, as it’s only the booking itself that has to be made before the 10th of April. 
 
If you have any further questions about this deal or any of our packages, please feel free to get in touch!
Spring Sale

To celebrate the arrival of Spring, we've decided to put together a special offer for customers who book scans with us from now until the 10th of April. The offer is available when you book any of the following 4D ultrasound packages before that date:

Deluxe4D™

A Deluxe4D™ ultrasound scan can be booked from 24-32 weeks, providing you and up to six guests with the chance to watch your unborn baby's movements live on a plasma screen; a special moment that will be captured on DVD. The sonographer will also perform growth measurements, and will determine other vital information about your baby's well-being.

Deluxe4DPlus

Like the regular Deluxe4D™ package, Deluxe4DPlus™ provides you with a unique glimpse into your baby's world while also confirming vital details about their progress, such as their growth and positioning. After your scan, you will receive a selection of commemorative items, including DVD footage of your little one.With the Deluxe4DPlus™ pacakge, you will also have the opportunity to discover your baby's gender, since a 2D sexing scan is included in the price.

4DgenderAssure™

Unlike the Deluxe4D™ packages, our 4DgenderAssure™ option provides you with the opportunity to learn the sex of your baby from as early as 20 weeks gestation. You will be able to discover the gender of your baby in live 2D footage, before getting a closer look at your baby via 3D/4D imagery, which will be projected onto our plasma screen. To commemorate your special day, the package also includes 4 glossy photographs and a keyring with an image of your little one.

If you book any of these before Sunday the 10th of April, you will also receive the following additional items for FREE:
  • CD containing photos from your scan
  • Four colour prints (6" x 4")
  • 1 x photo magnet
These items are worth £23.50 in total.

This offer is valid to any customer who books their scan before the 10th of April. The scan itself can take place on any date you choose, as long as the booking is made before the specified date.

You can view our full range of scan packages here.