4D Baby Scan
Photorealistic HD Live 4D bonding scan from 24 weeks, watched on a projector wall with Mum and up to 9 guests in the room, performed at our established Gosforth clinic.
What's in the £78 package
Everything that comes with the 4D Baby Scan, no upsells on the day
Premium 4D HD Live scan experience
2D wellbeing check included
Real-time view of baby's movement & expressions
Baby's position (presentation) check
Placenta location (where visible)
Audible heartbeat (where visible)
Professional Wellbeing Report
2 A5 + 4 A6 printed scan images
All images provided digitally
Allow around 20 minutes for your appointment
View on two 46-inch LED TVs and a projector wall
Up to 9 guests welcome
A 4D baby scan at Numi Scan Gosforth is a real-time HD Live ultrasound from 24 weeks of pregnancy that lets you see your baby's facial features and movements in stunning lifelike detail. It combines a 2D wellbeing check with extended 4D viewing time on our two 46-inch LED TVs and a projector wall, with up to 9 guests welcome. The scan is £78, takes around 10-15 minutes inside a 20-minute appointment, and you'll leave with 2 A5 + 4 A6 prints, all your images digitally, and a professional wellbeing report. No GP referral is needed and same-day or next-day appointments are usually available.
Book Your 4D Baby Scan
Book Your 4D Baby ScanWhat's actually different about a 4D baby scan?
A 4D baby scan takes the still 3D rendering you might recognise from older clinic photos and adds the dimension of time, so instead of a paused snapshot, you watch your baby move in real time. Yawning. Stretching. Sucking a thumb. The technology layered on top, HD Live, brings something closer to natural skin tones and soft directional lighting, which is why a good HD Live image looks more like a baby photo than a clinical ultrasound. It's a real change from the grainy black-and-white 2D you'll be familiar with from your NHS dating and anomaly scans.
During your appointment in Gosforth, our experienced and registered sonographer will:
- Show your baby's face and expressions in real-time HD Live 4D
- Confirm position and movement (presentation)
- Check placenta location where visible
- Listen for an audible heartbeat
The whole family watches on two 46-inch LED TVs and our projector wall, there's room for up to 9 guests on comfortable sofa seating, so partners, grandparents, older siblings and best friends can all share the moment. Appointments run for 20 minutes with 10-15 minutes of active scan time. If you'd like a longer scan with the full keepsake package; A3 print, fridge magnet, recordable Heartbeat Bear, the premium Luxury 4D Baby Scan is the upgrade option. For an even sharper finish on your favourite shots, our 8K AI-enhanced image upgrade works on any 4D scan we capture.
When should I book, and is there really a sweet spot?
There is. The optimal 4D window runs 24 to 32 weeks, and within that the very best images come at 26-30 weeks. Here's the breakdown:
- 24-26 weeks: Subcutaneous fat is filling out facial features, and there's still plenty of amniotic fluid around baby for clean imaging. Genuinely good results from this point onward.
- 26-30 weeks (sweet spot): Where the most cinematic 4D footage comes from. Baby looks fully formed and "newborn" but isn't yet cramped against the womb wall. Our 28-week milestone guide walks through why this window works so well.
- 30-32 weeks: Still photorealistic, though baby is bigger now and may have descended into the pelvis, which can hide facial views.
- After 32 weeks: Image quality starts to drop as space and fluid both reduce. If you're past this and want a check on growth, position and birth-readiness, book a Growth & Presentation Scan instead, different aim, different tool.
For a longer, keepsake-rich version of the same scan, extra prints up to A3 and a Heartbeat Bear recorded with baby's actual heartbeat, the Luxury 4D Baby Scan is the premium upgrade. Most parents book their 4D after the 20-week NHS anomaly scan has happened.
Why book a 4D scan if the NHS already provides ultrasound?
Because they're doing different jobs. The NHS doesn't offer 4D ultrasound at all. Its routine scans (the 12-week dating, the 20-week anomaly) are clinical, brief, and built around screening for medical issues. They are absolutely the diagnostic gold standard, and you should still attend both. What they aren't designed to give you is the bonding moment.
A private 4D scan in our Gosforth clinic gives you the bit that's missing:
- An actual bonding experience: baby's face, real-time movement, audible heartbeat, in a relaxed setting built around the moment rather than the medical chart.
- Up to 9 guests in the room: partners, parents, siblings, best friends, all watching together on two 46-inch LED TVs and our projector wall.
- Photorealistic HD Live imagery: closer to a baby photo than a clinical scan, in a way standard 3D simply doesn't approach.
- No referral, no waiting list: most appointments available within 24-48 hours of booking, often same day.
Worth saying clearly: a 4D scan complements NHS care, never replaces it. Continue attending your NHS dating and anomaly scans. The side-by-side NHS vs private comparison guide spells out where each one helps, and the UK private ultrasound cost guide puts the £78 price tag in national context.
4D Baby Scan: NHS vs Private
NHS scans use 2D ultrasound, clinically focused, comprehensive screenings designed for diagnosis rather than keepsake imagery. For parents who'd like to see their baby's face before birth alongside their NHS pathway, a private 4D baby scan at Numi Scan Gosforth is built around the bonding moment, with HD Live imaging, generous scan time, and Mum + 9 guests welcome. Designed to complement your NHS care, not replace it.
| Aspect | NHS | Numi Scan Gosforth |
|---|---|---|
| 4D HD Live ultrasound | Not offered, NHS uses 2D only | ✓ Yes, HD Live as standard |
| Bonding-focused experience | NHS focuses on clinical diagnosis only | ✓ Yes, designed around the bonding moment |
| Active scan time | 5-10 minutes (clinical) | ✓ 10-15 minutes (relaxed) |
| View on large screen | Small clinical monitor | ✓ two 46-inch LED TVs and a projector wall from comfortable sofa |
| Real-time facial features | Not visible on 2D | ✓ Yes, lifelike HD Live |
| Printed & digital images | Limited or none | ✓ 2× A5 + 4× A6 prints + all images digitally |
| Up to 9 guests welcome | Limited NHS visitor policy | ✓ Yes: bring partners, parents and siblings |
| GP referral required | N/A, NHS doesn't offer 4D | ✓ No referral needed |
Curious about how private ultrasound works without going through your GP? Read our full guide on private ultrasounds without a referral.
Other scans you might consider
Whether you're looking to upgrade your bonding moment, get a detailed growth check later in pregnancy, or add an ongoing reassurance scan, here are the options most parents pair with a 4D scan.
Premium upgrade Luxury 4D Baby Scan
Our premium 4D experience with extended scan time, comprehensive A3/A4/A5/A6 print package, and a heartbeat bear keepsake recorded with your baby's heartbeat.
Learn more
For peace of mind Growth & Presentation Scan
Comprehensive third-trimester growth check including head, abdomen and femur measurements, baby position, placenta location and audible heartbeat.
Learn more
Ongoing reassurance Wellbeing & Reassurance Scan
A briefer 2D check you can book later in your pregnancy for ongoing reassurance, heartbeat, position, placenta and fluid levels in a 15-minute appointment.
Learn moreFrequently Asked Questions
Book Your 4D Baby Scan
Experience the magic of seeing your baby in stunning HD Live 4D. Our friendly team is ready to welcome you to our Gosforth clinic.
Book 4D Baby Scan