Many of the scan providers on Groupon are fairly new companies.

 

Expectant parents are often very keen to discover the gender of their unborn baby, and understandably so - knowing the gender is one of those things that really helps you to feel closer to your little bundle of joy. The people who come to our clinics for gender scans frequently tell us that the baby seems a lot more 'real' to them once our sonographer has revealed whether it's a boy or a girl, and besides, finding out the sex is a nice little milestone to get excited for when the birth itself still seems a long way off.

With all of that in mind, it's easy to see why mums-to-be and dads-in-waiting might want to attend a gender scan as soon as possible. However, attend a gender ultrasound scan too early in your pregnancy and it may be impossible to accurately identify the gender - a foetus doesn't develop sexual characteristics until a few weeks in, and nothing conclusive will actually be visible on an ultrasound scan until a little while after that.

So, how soon can you find out the gender?

At First Encounters, we now offer a SneakPeek®  gender test – ideal for parents who are too eager to wait until their gender confirmation ultrasound! The SneakPeek® test is a DNA-base, non-invasive prenatal blood test that can tell you whether you’re having a boy or a girl from as early as 6 weeks into your pregnancy.

How can SneakPeek® determine my baby’s sex?

When you’re pregnant, your bloodstream contains DNA from your unborn child as well as your own DNA. If your blood sample contains male (XY) chromosomes, this means you’re going to have a boy. If there are no male chromosomes present in the blood sample, it means you are pregnant with a girl.

This gender testing method is 99.9% accurate at 6 weeks gestation and you should have your results emailed directly to you within 7-10 working days.

How early can you have a gender scan?

Here at First Encounters Ultrasound we don't offer any gender confirmation ultrasound scans before 16 weeks gestation. Other scan providers may offer slightly earlier scans, but we would strongly recommend that you do not attend a baby gender scan until at least the 16-week mark. Any earlier, and your baby probably won't have developed sufficiently for accurate gender identification.

Is it worth waiting a little longer?

While we're happy to provide gender scans from 16 weeks onwards, it's worth bearing in mind that not all babies develop at the same speed. Very occasionally, someone will come in for gender confirmation at 16 weeks and the sonographer still won't be able to find positive visual confirmation of the baby's sex. In these cases, we'll usually offer a complimentary re-scan at a later date (we'll never guess the gender if we're not confident in our prediction!) but to avoid disappointment, you may wish to wait an extra few days just to make sure that your baby has developed to the point where we're able to identify the gender.

Our Sonographers

Our Equipment

As demand for 4D ultrasound scans increases, we're seeing more and more new people entering the field and offering to provide baby scan experiences at competitive prices. Sadly, the quality of the service provided varies hugely from one company to the next, and it's heartbreaking when expectant parents pay for a private scan and end up with low-grade images that are barely even worth sharing.

Here at First Encounters, we strive to deliver the best possible service to our customers. We firmly believe that we're head and shoulders above most scan providers operating in the UK today - here are 10 reasons why:

1. We conform to the highest industry standards.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates healthcare and - in particular - diagnostic and screening activities in England. Even though we are based in Wales, not England, it is our policy to ensure that our scans conform to the very highest industry standards. So if you visit our ultrasound clinic in Cardiff, you will find that every part of your scan experience reflects the standards enforced by the CQC in England (since the equivalent Welsh body, Health Inspectorate Wales, does not currently regulate diagnostic and screening activities in Wales).

2. We employ licensed sonographers who are qualified and experienced.

All of our sonographers are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the regulator for health professionals throughout the UK. In order to achieve HCPC-registered status, one must meet the Council's standards for training, behaviour, health/hygiene, and professional skills. Many of the 4D ultrasound scan packages currently flooding the market are NOT carried out by registered healthcare professionals, which could mean that potential complications with your pregnancy go undetected.

3. We use advanced GE Healthcare equipment with HDlive technology.

Our scans are carried out using GE Voluson E6 ultrasound machines with genuine HDlive technology. GE Healthcare are the #1 manufacturer for the baby scan sector, and their equipment is championed by legitimate scan clinics across the globe.

4. Our equipment is certified safe for purpose.

Every piece of machinery we use to carry out our customers' baby scans is inspected, tested, and certified safe for purpose. Many scan providers, sadly, do not meet this standard, using uncertified and potentially unsafe equipment that puts both mother and baby at risk.

5. We are accomplished in both diagnostic and souvenir imaging.

Our sonographers specialise in diagnostic ultrasound scanning, meaning that they are qualified to carry out your souvenir scan AND assess the health and growth of your unborn child.

6. We provide printed pregnancy reports with every scan.

Everyone who attends a scan at the First Encounters ultrasound clinic also receives a First Encounters pregnancy report. This is a detailed document containing all the information we gather during your scan, such as gestation age, estimated due date, various measurements, and the position of your baby inside the womb.

7. All of our employees are trusted, caring professionals.

We've already described the qualifications and accreditations that our sonographers hold, but just as important is the friendly, caring approach taken by everyone here at First Encounters, from our administrative staff to the sonographers themselves. We do everything we can to make each customer feel totally welcome and completely at ease when they come for their scan.

8. Our scans are carried out in a relaxed, spacious clinic environment.

As mentioned above, we're committed to ensuring that expectant parents feel relaxed and at ease in our clinics. Our clinics are comfortable and modern, with enough space to accommodate everyone who might attend. We also maintain very high standards of hygiene and safety within our clinics.

9. Children, family and friends are always welcome.

Each scanning room has space for up to 6 guests. You are more than welcome to bring anyone you wish, including friends, relatives, and even young children who are eager to say hello to the newest member of the family!

10. We offer a comprehensive and competitive range of scan packages.

Unlike many providers who simply offer a single 'one-size-fits-all' scan package, we have a range of different packages to choose from. The best package for you will depend on the type of images you wish to capture, how far along you are, and the souvenirs you want to take home after the scan. Click here to compare the available options.

Still not convinced? Take a look at our Reviews page, or look at what our customers have been saying about us on Facebook!