Flowan Health

02/11/2026

Early Pregnancy Scans: Why Consider an Ultrasound Before 12 Weeks?

The first trimester is a period of rapid embryonic and fetal development. An early pregnancy ultrasound can provide important information about the pregnancy at a stage when many women are still waiting for their first routine NHS scan.

What can an early pregnancy scan assess?

• Pregnancy location: Establish whether the pregnancy is located within the uterus.

• Early viability: Identify embryonic or fetal cardiac activity when the gestational stage allows.

• Number of pregnancies: Determine whether the pregnancy is singleton or multiple.

• Dating information: Provide an early estimate of gestational age, subject to the limitations of very early ultrasound assessment.

• Reassurance and understanding: Provide an opportunity to visualise the developing pregnancy and better understand its early progression.

How does this compare with NHS care?

In England, the routine NHS dating scan is generally offered between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. It is used to establish gestational age, assess fetal development and offer screening for certain chromosomal conditions.

A private early pregnancy scan provides the opportunity for an ultrasound assessment before this routine appointment, without replacing NHS antenatal care or recommended screening.

Early assessment. Greater understanding. An informed start to your pregnancy journey.

Book your early pregnancy scan at Flowan Health.

12/10/2026

🤰 How does your baby find room to move inside the womb?

By 28 weeks, your baby is growing rapidly, yet their little body can still curl up, stretch out and adopt some wonderfully unexpected positions.

Babies naturally tend to keep their hips and knees flexed, their spine gently curved and their arms close to their body. Surrounded by amniotic fluid, they can still move, rotate and bring their hands or feet towards their face.

The result? Tiny feet above their head, hands tucked under their chin or a perfectly timed yawn! 👣

✨ A 4D pregnancy scan can offer a fascinating glimpse of these movements and facial expressions, helping you see your baby’s developing personality through their little gestures — one precious moment at a time.

Every baby has their own way of getting comfortable. 💛

This scan is designed to assess the well-being of your baby and provide you with the very first 4D images of him or her, creating an exciting and emotional experience. Our qualified sonographers will conduct necessary measurements to ensure that your baby is active and growing as expected. They will...

05/10/2026

Our Gender & Wellbeing Scan offers the opportunity to find out your baby’s gender while enjoying a reassuring look at their wellbeing and development.

During your appointment, our experienced sonographer will assess your baby’s heartbeat, movements, position, growth and visible anatomy. From 16 weeks, it should be possible to identify your baby’s gender via ultrasound, although this depends on your baby’s position and image quality.

If your baby moves, turns or keeps their legs together, making gender determination difficult, our sonographer will ask you to go for a walk, or to come another day for a rescan, included in the price.

A memorable scan for checking wellbeing, making connection and discovering your baby’s gender.

Discover whether you’re expecting a boy or girl from 16 weeks with our experienced sonographers. Choose to find out together in the room with our our pink and blue room lighting. Or let us create a special reveal moment with sealed envelopes, cards, or confetti and smoke cannons, which can be purc...

22/09/2026

The value of knowing your β-hCG level in early pregnancy?

In the earliest days of pregnancy, there is often a period when a home pregnancy test can confirm what you already suspect - but it is still too early for ultrasound to provide much information.

This is where quantitative β-hCG can sometimes add another layer of insight.

Unlike a standard pregnancy test, which simply detects the presence of hCG, a quantitative blood test provides an actual measurement of the hormone in the bloodstream.

And in early pregnancy, the trajectory can be more informative than a single number.

Why might your doctor request it?

🤰Establishing a baseline
A quantitative result provides a precise starting point that can be compared with a subsequent measurement.

🤰Observing the pattern over time
When repeated after an appropriate interval, changes in β-hCG can help clinicians assess whether the pregnancy is developing in a way that is consistent with expectations.

🤰Supporting an early clinical assessment
When dates are uncertain, or when there has been early bleeding or pain, serial β-hCG measurements may be used alongside symptoms and ultrasound to help assess the situation.

🤰Bridging the gap before ultrasound
There is a very early window when a pregnancy may be biologically developing, but simply too small to be reliably visualised on ultrasound. β-hCG can provide useful information during this interval.

Importantly, β-hCG is not a test of pregnancy viability on its own. There is considerable variation between healthy pregnancies, and a single result cannot determine whether a pregnancy will continue normally.

The most meaningful interpretation comes from considering the number, the timing, the change between measurements, your symptoms and, when appropriate, ultrasound findings - together.

Early pregnancy can involve a great deal of uncertainty. Sometimes, having a little more information can make that period feel much more informed.

Flowan Health: Early pregnancy, considered with care.

We're reimagining women's wellness through a deep understanding of every stage of life. Our philosophy embraces the full spectrum of health and wellbeing experiences.

16/09/2026

Because sometimes, the most valuable thing you can give your future child is information. 🧬

Most of us know very little about the genetic conditions we may quietly carry. Horizon Carrier Screening looks beyond your family history, identifying whether you carry genetic variants associated with a range of inherited conditions.

And being a carrier is usually not something you would know — carriers are often completely healthy and have no symptoms.

Understanding your carrier status can give you and your partner a clearer picture of your reproductive options and help you make decisions with more information, rather than uncertainty.

At Flowan Health, we believe genetic testing is not about creating anxiety. It is about knowledge, context and informed choice — particularly when planning something as important as your family.

🧬 Horizon Carrier Screening available at Flowan Health.
For more information, contact our team.

Comprehensive genetic screening for 613 inherited conditions you could pass to your children. 4 panels available allowing you to choose subsets of conditions or whole list. Recommended before conception or in early pregnancy. Simple blood test with results in 2-3 weeks. Partner screening available i...

07/09/2026

In just 40 weeks, your baby develops from a tiny embryo into a little person — with a beating heart, developing organs and senses that allow them to experience the world around them. 🤍

🌱 6–8 WEEKS
The heart begins to beat, while the brain, spinal cord and major organs start developing.

💕 9–16 WEEKS
Fingers and toes form, the kidneys begin working and baby starts making tiny movements. Their taste buds and facial muscles are developing too.

👂 17–24 WEEKS
Baby’s hearing and sense of touch develop. They can increasingly respond to sounds while their brain and lungs continue to mature.

👀 25–32 WEEKS
Their eyes can open and respond to light, while the brain develops rapidly and the lungs continue preparing for life outside the womb.

🥰 33–40 WEEKS
Your baby continues to grow, gain weight and mature, getting ready for the moment you finally meet.

✨ SO MANY MILESTONES. ONE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.

From your first glimpse to beautiful 3D/4D images later in pregnancy, our scans let you see your baby’s journey unfold. 🤍

We're reimagining women's wellness through a deep understanding of every stage of life. Our philosophy embraces the full spectrum of health and wellbeing experiences.

01/09/2026

We are operating special hours during September! Here is the schedule. Regular opening hours will return from 1 October!

23/08/2026

When can you find out your baby’s gender? 💗💙

Curious whether you’re having a little boy or girl? There are several ways to find out during pregnancy — and surprisingly, you can find out much earlier than you might think! 👶✨

🧬 From 6 weeks — Early Gender DNA Test
A simple blood test that can determine your baby’s s*x from as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy.

🧪 From 9 weeks — NIPT
NIPT is a blood test that screens for common chromosomal conditions, including Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13, and can also reveal your baby’s s*x.

🩺 From 16 weeks — Ultrasound
Your baby’s s*x may be identifiable during an ultrasound scan from around 16 weeks, depending on your baby’s position and how clearly they can be seen.

✨ Did you know?
• Your baby’s genetic s*x is determined at conception by the chromosomes contributed by the egg and s***m.
• Every baby starts with the same basic external ge***al structures early in development.
• By around 12 weeks, the external ge***alia are developing rapidly, but ultrasound identification is generally more reliable later in pregnancy.
• The tiny fragments of your baby’s DNA circulating in your blood are what make early blood-based gender testing possible! 🧬

Whether you want to find out early or wait for your ultrasound, we’re here to help make this exciting moment special. 💕

We're reimagining women's wellness through a deep understanding of every stage of life. Our philosophy embraces the full spectrum of health and wellbeing experiences.

16/08/2026

Early pregnancy can bring excitement, uncertainty and a lot of questions. 🤍

Here are a few important things to know in those first weeks:

• Symptoms vary enormously. Nausea, tiredness, sore breasts, bloating and mild cramping can all occur, but having few or no symptoms can also be completely normal.

• Start folic acid early. In the UK, 400 micrograms daily is generally recommended before conception and through the first 12 weeks, unless your healthcare professional advises a higher dose.

• Be careful with medicines and supplements. Check with a pharmacist, GP or midwife before starting or stopping medication during pregnancy.

• Know when to seek help. Heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, fainting or feeling seriously unwell should be assessed urgently.

• Book your maternity care. Contact your GP or local maternity service early so your first appointments, screening and antenatal care can be arranged.

And remember: every pregnancy is different. If something does not feel right, seek medical advice rather than relying on social media for reassurance.

The early signs of pregnancy can be detected via an ultrasound scan from as early as 6 weeks from the Last Menstrual Period (LMP). This scan confirms the pregnancy, establishes gestational dating, evaluates its positioning and development status, checks for fetal cardiac activity, and determines if....