Antenatal Care

At St Clare’s we have a team of doctors and midwives that will guide you through your pregnancy. We aim to provide holistic care and take the time to listen to all your needs. We have a range of specialists in obstetrics and aim to tailor your care during pregnancy to the individual. 

We believe in providing you with positive birth experience to ensure you are well prepared for the safe arrival of your little one. We have been doing this for over 3 decades now and plan on continuing for many more in a relaxed, safe and pro-active manor. 

Fetal Medicine 

We believe in offering the latest screening services to ensure your pregnancy has the best possible outcome. There are regular clinics with a visiting fetal medicine expert from London and also liase with our colleges over in London such as the world-renowned Fetal Medicine Centre in London, should further testing need to be carried out.

We organise the following tests in house:

Nuchal Scan

This scan is carried out from 11 weeks + 3 days to 13 weeks + 6 days. 

This helps Date the pregnancy accurately, diagnose multiple pregnancies, diagnose major fetal abnormalities, diagnose early miscarriage, and assess the chance of Down’s syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities

Combined Testing

A screening test for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome is available between weeks 10 and 14 of pregnancy. It’s called the combined test because it combines an ultrasound scan with a blood test. The blood test can be carried out at the same time as the 12-week scan.

Anomaly Scan

This is a detailed scan at 20-24 weeks of pregnancy.

During the scan we examine each part of the fetal body, determine the position of the placenta, assess the amount of amniotic fluid, and measure fetal growth. Special attention is paid to the brain, face, spine, heart, stomach, bowel, kidneys and limbs.

Cell Free Fetal DNA test

This test analyzes cell free DNA in maternal blood and gives a strong indication of whether the baby is at high or low chance of having trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) or trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome).

The test identifies 99%, but not all, of the babies with trisomy 21, 98% of babies with trisomy 18 and 90% of babies with trisomy 13.

Ultrasound Scans

Ultrasound scans can confirm your baby’s wellbeing and health throughout the pregnancy.

There are many types of scans during pregnancy. At St Clare’s we offer a full range of scans for any stage of your pregnancy whether it is a single pregnancy or a multiple pregnancy:

• Early dating scan (6 to 11 weeks)
• Pre-Cell Free Fetal DNA test scan (from 10 weeks)
• Nuchal translucency scan with or without blood test (12 weeks)
• Anomaly scan (20 weeks)
• Wellbeing, growth and reassurance scan including doppler (13+ weeks)
• 3D/4D scan (28 to 32 weeks)