Pregnancy Anomaly Scan

£99

30 minute appointment

This scan is available to women from the age of 16 years.

This scan is best performed around 18-21 weeks of the pregnancy.

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The Anomaly Scan

The Anomaly Scan, sometimes called the 20-week scan or mid-pregnancy scan, is a detailed diagnostic ultrasound performed between 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy. The purpose of this scan is to check your baby’s development in detail and to look for any major physical abnormalities or congenital anomalies. It is one of the most important scans during pregnancy, offering reassurance about your baby’s growth and helping to identify conditions that may require further care.

The Purpose Of An Anomaly Scan

What does the anomaly scan check for?

During this scan, the Sonographer examines your baby carefully from head to toe. Areas assessed include:

Bones and skeleton – to ensure growth is on track and rule out major skeletal problems.
Heart – to check for cardiac abnormalities, chamber development, and heart rhythm.
Brain and spinal cord – for signs of open spina bifida or other neurological anomalies.
Face – to check for cleft lip and other facial differences.
Abdomen and kidneys – to ensure organs are developing properly.
Placenta – to check its position and function.
Amniotic fluid levels – important for your baby’s health and growth.

The scan also includes measurements of your baby’s size (such as head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length) to confirm growth is consistent with your expected due date.

Why is this scan important?

Early detection of problems – Identifies major abnormalities such as spina bifida, cleft lip, congenital heart problems, or growth restrictions.
Placenta position – Ensures the placenta is not covering the cervix (placenta previa), which could affect delivery.
Monitoring development – Provides reassurance that your baby is developing as expected at this stage.
Planning for care – If any concerns are detected, your GP or midwife can refer you for further testing or specialist care, allowing you to prepare and receive the right support.
Peace of mind – For most parents, this scan offers the reassurance of seeing their baby developing normally.

What happens during the procedure?

The scan is carried out using an ultrasound machine with a probe placed on your abdomen.
A clear gel is applied to your tummy to help the sound waves pass through and create images.
The Sonographer will gently move the probe across your skin to examine your baby in detail.
The scan usually takes 20-40 minutes, depending on your baby’s position and movements. Sometimes, if the baby is in an awkward position, you may be asked to move around, have a drink, or return later to complete the scan.

You will receive:

Three black-and-white ultrasound images of your baby
A written report of the findings, which can be shared with your GP or midwife

Preparation for the scan

Wear loose, comfortable clothing for easy access to your abdomen.
A moderately full bladder can sometimes improve visibility, but in most cases, no special preparation is required.
You may wish to bring your partner or a support person with you to share the experience.

Limitations of the anomaly scan

It is important to understand that while this scan is detailed, it cannot detect every condition. Some problems may develop later in pregnancy, and others may be too small or subtle to be visible at this stage.

Even with the best technology and experienced sonographers, certain anomalies may go undetected. This limitation is recognised across the medical field, including within the NHS.

The 18-21 Week Anomaly Scan is a vital part of pregnancy care, giving parents important information about their baby’s health and development.

While it cannot detect every possible condition, it provides a detailed assessment of major organs, growth, and placenta health at this stage.

For most families, the scan offers reassurance and the joy of seeing their baby in detail, while for others, it provides essential early warning signs to ensure the right care and support is in place.

Please note that the aim of this scan is to ascertain any anomaly in the baby at the time of the scan, and we try our utmost to do that. However, with the best of intentions there is always a chance that certain anomalies are not visible clearly and may not be identified at this stage. This is considered a normal factor in the industry including the NHS. Peek-a-Baby/Ultrasound Care does not take any responsibility for any anomalies appearing or becoming evident at a later stage.