Health

Types of Ultrasound Tests and What to Expect During Treatment

Published

4 years ago

May 8, 2021

Anticipation is common in every woman’s pregnancy journey. You wonder whether your baby is healthy in your womb and what he or she will look like when he or she comes to the outside world. An ultrasound is the only chance you have of taking an early peek inside your womb to learn more about your unborn child. Apart from a glance at your child, an ultrasound in Lake Nona imaging test will also notify you of your child’s well-being and your expected due date. These experts use imaging tests to give you a detailed glimpse and real-time view of your baby and its development in your womb.

What should you expect on your first ultrasound?

You might have your first ultrasound around seven or eight weeks of pregnancy. During the safe and painless test, your doctor will use high-frequency reflective sound waves to produce an image of your unborn baby and your pelvic organs. The care provider will apply a special gel on your belly and move a transducer slowly to get images of your unborn baby. You are likely to feel mild discomfort from the transducer’s pressure, especially if you have a full bladder.

Your gynecologist will request the imaging test to:

Confirm your pregnancy dating to ensure you have an accurate due date
See and hear your baby’s heartbeat
Check out for the possibility of more than one fetus.

Your gynecologist could also use an ultrasound to check for genetic problems or possible issues with your cervix or uterus. It will be quite difficult to know your baby’s sex on your initial ultrasound. Your doctor will therefore advise you to wait for gender revelation and other anatomic features in your next ultrasound, which could be around eighteen to twenty-two weeks into your pregnancy.

What are the types of ultrasounds you are likely to undergo?

A standard ultrasound will create a 2-D cross-sectional shot of your unborn baby. Your gynecologist might also request a 3-D or 4-D if he wants to get a clear photographic image of your baby. Though 3-D and 4-D might not be necessary, your doctor will prefer these imaging tests if he suspects your unborn child has a deformity. While an abnormality like a cleft palate will be hard to identify with 2-D imaging, your gynecologist will be able to see any possible deformities clearly with a 3-D or 4-D ultrasound.

Your care provider will do the prenatal ultrasound either transvaginally (inside your vagina) or transabdominally (over your belly). A transvaginal ultrasound will be more useful early in your pregnancy since it produces sharp images of your tiny fetus. For a transabdominal ultrasound, your doctor will request you to fill your bladder because a full bladder tends to tilt your uterus upward, moving your intestines out of the way for a clear view.

Your gynecologist will also be prompted to perform fetal echocardiography if he suspects your unborn could have a congenital heart defect. The ultrasound will capture your fetus’ heart in detail, enabling your doctor to check out the small heart’s functionality.

Contact your gynecologist today for an ultrasound to get an in-depth revelation of your unborn child.

Health

How a Quiet Fulham Clinic Became London’s Most Coveted Wellness Secret

Published

2 weeks ago

October 2, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Spa & Massage

Byline: Gerome Alvarez

In London’s cutthroat wellness landscape, few businesses manage to capture community attention without fanfare or celebrity endorsements. Yet Spa & Massage Fulham has accomplished exactly this, weaving itself into the cultural fabric of one of London’s most discerning neighborhoods within weeks of its September 2025 opening. The phenomenon began as whispers among friends, colleagues, and neighbors—all independently discovering what would soon become known across social media platforms as “the best massage in London.”

This organic word-of-mouth growth reveals something deeper than marketing prowess; it signals a genuine transformation in how Londoners approach wellness and self-care. The clinic at 709 Fulham Road represents more than successful business expansion; it embodies a broader cultural shift toward viewing therapeutic massage as essential healthcare rather than occasional luxury.

The Science-Backed Foundation

The surging demand for massage therapy is not merely about relaxation; it is rooted in substantial scientific evidence that validates what clients experience firsthand. Research consistently demonstrates that massage therapy reduces cortisol levels by up to 31% while increasing mood-regulating neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine by 28% and 31% respectively. These physiological changes translate into tangible benefits: improved sleep quality, enhanced focus, reduced chronic pain, and strengthened immune function.

“Massage therapy works in multiple ways to help reduce stress. First and foremost, it helps to lower levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone,” explains recent research on therapeutic massage. For London’s high-pressure lifestyle, this represents more than indulgence; it is preventive healthcare. The integration of scientific expertise sets Spa & Massage apart from typical wellness businesses, with Professor Eyal Lederman, a world-renowned expert in neurophysiology and manual therapy, serving as the company’s medical director.

The Visionary Origins

The story begins in 2007 when entrepreneurs Alykhan and Nicole Thobani, inspired by journeys through Thailand, recognized a fundamental gap in London’s wellness market. Rather than treating massage as an expensive luxury, the couple witnessed how Eastern cultures integrated therapeutic touch as essential to balanced living, as fundamental as diet and exercise. This revelation sparked the mission to bring accessible, high-quality massage therapy to London’s high streets.

“What sets us apart from other massage therapy providers is having Professor Eyal Lederman as part of our team,” Thobani explains. Professor Lederman’s research at King’s College London on the neurophysiology of manual therapy provides the scientific foundation that distinguishes Spa & Massage from competitors. Nearly two decades later, the company now serves over 2,500 clients weekly across seven London locations, with each expansion building upon lessons learned from previous successes.

The Fulham Experience Defined

The newest location deliberately avoids ostentatious luxury, instead creating what insiders describe as “understated sophistication”—an environment that whispers quality rather than shouting opulence. Central to the experience is the signature bespoke tea blend, crafted in-house to begin each client’s journey toward relaxation. This attention to detail extends throughout the treatment, where therapists like Roxanne—with backgrounds in clinical physiotherapy and experience from London’s most prestigious five-star spas—deliver what clients describe as transformative sessions.

The clinic’s approach attracts therapists of exceptional caliber, including professionals like Olga, who draws “many celebrity clients and high-profile athletes” for her transformative skills. Operating seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, the clinic makes professional massage therapy accessible to busy Londoners seeking consistent, science-backed wellness solutions. The discrete nature of the clientele, protected by sunglasses and an air of privacy, has only added to the brand’s mystique and appeal.

Building an Extraordinary Following

Since its inception, Spa & Massage Fulham has cultivated what can only be described as a devoted following that transcends typical service provider relationships. “Our team is obsessed with making sure that each client has an expert massage, with a positive health and wellbeing outcome,” Thobani notes. This focus on measurable results rather than superficial relaxation has attracted clients who view regular massage not as an occasional indulgence but as essential maintenance for peak performance.

Client testimonials consistently emphasize transformational outcomes that extend far beyond the treatment room. “I have been coming for my regular massage every week for years now, I just sleep better, I am happier, calmer, and perform at my very best. With massage therapy I live my best life. It is like I feel superhuman during the week,” shares one long-term client. This level of commitment reflects a fundamental shift in how affluent Londoners prioritize health and wellbeing, with weekly bookings becoming the norm rather than the exception among regular clients.

The Future of London Wellness

Perhaps most intriguingly, Spa & Massage has attracted backing from heavyweight private equity professionals and investment banking leaders, not as corporate investments, but as personal commitments from individuals who became clients first. These investors, who Thobani diplomatically describes as preferring discretion, represent a fascinating convergence of professional success and personal wellness priorities. This phenomenon reflects broader trends in the wellness investment landscape, where private equity firms increasingly recognize the substantial returns in premium wellness services.

As Spa & Massage Fulham establishes itself in one of London’s most competitive wellness markets, it represents the evolution of urban healthcare toward proactive, science-backed solutions. The clinic’s success suggests that Londoners are ready to embrace massage therapy as an essential component of modern urban living, challenging traditional notions of luxury and self-care. In this context, the quiet revolution unfolding at 709 Fulham Road points toward a future where wellness is not an afterthought but a cornerstone of how successful professionals maintain an edge in an increasingly demanding world.