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Choosing the right maternity care for your pregnancy is an important step for your health and your baby’s wellbeing. In Ireland, expectant mothers can choose between public, semi-private, or private care, depending on their needs, preferences, and budget. At Ultrascan, we regularly support parents throughout their journey with high-quality diagnostic ultrasound scans that complement all…

At Ultrascan, we understand how important each stage of pregnancy is and how much reassurance a scan can provide. Knowing when to have a pregnancy scan can help ensure your baby is developing as expected and provide peace of mind along the way. Below, we explain the best times to get various types of pregnancy…

At Ultrascan, we understand how important it is for expectant parents to know where they can access trusted maternity care. Whether you’re planning your delivery or looking for early pregnancy support, knowing the maternity hospitals in Dublin and nearby counties helps you make informed choices. Here’s a helpful guide to maternity hospitals and early pregnancy…

When you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s natural to pay close attention to every change in your body. One thing many women notice is light bleeding or spotting before their period is due. This could be implantation bleeding, one of the early signs of pregnancy. But how do you know if it’s implantation bleeding or…

Scans in your maternity hospital In Ireland, the public health system typically offers two routine pregnancy scans. While scanner availability may vary between hospitals, most expectant mothers are offered a scan around 12 weeks and another at approximately 20 weeks. The first scan, often called the early pregnancy scan or dating scan, is performed around…

What is a birth plan? A birth plan is a simple document that outlines your preferences for labour, birth, and after the birth of your baby.   It helps your midwives, doctors, and birth partner understand how you would like your delivery to go.   Whether you write it in detail or just note key…

Classic signs and symptoms of pregnancy   Pregnancy symptoms vary for each person, but some common early signs include:   – Missed period   – Fatigue   – Raised basal body temperature   – Heightened sense of smell   – Tender, swollen breasts   – Spotting (implantation bleeding)   – Changes in cervical mucus  …

Labour is an exciting and sometimes uncertain time for expecting parents.   Knowing the signs that labour has started can help you feel prepared and confident as you get ready to meet your baby. What is Labour? Labour is the process by which your baby is born. It involves contractions of the uterus, dilation of…

Pelvic pain during pregnancy is common and can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that affects daily activities.   It is often referred to as Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) or Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD).   This guide will help you understand the symptoms, treatments, and ways to manage pelvic pain during pregnancy. What Are…

During pregnancy, your body requires additional nutrients to support both your health and the development of your baby. Taking the right pregnancy vitamins ensures you meet these needs, even if your diet is not always perfect. In this guide, we will explore the essential vitamins you need, why they are important, and how to choose…

Pregnancy contractions are a key sign that labour is approaching. Understanding the different types of contractions, their timing, and when to seek medical attention can help you prepare for the arrival of your baby.   What Are Pregnancy Contradictions? Pregnancy contractions are the tightening and relaxing of the uterus, which helps to prepare your body…

Pregnancy is a transformative journey that demands special care, particularly in nutrition. A well-balanced diet is crucial to support your health and the development of your baby. At Ultrascan, we believe in empowering mothers-to-be with knowledge to make informed choices about their diet during this important time. What Should Pregnant Women Avoid? To ensure your…

Pregnancy brings about many changes in the body, and the symptoms can vary greatly from one individual to another. At Ultrascan, we want to help expecting parents understand the common signs of pregnancy so they know what to expect during this exciting journey. What are the Symptoms of Pregnancy? Pregnancy symptoms are typically caused by…

You’ve enjoyed the excitement of your baby’s first roll, their first time sitting up and maybe their first crawl, now you eagerly anticipate those super cute and wobbly first steps. Walking is one of the most anticipated milestones by parents and therefore can come with some stress if they perceive their baby to be “behind”…

The beginning of the new school year not only brings excitement and new adventures but also anxiety for some kids. If your child has just started school or is trying to get back into the swing of things after the long summer break, you may be finding yourself trying to help them navigate their feelings…

Planning a family holiday is exciting, but you may be feeling anxious about how your little ones will settle away from home and amongst all the excitement. Here are our tips for beating the sleep-related anxiety! Routine The excitement of being away somewhere new can be very disruptive to their sleep routine. It can be…

Potty Training can be an intimidating journey to embark on. Keep in mind that all children follow their own timeline and some will take longer than others to get the hang of it. Be patient and give yourself and your child plenty of grace.  What age is a baby ready to potty train? Most children…

The expense of preparing for a new baby can leave many new parents feeling anxious. Buying pre-loved items is one way that prospective parents can save big. It’s also friendlier to the environment! However, there are important rules to keep in mind to ensure your new-to-you items are safe for your baby.  Want to know…

With nicer weather on the horizon, it’s a great time to think of fun new ways to get the family out and about to enjoy the amazing experiences Ireland has to offer. We can be quick to dismiss ideas of bringing babies and toddlers to new places for fear of their often wild behaviour, plus,…

Rolling is an exciting milestone as it’s your baby’s first step towards independent free movement. It’s also one of the first big physical milestones and lays the building blocks for crawling and walking. As with all milestones, babies roll at different ages, but it can be worrying for parents when their baby becomes “late” to…

It can be an exciting day when your little one learns to crawl. It marks the end of their total dependence on you and the beginning of their independence. However, if your baby isn’t showing interest in crawling you may find yourself stressing over it. Specific milestones like this can be a source of stress…

Naptime is a sacred time of day. It’s a precious time when you can actually get things done without interruption. Maybe you work from home and your baby’s naptime is the only time you can have meetings or catch up on work. Or maybe you use that time to relax. Regardless of what you get…

It can be upsetting to watch your baby suffer through the pain and discomfort of teething. Especially when some babies start teething as young as 3 months. Signs that your baby is teething: They have red flushed cheeks They’re dribbling a lot Chewing on their hands Chewing on toys Sore and tender gums Feeling irritable…

The day you return to work after Maternity Leave can fill you with dread, regardless of how much you love your job. Towards the end of your Maternity Leave, you may find yourself nervously counting down to that day as you try to cherish the uninterrupted time you have left with your baby. Being well…

The Christmas season brings lots of fun activities and days spent with family and friends creating memories to last a lifetime. However, if you have young children who thrive on their routine, you may be worried about how the diversion from their daily schedule will affect them. Most children thrive on routine. In a world…

Baby led weaning is a method of introducing your baby to solid foods by offering them different easy-to-hold foods and allowing them to feed themselves. Traditionally, when a baby is ready to start solids they are spoonfed purees, which can be time-consuming for parents. Baby-led weaning can be great for parents who want to involve…

Stranger anxiety or “making strange” is the name given to a baby’s nervous behaviour around unfamiliar people. You’ll notice that your baby will cry inconsolably when held by an unfamiliar person and cling to you when others speak to them. This usually begins around 4 – 6 months of age and can continue until they’re…

Sleep can be one of the most challenging aspects of having a baby. New parents can lose up to 50 nights worth of sleep during their baby’s first year – so it’s no surprise that new parents are eager to improve their baby’s sleep habits. Establishing a sleep routine for your baby can help you…

It’s natural that breastfeeding mothers sometimes worry that their baby is not getting enough milk. Unlike formula-feeding, there’s no way to know exactly how many ounces your baby is having at each feed. As you progress through your breastfeeding journey you’ll be able to distinguish between feeds where your baby has emptied your breast and…

Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn’t mean it comes naturally. That’s why it’s best to be as informed as possible before embarking on this beautiful yet tricky journey. Here are our best breastfeeding tips for new mothers. Breastfeed right after birth Your baby will usually be really alert just after birth and they are instinctively…

Whether you’re aiming for an unmedicated birth or you’re planning to accept every form of relief that your hospital can offer you, it’s helpful to have some methods of relieving your own pain. This will make you feel more confident in your birthing process, armed with the knowledge that you can help yourself in some…

Baby proofing is the best way to prevent avoidable accidents and injuries in your home. When your baby starts to crawl, usually around 6-9 months of age, they will have access to lots of new things which appear exciting to them but can be dangerous. We’ve compiled a list of great baby proofing suggestions for…

Sleep training (or sleep teaching) is the name given to different techniques of teaching your baby how to fall asleep without your help. So, if your baby has always needed to be rocked, cuddled or fed to fall asleep, sleep training will teach them that they can fall asleep without anyone’s help (also referred to…

Combination feeding or mixed feeding is when you combine breastmilk and formula to feed your baby. Some people may also refer to giving expressed breastmilk from a bottle for some feeds as combination feeding. Combination feeding offers a middle-ground between exclusively breastfeeding and exclusively formula feeding, giving greater flexibility to families with the added joys…

Looking after a baby is hard work. Make your life a bit easier with some of our favourite genius baby hacks! If your baby needs to take medicine, simply pierce a hole in the tip of an open-ended soother or use the teat from a bottle. Once your baby starts to suck, administer the medicine…

The Five S’s baby sleep strategy was developed by Harvey Karp and features in his bestselling book “The Happiest Baby On The Block”. The strategy was developed specifically to soothe newborns who were crying although all of their physical needs were met. The steps aim to provide your baby with comfort by imitating the sensations…

The process of stopping your baby’s nighttime feedings is known as night-weaning. Just like any other type of weaning, it’s a gradual process and the timescale is different for every baby. Generally, breastfed babies can be night-weaned around 6-9 months old and formula-fed babies can night-wean around 4-6 months old. Most babies will have reached…

If you’re trying to guess the gender of your new arrival, you’ve probably heard some old wives’ tales that attempt to shed light on whether you’re carrying a baby boy or girl. In this blog post, we’re going to explore some of the old wives’ tales that point to having a boy. Want to know…

From the moment you see the positive pregnancy test, you start to imagine what this little person will be like. One of the biggest questions will naturally be “will they be a boy or a girl?” and the guessing begins! Depending on whether you’re planning to find out your baby’s gender or not, the guessing…

Bathing your newborn can be a daunting task. However, with the right technique and plenty of practice, you’ll be a pro in no time! When to give your baby their first bath The World Health Organization recommends that parents wait at least 24 hours before bathing their newborn baby. This is because your baby is…

Finding out you’re going to have another baby is an exciting time for your family. You may be wondering how your child will react to the news of their new little brother or sister. Depending on their age and personality, there’s a neverending list of possible reactions to this news. You know your child best…

Morning sickness is the name given to nausea and vomiting experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy. Despite its name, this sickness can affect pregnant women at any time. However, you’re more likely to experience symptoms more strongly in the morning. Morning sickness usually begins around week 5, reaching its peak around week 9 and…

The number of expectant parents finding out their baby’s gender before birth has increased in recent years. We think, with good reason. These are our top reasons for finding out your baby’s gender! Curiosity Simply, just curious. This is enough of a reason! Finding out your baby’s gender can be stigmatised, especially by older generations…

The birth of your baby is an incredibly exciting time for everyone around you. Your family, your partner’s family and your friends want to be part of this special time. With the announcement of your baby’s arrival, comes the wave of “when can I visit?” from well-meaning family and friends. The influx of attention and…

If you have babies and toddlers, you’ll be very familiar with babyproofing your home. You’ve probably secured your cabinets, cushioned any sharp edges, blocked off the stairs and put your valuables out of reach of little hands. Now, it’s that time of year again when we all start to dream of the festive vibes we’ll…

If you’ve been trying to conceive for a while without success, don’t panic – according to the HSE, 1 in 6 Irish couples will experience difficulty getting pregnant. However, 85% of couples get pregnant within 12 months of trying, and a further 95% will get pregnant within 24 months of trying. In this blog post,…

Deciding to have children is one of the biggest decisions we’ll make in our lives. You may be at a time in your life when everyone is (rudely) asking “when are you going to have a baby?!”. However, pressure from family or friends should never be allowed to rush you into such a big life…

If you’re pregnant, chances are you’re thinking a lot about labour. What will labour feel like? What kind of delivery will I have? How will I know when I’m in labour? It’s good to know all of the possible signs of labour you may experience so you can save yourself some stressful guesswork. Remember, every…

Packing your hospital bag can be an exciting way to prepare for the arrival of your baby. It also gives you a feeling of control over your labour and delivery. Being confident that you have everything you need for labour, delivery and the first days with your baby can give you great peace of mind.…

With the summer months approaching, you may be looking forward to picnics, days at the beach or long walks in the park with your family. We want to make the most of the summer with our babies, but in the safest way possible. You might be worrying about the harmful effects of the sun and…

The arrival of a new baby is a wonderful yet stressful time in a couple’s life. If your partner is pregnant, or just gave birth, you may be wondering what you can do to support them. Often fathers will feel like they’re not sure what their role is in the pregnancy, delivery and postnatal stages…

With the average Irish baby costing up to €15,000 in their first year of life, you may be looking for ways to save money where you can. We’ve compiled a list of ways that most parents can save money and take some financial strain off this magical time in your life! Go Public Still feeling…

With the recent Coronavirus outbreak, many of us are finding ourselves in situations we never anticipated. One of the challenging lifestyle changes facing many of us is working from home with our kids. It’s difficult enough to get yourself set up with a makeshift office space at home and adjust to doing your job remotely,…

Pregnancy is tough enough on your body without adding illnesses into the mix. Your body is working overtime to ensure that you and the baby are as healthy as possible. During pregnancy, your immune system is tasked with protecting both you and your baby and therefore is under pressure. Thankfully, our immune systems do an…

If you’re an expectant parent you may be fretting about choosing your baby’s name. The stress is amplified by questions such as: “should I have settled on a name by now?”, “How long does it usually take to pick a baby name?” and “should I reveal my baby’s name or keep it secret?”. With over…

Pacifier, soother, binky, dummy, whatever you call it, our kids love them. Suckling is a natural instinct for babies as they need to suck to get food. They feel a sense of reassurance when they suck because they know they’re getting fed and they aren’t going to starve. This reassurance, rooted in instinct, then becomes…

Whether you’re a driver or a passenger, many of us spend time in a vehicle during pregnancy without giving it much thought. However, road collisions are the number one cause of mother and unborn baby fatalities in the world. In the US, it’s estimated that each year 3,000 otherwise healthy pregnancies end in miscarriage due…

A fever can be very frightening for a parent. Many parents feel anxious when a high temperature persists and wonder if they should consult their doctor or treat their child at home. Often, a child’s high temperature will return to normal within 3 days without medical treatment. However, it’s important to know when to seek…

Trying to think of baby names and wondering what are the most popular names in Ireland in 2019? You’re in the right place!  The Central Statistics Office (CSO) have compiled a list of the most popular baby names registered in Ireland in 2018. The CSO pull these statistics annually and measure the changes in order…

Babies have many ways of communicating their needs, many are much more subtle than crying. Most parents are taught to respond to crying and attempt to work out what their baby is crying about. However, crying is a very general signal. It can mean hunger, nappy change, sleepy, bored, over-stimulated, feeling unwell, the list goes…

Many mothers of young babies report feeling guilty if their baby is awake and not being entertained. However, after a few minutes of trying to entertain your newborn, you may feel yourself running out of material or see your baby’s concentration shift to staring at the wall rather than your performance. Today, we’ll talk about…

When entering into such a life-changing event as having a child, it’s helpful to be informed about all aspects of parenthood in order to limit unwelcome surprises along the road. In this article, we will explore some options for fathers in regards to their children. In Ireland, unless a couple is married, the father has…

Getting Started If possible, breastfeed your baby within the first hour of them being born. This takes advantage of their natural alertness when they first come into the world. After this hour, babies usually sleep for a large portion of their first 24 hours of life. This first feed helps your baby establish a good…

The Fourth Trimester is the name given to the first 3 months of your baby’s life. It begins when they’re born and they transition from their cosy home in your womb to their bright and cold new world. Biologically speaking, human pregnancies are way too short (even though from a mother’s point of view, it’s…

Whether this is your first baby or your fifth baby, bringing home a newborn baby is an exciting but scary time. When they cry, you stress about how to soothe them. When they don’t cry, you stress about that weird noise they just made which was unlike their other weird noises. This article is all…

At UltraScan, we preform our Early Pregnancy ultrasound scans from 8 weeks gestation. In this scan, we look at how many foetuses and gestational sacs are present, we also confirm your baby’s heartbeat and estimate your due date with impressive accuracy. For this reason, we often refer to these scans as “Dating Scans” as we…

At UltraScan, our 3D/4D Baby Scans are extremely popular. In our 3D/4D ultrasound scans, our sophisticated machine uses sound waves to take thousands of photos of your little one. These photos are then instantly converted into a real-time video (4D imaging). This technology allows you to watch your baby’s movements, live on the big screen,…

Colic is the term given to excessive and frequent crying for no apparent reason. When your baby appears to be completely healthy, however, they are consistently difficult to soothe. It is a very common problem, with 1 in 5 babies affected. It is more common in babies who have had a difficult birth, were premature,…

Sleep safety is a scary topic for new parents because it can feel like the “rules” are difficult to pin down. You may have family members who make comments like “don’t worry, sure I slept in a drawer when I was a baby and I’m fine!”. Usually people are just trying to offer reassurance, however,…

Baby’s First Milestones Each milestone is an extremely exciting moment. It’s a little feeling of achievement as a parent as you say “Yes! I’m creating a functioning human!”. That’s the fun side. The not-so-fun side is when you feel like your baby “should” have hit a certain milestone by now and become increasingly worried as…

The Importance of Sleep You may find that you’re struggling to get good quality sleep during your pregnancy. This can be caused by a wide range of things and leave us feeling like a restful night’s sleep is a thing of fairytales. Sleep is extremely important during pregnancy as this is the time when our…

The Recovery Period You’ve probably done a lot of research about pregnancy and labour, but what about postnatal recovery? What happens when the baby arrives and your body takes on the task of returning to normal after such a huge event? Many women admit that they had no idea what to expect from their postnatal…

Parental Leave in Ireland   In Ireland, we are lucky to have laws which entitle us to time with our new baby. Every mother is entitled to 42 weeks of Maternity Leave, 26 weeks paid and 16 weeks unpaid. Every father is entitled to 2 weeks of paid Paternity Leave, to be taken at any…

When you know, you know Every mother experiences the beginning of pregnancy differently. Some mothers report being struck down by morning sickness just 1 week after conception, and some mothers just sail through to birth without a single symptom (lucky ducks!). Many women say that they just knew something was different, they just knew they…

3D/4D Baby Scans – taken to a whole new level   Share The Magic On Wednesday 30th January 2019 we hosted the very first live-streamed 3D/4D baby scan in Ireland or the UK. At UltraScan we are constantly looking for innovations to make our clients say “wow”, which led us to the idea of doing…

Goodbye Wine Bottle, Hello Baby Bottle   You’re on the hunt for an Early Pregnancy Scan or “Dating Scan” which means one thing: you just found out recently that you’re pregnant! Congratulations to you and commiserations to your local shopkeeper from whom you buy wine. If this is a planned pregnancy then you might have…

Pregnancy Scan Tips   Preparing for your scan is the best way to increase the likelihood that you’ll get great ultrasound images at your scan. Many women have special rituals they do before a scan, some stranger than others, but different things work for different people. We once heard that a bag of peas on…

Gender Reveal Parties: Sharing The Excitement Ah, the Gender Reveal Party, the super cute soiree that’s sure to leave your nanny saying “we never had the likes of this in my day!”. In Ireland, we have grown to love a good Gender Reveal Party over the last few years with over 40% of expectant mothers…