A MIDWIFE has fulfilled her dream by opening a private pregnancy scanning studio with her sister.

Lucy Durkin and her sister, Loren Durkin, have opened up Lucy Jane’s Baby Scan Studio in Albert Road, Colne.

The business allows mums to book in an ultrasound appointment and get 2D, 3D and 4D prints of their unborn child.

Lucy, 28, who carries out the scans, has been a midwife for five years with the NHS and has delivered almost 100 babies.

The business also allows mothers to find out their baby’s gender at 16 weeks, instead of nearer 20 weeks when scanned on the NHS.

Lucy, from Burnley, started midwifery training at the University of Manchester in 2010.

She said: “I watched an ultrasound scan on my first placement and absolutely loved it, ever since that I always knew that I would train in scanning.

“After being qualified for four years I knew it was time to expand my skills and carry out my dream of scanning. Loren was living in Sydney at the time and had been for two years, she came home in 2018 and we decided to create a business.”

Parents can get prints, live footage on DVD, as well personalised keyrings and magnets of their unborn babies.

Lucy will continue to work as a midwife and work at the business.

Loren, 30, who gave up a career in architecture to launch the new venture, said the business is about helping parents bond with their child-to-be, and not for medical reasons.

She said: “Mums and dads can come here and have the ability to enjoy the scan, without having to worry about anything else.

“It's a positive experience and they can come back and have as many scans as they like.

“The equipment is regulated and it is the same machines that are used in hospitals. People can take home high-quality images of their children before they’re born.

“It’s nice to think Lucy will see some mothers here in the studio and then go on to help them give birth in a few months.

“It’s very different to architecture but I’m feeling really excited for this business.”