The
following questions are the most frequently asked questions about 3D/4D
ultrasound; however if you have further questions please do not
hesitate to contact us.
What is 3D and 4D ultrasound?
3D
ultrasound is
the frozen (still) image that will show you the surface of your baby-
much like a photograph. Unlike 2D ultrasound, 3D ultrasound will not
show your babies organs, and skeletal system. 4D ultrasound
is 3D
ultrasound in real time- that is you will be seeing your babies
movements as they are actually occurring in the womb.
Will my insurance cover my 3D
ultrasound?
No.
Currently
insurance does not cover that cost of 3D or 4D ultrasound. This is a
completely elective procedure, and should not take the place of your
physician’s diagnostic ultrasound. Payment will be
required
at the time of service. We have very affordable packages to meet
everyone’s budget.
Does this take the place of my
Doctor’s ultrasound?
Please
remember
that your Sneak Peek Ultrasound will be a completely elective,
non-diagnostic exam, and should in no way be used in place of your
physician’s diagnostic exam. Also note that if you are
interested
in receiving a 4D ultrasound with Sneak Peek you will be required to
provide proof that you are currently under a physician’s
care,
and have already received a 2D ultrasound.
Is it safe? Will the baby or me be at
risk?
The
key to safety
is the qualifications of the sonographers performing the
exam.
Not all 3D/4D facilities have Registered Diagnostic Medical
Sonographers. At Sneak Peek Ultrasound we hire only ARMDS
registered sonographers, to ensure you and your unborn child the safest
exam possible. Furthermore extensive studies over the past 30
years have found that ultrasound has not shown any harmful effects to
mother or baby. 3D/4D ultrasound uses the exact same
intensity as
a normal 2D ultrasound. No ultrasound uses any type of radiation or
harmful agents; the images are simply created with the use of sound
waves.
When can I make an appointment?
We
are open
Monday through Saturday, with evening appointments available daily. We
work by appointment only, so you will need to schedule one prior to
receiving your Sneak Peek.
When is the best time to receive my
4D ultrasound?
This depends on
how you would like to see your baby! Prior to 24 weeks, babies still
have a lot of room to move around which makes for a very fun video,
however their appearance is much more skeletal at this time.
After 27 weeks babies get much fatter which make for great pictures of
the babies facial features. We have observed the best time between 28
and 34 weeks gestation; with 30 weeks being the most optimal. To see
when is your best time check our pregnancy calendar.
How soon should I schedule my appointment?
We advise that
you call to schedule your Sneak Peek as soon as you decide this is
something you are interested in doing. Our schedule for Saturdays and
evenings fills up at least 5 weeks in advance, so you will need to
schedule very early. If you want an appointment Monday through Friday
during the daytime you should schedule about one to two weeks early. We
will always try to get you in at a time convenient for you and your
family; however if you wait until the last minute we may not be able to.
Will I always get beautiful pictures?
In
most cases you
will. Sometimes babies are not in the mood to be photographed, and we
can have a difficult time getting clear images of their face. If this
does happen we will ask you to roll to either side, or get up and walk
around, most of the time the baby will change his or her position, and
we will try again to obtain better images. We cannot promise that your
babies pictures will look the same as ones you have previously seen,
however we will always do our best to ensure the highest quality images
possible.
What can I do to ensure the best
pictures of my baby?
The most
important thing you can do to ensure good pictures is to drink plenty
of water in the days and weeks leading up to your scan! The more
hydrated you are, the clearer the pictures will be! You can also try to
pay attention to what wakes your baby up, and do that on the day of
your Sneak Peek; for some moms this means eating a meal, for others it
means having a coke and a pickle! Do whatever works for you and your
baby so we can see him/her awake and in the mood to play! When babies
sleep, they sometimes tend to roll over and face moms back, or bottom,
and we cannot see their cute little faces. As long as we can see the
babie's face, the baby can continue sleeping. We have noticed that even
when parents are seeing beautiful pictures of the babies face, they are
still hoping for more, such as seeing the baby awake and moving. We do
not recommend you have this attitude because you may regret not
enjoying this special time with you and your baby. We urge you to enjoy
the fun and some of the funny positions your baby prefers rather than
holding out for the perfect glamour shot.
Can you tell me the sex of my baby?
Yes!
If you are
at least 18 weeks pregnant we will be able to predict the sex of your
baby with 99% accuracy. If you do not wish to know the sex of
your baby please do not be afraid to still have a 4D ultrasound. Our
technicians are highly trained, and know exactly which body part they
are viewing at all times. If you inform the technician that you wish to
keep the baby's gender a surprise, they will not scan near this region.
Can I bring my family and friends?
Absolutely-
we
encourage you to share this amazing experience with everyone.
We
have a very comfortable atmosphere and should be able to accommodate as
many people as you would like. Please inform our staff in advance if
you plan on bringing more than 10 guests.
How long will I have to wait for my
pictures?
You will leave with all the pictures,
CD’s, and DVD’s that are included in your package.
How long is my ultrasound going to
last?
Depending
on the
package you choose your ultrasound will last between twenty minutes to
one hour. We will always book more time just in case that
baby
is
camera shy. To ensure you receive the maximum viewing time please do
not be late to your scheduled appointment.
What kind of ultrasound equipment do
you use?
At
Sneak Peek Ultrasound we use state of the art technology- the GE
Voluson 730 Expert (PDF)
to complete all exams. The GE Voluson 730 Expert is the best
machine for performing 3D and 4D ultrasounds, and is considered the
gold standard in the industry.
If I am overweight, or have gained a
lot of weight during my pregnancy will I be able to get clear pictures?
If you are overweight we ask that you
wait
to get your 3D/4D ultrasound done between 31-34 weeks gestation to give
the baby time to obtain more fat. This does not mean that you are
guaranteed great pictures, but we will try to get the best images
possible.
Will I be able to see if my baby has
hair during my 3D/4D ultrasound?
No, many parents and grandparents
wonder if
they will be able to see the baby's hair on their ultrasound.
Unfortunately 3D/4D ultrasound technology cannot see any hair on the
baby.
We hope these questions have helped you decide whether or not a 3D/4D
ultrasound is right for you and your baby; if you have further
questions please contact us
today!
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