Articles

How Does the Non-Invasive Prenatal Harmony Test Work?

TheTDL VeriSeq v2 by Illumina test is one of the options for NIPT at The Birth Company. We also provide the Panorama and SAFE tests. All three types of NIPT work in the same way. Here is a simple guide to help you to understand how these types of screening tests are performed.

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How Do I Calculate My Pregnancy Week by Week?

Knowing how many weeks along you is essential during pregnancy. It will ensure that you’re getting the right antenatal care and that your ultrasound scans are scheduled at the appropriate time.

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Who Can Have the TDL VeriSeq v2 by Illumina Test?

The TDL VeriSeq v2 by Illumina Test  is a popular choice for NIPT; you may be wondering whether it is suitable for you, especially if there are any special circumstances around your pregnancy. The TDL VeriSeq v2 by Illumina test is suitable for most pregnancies.

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When Should You Have Your Pregnancy Scans?

Ultrasound scans are an essential part of your pregnancy care. We offer a selection of different types of ultrasound scans at our Cheshire clinic, so you have plenty of options when deciding when to have your ultrasounds.

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What Does Mid-Pregnancy Anatomy Scan Include?

Needing to urinate more often is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. It can actually be one of the first signs that you might be expecting, but it can also persist throughout your pregnancy.

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Why Does Your Age Matter During Pregnancy?

Any woman who is menstruating and ovulating can get pregnant, so there are a wide range of ages for new and expectant mums. Some women give birth as teenagers, others in their 20s or 30s, and some give birth in their 40s or beyond.

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Is Your Body Ready for a Baby?

Having a baby is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make in your life. Although it’s not possible to prepare for every surprise along the way, there are some important steps you can take to ensure you’re physically ready for pregnancy.

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Is Pregnancy Making Urinate Frequently? Get Our Top Tips for Managing Pregnancy Incontinence

Needing to urinate more often is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. It can actually be one of the first signs that you might be expecting, but it can also persist throughout your pregnancy.

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How Long Does It Take to Get NIPT Test Results?

You can have NIPT from just 10 weeks into your pregnancy, but how long will you have to wait to get your results?

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What is the First Sign of Pregnancy?

When you’re trying to get pregnant, you’ll probably want to know as soon as it happens. How quickly can you tell that you’re pregnant and what are the first signs that you should be looking out for?

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What gestation can the TDL VeriSeq v2 by Illumina be performed?

Keeping on top of your schedule can be a big part of pregnancy. You have all sorts of antenatal appointments, ultrasound scans, and developmental milestones on your mind.

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What Are The Signs of Pregnancy in the First Week?

Did you know that pregnancy symptoms can start right at the beginning, before you‘ve missed a period? Even when your baby is just a tiny ball of cells, the changes in your hormone levels can have a big effect on your body.

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When Can I Find Out My Baby’s Gender?

The first opportunity to find out your baby’s gender will usually occur during one of the ultrasound scans that you have during pregnancy. Depending on when you have your scans, this might not be during your first ultrasound.

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Does a Transvaginal Ultrasound Hurt?

Gynaecological ultrasound and some early pregnancy ultrasound scans are routinely performed using a transvaginal probe technique. This technique is used to view the pelvic anatomy optimally, as the ultrasound probe can transmit safe ultrasound waves more directly to the pelvic area. In later stages of pregnancy, it may be advised to perform a transvaginal ultrasound scan to have a closer look at a baby's anatomy, or to assess the maternal cervix.

There is no clinical risk associated with performing a transvaginal ultrasound scan. Transvaginal ultrasound scans can safely be performed during menstruation and episodes of vaginal bleeding.

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Should You Get a 3D Pregnancy Scan?

3D scans have become a very popular choice for parents in the UK. This may help you decide whether to have this pregnancy scan. 

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What Will Your 3D Baby Scan Look Like?

By the time that you have your 3D ultrasound you will probably have had at least two 2D scans already. You will probably be quite familiar with what a normal ultrasound looks like, especially if you have been looking at your scan pictures and videos. However, knowing what a conventional ultrasound looks like won’t prepare you for what you will see when you have a 3D baby scan.

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How Are 3D Ultrasound Images Created?

The pictures you see during a 3D ultrasound will look very different from those that appear on the screen during your routine scans. You might think that this means that they are created using very different technologies, but the truth is that the differences stem from the way the data is processed rather than in the way the pictures are taken.

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How Much Do You Know About Your Womb Lining?

You might not know much about the endometrial cells that line your uterus, but these are some of the hardest working cells in your body. Every month when you are menstruating, the endometrium thickness and then is shed during your period.

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Who Should Have the TDL VeriSeq v2 by Illumina Test?

The TDL VeriSeq v2 by Illumina is one of the options for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in London. It can provide valuable information about your baby’s health and is suitable for use in most pregnancies.

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What Can the Anatomy Scan Detect?

The main medical focus of the 20 week scan is to check for any signs of physical abnormalities. The ultrasound pictures are much clearer and more detailed than they were at the 12 week scan and your baby will have developed a lot. If you haven’t had an ultrasound since 12 weeks. 

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Can You Have a Pelvic Ultrasound During Your Period?

If you’re experiencing menstrual symptoms or your doctor has referred you to us for full pelvic ultrasound scans then you may be wondering when is the best time to arrange your appointment during your menstrual cycle. The most common question we hear about the timing of scans is whether it is possible to have a pelvic ultrasound during your period.

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Getting the Best Picture for a Nuchal Translucency Scan

The Nuchal Translucency Scan is an important part of your antenatal care. In addition to checking on your baby’s growth and development, the sonographer will also perform the nuchal translucency test to screen for certain chromosomal abnormalities. The results can tell you whether your baby ihas a high or low probability for conditions such as Down’s syndrome.

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How Accurate is the Nuchal Translucency Scan?

One of the main purposes of the Nuchal Translucency Scan is to assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome. The size of the nuchal fold at the back of the neck can be a good indication when it is measured during ultrasounds taken between 11 and 14 weeks.

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How Does NIPT Work?

NIPT is a simple blood test that can help to detect chromosomal abnormalities and other genetic conditions. If you’re thinking about having one of the NIPT tests that we provide at The Birth Company, then you may be wondering how it all works.

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Amniocentesis vs. NIPT: Which Should You Choose?

Amniocentesis and non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) are two very different techniques that are used to check for the same thing. Both tests are usually only carried out if your medical history or the Nuchal Translucency scan suggest that there is a high probability of a chromosomal abnormality. 

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What Happens When You Have NIPT?

Having non-invasive prenatal testing can be a big decision because of what the results could mean for you and your pregnancy. However, the test itself is straight forward. We will perform a detailed scan, all you will need to do is provide a sample of your blood.

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What Other Tests Are Available In Addition to Pregnancy Ultrasound Scans?

Most women will have at least a couple of ultrasound scans during their pregnancy, but depending on the situation they may have one or more other tests, either before conception or during pregnancy. Some of the most common tests include pre-conception ultrasounds, and blood tests carried out for screening purposes.

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How to Involve Older Siblings During Pregnancy

Becoming an older brother or sister can be tough, particularly for first children who have had their parents all to themselves. It is therefore important to get older children involved during the pregnancy so that they will be ready to welcome the new addition to the family.

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Turtle vs. Hamburger: How We Tell If You’re Expecting a Boy or Girl

Finding out if your baby is a boy or girl is one of the most exciting things that happens when you’re expecting. Read on to learn how we tell which you’re expecting.

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Comparing Internal and External Ultrasound Scans

When you have a scan, it can be performed either internally or externally. Both kinds of scan work in the same way, using equipment that converts sound waves into pictures.

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Deciding Whether or Not NIPT is Right for Your Family

Getting pregnant could be one of the most exciting and exhilarating times for a couple. It may also be a rollercoaster of emotions and for first time parents especially knowing what to expect as a pregnancy progresses could be both stressful and concerning.

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What is an Ultrasound Scan?

An ultrasound scan or sonogram is a test that we can use to see what is happening inside your body. Although we often use them to check on your baby during pregnancy, we can also use ultrasound to diagnose certain medical conditions. 

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Prepare for Ultrasound Scan

You won’t usually need to do much to prepare for your ultrasound scan. However, there are a few things you can do to help us to get a clearer picture and to make your visit to the clinic as comfortable as possible.

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External Scans

If you are visiting The Birth Company for a pregnancy ultrasound then you will most likely be having an external scan. Although we do sometimes need to perform an internal scan to get a closer view of your baby, we can usually do the scan through your abdomen. 

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Internal Scans

If you are visiting the clinic for a gynaecological ultrasound then you will probably need to have an internal scan. Although it is sometimes possible to diagnose the problem with an external scan, we usually need to perform a trans-vaginal ultrasound to find out obtain clear views. We may also recommend an internal ultrasound when you are pregnant, particularly if you are having a very early scan in pregnancy.

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Risks of Ultrasound Scans

Ultrasound scans are very safe. The scan uses high frequency sound waves to create pictures of your insides. Unlike other imaging tests such as CT scans or X rays, there is no radiation involved. This means that there is no risk that the scan will cause cancer or any problems for your baby, if you are pregnant.

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Pregnancy Screening Tests & why

Screening tests are an important part of your antenatal care. We want you to be able to make informed decisions about you and your baby’s health.

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What happens in the scan room?

After you arrive at The Birth Company clinic and let our support team know that you are here, you may have some time to relax in our comfortable waiting area before it is time for your appointment. You will then be asked to step into the scan room.

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How long does it take?

The ultrasound scan itself will usually take between 15 - 45 minutes, but your appointment will be a little longer. We allow plenty of time for you to talk to your sonographer before and after the scan. We want you to feel comfortable and completely unrushed at the clinic.

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Types of scans available.

As experts in ultrasound, we can perform a wide range of different types of scans to find out what is going on inside your body.

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Results– explained

When you have an ultrasound at The Birth Company, we’ll help you understand what your results mean. You’ll have a chance to discuss them with your sonographer at the end of the appointment and we’ll provide a full report for your maternity notes or GP.

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Who can attend the scan?

You can bring anyone you choose with you to your ultrasound scan. Many women like to have their partner, a close friend or a family member with them, and these companions are often just as excited to see the first pictures of the baby.

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Can I know the fetal sex of my baby?

It is usually possible for us to tell if your baby is a boy or girl from about 16 weeks. You might think that you can see that your baby is a boy on an earlier scan, but both boys and girls actually look identical early on. 

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Can I get picture of my baby?

Getting the first pictures of your baby is one of the most exciting parts of having your pregnancy scans. When you visit The Birth Company for ultrasound, you’ll get much more than just a single photo.

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Everything you need to know about non-invasive prenatal testing

Ultrasound scans play a key role in your antenatal care, but there is another form of non-invasive testing that you may need to know about. Non-invasive prenatal testing can provide information on chromosomal conditions, without the need for invasive tests such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.

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When should I have scan during pregnancy?

All women in the UK will be offered two routine ultrasound scans during pregnancy, at about 12 and 20 weeks. At The Birth Company, we usually recommend more fequent scans so we can keep a closer eye on your baby.

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Morning sickness in pregnancy

Morning sickness is very common. About 80% of women will experience it at some point during pregnancy. It is thought to be linked to the changes in your hormones that happen when you are pregnant.

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Food to avoid in pregnancy

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is essential for you and your baby during pregnancy. However, there are certain foods that you should cut out of your diet when you become pregnant.

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List of scans during pregnancy (list with small explanation of each)

Here at The Birth Company we can perform a range of different scans to provide the information you need about your baby’s health and development at different stages of pregnancy.

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Clinic Locations

Visit our clinic in Central London and Cheshire

LONDON CLINIC

Ground Floor,
32 Wimpole Street
London W1G 8GT

Nearest Underground Tube Stations

Bond Street
Oxford Circus

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CHESHIRE CLINIC

Alderley Edge Medical Centre, Talbot Road, Alderley Edge,
Cheshire, SK9 7HR

Nearest Overground Train Station Alderley Edge

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Wimpole Street, London

The Birth Company
Ground Floor
32 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8GT

020 7725 0528
[email protected]

Wimpole Street, London Opening Times

Mon 08:00 - 20:00
Tue 08:00 - 20:00
Wed 08:00 - 20:00
Thu 08:00 - 20:00
Fri 08:00 - 18:00
Sat 09:00 - 16:00
Sun 10:00 - 14:00

Alderley Edge, Cheshire

The Birth Company
Alderley Edge Medical Centre,
Talbot Road,
Alderley Edge
Cheshire
SK9 7HR

01625 70 40 80
[email protected]

Alderley Edge, Cheshire Opening Times

Mon 09:00 - 17:00
Tue 09:00 - 17:00
Wed 09:00 - 17:00
Thu 09:00 - 17:00
Fri 09:00 - 17:00
Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (On selected dates)
Sun Closed
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