3D/4D Ultrasound
What You Should Know
Like most pregnant women, you can't wait until that next ultrasound when you get to see your baby again! Over the past several years, ultrasound technology has advanced in ways beyond belief. Now available for expecting parents is the miracle of 3D/4D ultrasound imaging. But how is it different from the flat, black and white 2D images you usually get? Unlike traditional 2D imaging which only takes a look at the baby from one angle (thus creating the "flat" image), 3D imaging takes a view of the baby from three different angles. Software then takes these three images and merges them together to produce a mind blowing three dimensional image of your precious baby. Because the fourth dimension is time and movement, with 4D you are able to watch the live movements of your baby in 3D. You may catch him sucking his thumb or her playing with her feet.
Factors that Affect Your Ultrasound
There are several factors that are important to a successful 3D/4D ultrasound. The most critical factor to obtaining a good look at your baby is how much space there is remaining in your womb. Unlike 2D ultrasound that sees through everything (this is why you can see the organs and skeletal structure), in 3D everything becomes "solid". Therefore, whatever is in front of the baby (i.e. the placenta or umbilical chord) acts as a barrier to seeing the baby's face. So the more room left, the better the chance of seeing a clear view of the baby.
The baby starts gaining fat at 24 weeks, so by 26 weeks they typically have those nice chubby cheeks everyone loves to see. Therefore it is generally ideal to have your 3D/4D ultrasound session between 26 and 28 weeks. Sessions can often be successful beyond this point, but with each week the space remaining decreases.
The other contributing factor to how much space remains in the womb and how clear your pictures will be (and especially for the health of your pregnancy) is how much amniotic fluid is present. So it is important to keep your self well hydrated throughout the pregnancy and drink a little extra for a few days prior to your session.
Another significant factor which may impact your 3D/4D ultrasound session is the position of your placenta. If you have an anterior placenta, your placenta is on the front side of your womb and in front of the baby. If you have a posterior placenta, your placenta is on the back side of the womb and in back of your baby. Neither have any health implications, so it is not frequently something your healthcare provider will tell you unless you specifically ask. A posterior placenta is ideal for 3D/4D imaging. But because the anterior placenta is in front of the baby it can block portions of the baby's face due to lack of space. So if you have an anterior placenta it is even more important to try to stick to the 26 to 28 week timeframe and maintain good fluid levels.
Learn About the Facility and Technicians
Arguable as important to the success of your 3D session is the quality of the technician. Scanning in 2D is much different from scanning in 3D. Therefore do not assume because an individual is a very competent 2D diagnostic ultrasound technician that they will also be in 3D. Check out the company website where most reputable facilities have sample pictures. You can also visit the center, for many times they display pictures from previous sessions or even have a "brag book.” But keep in mind, display pictures are obviously some of the best pictures they have taken, so you can not necessarily expect to get the same quality of pictures. Every woman is different, every pregnancy is different; therefore, even if you had a 3D/4D with a previous pregnancy and got great pictures, it doesn't mean you can expect the same results with subsequent pregnancies.
It is always a good idea to talk to someone who has had a session at the facility. Many pregnant women come away from their diagnostic ultrasounds disappointed and even upset because the technician was cold, unfriendly, and uninformative, so you may want to speak with someone who has already visited the facility to see what she thought of her experience.
Reputable facilities will also require that you provide proof of pre-natal care. Because 3D/4D sessions are not for diagnostic purposes, responsible 3D centers will expect something demonstrating your pre-natal care and that you have already received a diagnostic 2D scan.
Is 3D/4D Ultrasound Safe?
Last but not least, is it safe? Ultrasound has been in use for over 35 years and no harmful effects have ever been shown from its responsible use. The perfect example is an invitro-fertilization pregnancy. These woman have a diagnostic ultrasound every week for the first several months of the pregnancy with no harmful results. Reputable and responsible 3D ultrasound centers limit their scanning times to those much less than a typical 2D diagnostic scan. Though they may say their session times are twenty, thirty, or forty minutes, the actual time scanning in 3D is very limited. Because the ultrasound machine saves the live footage that is acquired in 4D, the bulk of the session is spent looking back through the saved footage, frame-by-frame, and taking the still 3D images.
It is sometimes argued by healthcare providers that 3D/4D ultrasound sessions are not necessary and therefore should not be done. Although 3D/4D sessions are not necessary for diagnostic reasons, the benefits to the pregnancy are significant. The bonding experience that the mother, but often even more so the father, experiences from a 3D ultrasound session is enormous. Seeing a realistic view into the womb at the baby soon to be here makes the pregnancy much more real and often causes mothers to take better care of themselves in regards to diet, exercise, and avoiding harmful things like alcohol, smoking or being in close proximity to those that are smoking. For fathers, siblings, and even the extended family, the bonding experience acquired from a 3D session brings a sense of familial closeness during a very important time.
So don't miss out on one of the most amazing experiences of your pregnancy!