What Is the 20 Week Pregnancy Scan?
Updated: Aug 10
Doula Advice for Families in Leeds, York and Across Yorkshire
If you're pregnant and living in Leeds, York, Garforth or elsewhere in the Yorkshire area, you'll be offered your NHS 20 week pregnancy scan between 18 and 22 weeks. This scan is often referred to as the anomaly scan, and it is offered to all pregnant women and parents-to-be in the UK.
As a local doula and hypnobirthing teacher, I often support families who are approaching this scan - and it can bring up all sorts of emotions. Sometimes it's exciting, sometimes it's nerve-wracking. This post explains what the scan involves, how it might feel, and how I support my clients during this part of their pregnancy journey.
What Happens at the 20 Week Scan?
The 20 week scan is similar to the dating scan that you may have had at around 12 weeks. It uses ultrasound technology to take a detailed look at your baby's development. You'll most likely be asked to attend with a full bladder, and the process is usually painless.
You'll lie on your back while the sonographer applies a small amount of jelly to your belly and moves a probe over your skin to view the baby. The scan can take between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on your baby's position and how clearly they can be seen.
It's common for babies not to be in an ideal position, so the sonographer may ask you to go for a walk, drink some water, or even come back later.
As a doula supporting families in Leeds and across Yorkshire, I often reassure my clients that it's completely normal for the sonographer to be quiet at first when they are concentrating. If you feel anxious, try some calm breathing - in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Want more coping strategies to use during pregnancy and birth? Hypnobirthing tools and techniques aren't just useful in labour, but they can be used throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period too! Check out my award winning hypnobirthing course details or access my FREE Calm & Confident Birth Toolkit, where you'll find various pregnancy and birth related topics to help you increase your odds of having a positive birth experience, including a video on an Introduction to Hypnobirthing.
What Does The Anomaly Scan Check For?
The 20 week scan looks at your baby in great detail. The sonographer is trained to check for physical development and possible abnormalities. They will look at:
The brain, spine and skull
The face and profile, including cleft lip
The heart, including blood flow, valves and chambers
The abdomen, stomach, kidneys and bowels
The bladder
The arms, hands, legs and feet
The placenta - including its position and function
The umbilical cord and amniotic fluid
Baby's measurements for growth and development
For most people, the scan shows that baby is developing well. But if anything unexpected is
spotted, you’ll be given clear information and next steps, which may include further tests or
seeing a specialist.
What Emotions Might Come Up at the 20 Week Scan?
For many families I support in the Leeds, York and Wakefield area, the 20 week scan can be surprisingly emotional. Seeing baby moving, sucking their thumb, stretching or kicking can make everything feel much more real.
Some parents feel overjoyed, while others may feel overwhelmed or tearful. And if you’re finding out the baby’s sex, that can bring up even more feelings — especially if it’s different from what you expected or hoped for.
If you feel disappointed or unsure, don’t panic. These feelings are completely normal. Give
yourself time, talk things through, and if you’ve got a doula, share your thoughts — we’re here to hold space for all of it.
Have you considered hiring a doula for your birth? Learn more about how a doula helps people in labour & the first moments after birth.
Can I Find Out the Sex of My Baby At My 20 Week Scan?
Yes, by 20 weeks your baby’s genitals are developed enough that the sonographer can usually tell. Many people want to know, while others prefer to wait and be surprised.
It is optional to find out the sex of your baby at the 20 week scan, so if you'd rather not know, just inform your sonographer. Some people like to have the gender of their baby written down on a piece of paper and put into an envelope. They then like to announce the sex of their baby at a gender reveal party.
Most hospitals in Yorkshire, such as at Leeds, York and Harrogate are happy to let pregnant families know the sex of their baby at the 20 week scan, but this isn't the main reason for the scan. Ultrasound scans are pretty reliable at identifying the sex of a baby in the womb, but they are not always 100% accurate.
What If Something Unexpected is Found at my Baby Scan?
For the majority of people the 20 week scan reveals that their baby is developing as expected and there are no concerns. However, for some people this isn't the case and they will be advised what the next steps are, given support and clear information.
Some people might be asked to have some further tests or referred to a specialist. The 20 week scan can be a really helpful insight into a baby's development and can ensure that you or your baby get the best care possible and the best course of action going forwards. We are lucky to have some incredible clinics in Yorkshire to support fetal medicine. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals offer regional fetal medicine units that can provide specialist care and support to families experiencing complex pregnancy conditions.
If you choose me as your doula, I can help you navigate this time, offering emotional
support and signposting you to additional resources if needed.
Ready to Feel More Confident About Birth?
Once your 20 week scan is complete, many parents start to think more seriously about labour and birth. If you’re feeling a little nervous or just want to feel more prepared, hypnobirthing can make a huge difference.
Hypnobirthing is a brilliant way to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and learn practical tools to help you feel empowered — whatever kind of birth you’re planning.
I offer hypnobirthing courses in and around Yorkshire, including Leeds, York and online. I recommend starting between 20–35 weeks of pregnancy. That said, it’s never too early or too late to start.
If you’re interested, I’d love to chat. You can read more about my hypnobirthing classes
here, or get in touch for a FREE, no-obligation call to see how I can support you.
Kirsty's Positive Birth Story (Using Hypnobirthing)
Kirsty from Robin Hood in Leeds, had a home waterbirth using hypnobirthing tools and techniques, which enabled her to have a positive birthing experience, just as she had visualised.
"It was such an amazing experience, I never would have considered a home birth if it wasn’t for undertaking hypnobirthing classes. I am so grateful I went down this route, I can’t stop thinking about what an amazingly perfect experience my birth was. "
-Kirsty, from Leeds
The 20 week scan: exciting or nerve-wracking?
The 20 week scan can be an exciting, nerve-wracking, and emotional milestone. Whether
everything goes smoothly or you're facing unexpected news, you deserve support, clarity, and reassurance.
If you’re based in Leeds, York, Wakefield, Garforth or elsewhere in Yorkshire, I’m here to
walk alongside you - from scans through to birth and beyond.
Julia x
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