by Sara Gamache | May 1, 2018 | Uncategorized
During a pregnancy finding out the sex of the baby is usually the most exciting part for expecting parents. In fact, about 75% of the ultrasounds we perform at Mother Nurture Ultrasound are early gender determination scans. In the 1980’s and 1990’s before elective ultrasound became a “thing,” couples didn’t usually find out the sex until their anatomy scan around 20 weeks in the pregnancy. However, over the years, technology has evolved, and ultrasound machines can now produce crystal clear imaging that allow techs to see the if the baby is a boy or a girl much earlier. Most elective 3D/4D ultrasound clinics start gender determination between 13-16 weeks. Which is usually just fine for most couples. But what about the rest who want to find out even earlier? What about the millennials and generation Z who wanted to know the gender before the baby was conceived?! Luckily technology is still moving forward at the pace of a freight train, and once again a new solution for early gender determination has hit the market! And guess who is offering it? That’s right, none other than Mother Nurture Ultrasound. What if I told you we could tell you with 100% accuracy, the sex of your baby as early as 9 weeks! That’s a game-changer right?! An entire 4 weeks earlier than what we were previously offering at 13 weeks. We are now offering a DNA blood test within our office called SneakPeek Clinical. Here’s how it works: You come in for a quick 5 minute blood draw, which is performed by a licensed phlebotomist. We overnight the blood sample to... read more
by Sara Gamache | Dec 28, 2017 | Uncategorized
If you’re pregnant, you’ve probably already drooled over the dreamy 3D ultrasound photos that are constantly popping up on your Facebook feed, Instagram and in local mommy groups. In the last 4-5 years elective ultrasound has become increasingly popular as more mothers are wanting to see their baby’s face before he/she is born. And thanks to recent advances in technology, ultrasound machines can render 3D and 4D imaging that is more lifelike than ever before. But, before you get your hopes up that you’ll get those perfect full face 3D photos like your best friend, it’s important to know that no two expecting mothers are created equal; and neither are their wombs. There are SEVERAL factors that influence the clarity of ultrasound photos. I am going to list the top 5 in order of importance below: The Location of the Placenta: Your placenta is the organ that develops inside your uterus during pregnancy that provides oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby. The placenta is attached to the uterine wall either in the front (called an anterior placenta), or in the back (a posterior placenta). If you have an anterior placenta, it will be over the top of baby’s face, making it harder to get clear photos. Therefore, the recommended timeframe to get 3D/4D imaging is at 28-34 weeks, before baby gets too big and squished into the placenta. If your placenta is posterior, it will be under the baby, and you can wait until 34-38 weeks to have your ultrasound. If you don’t know where your placenta is located, you can email us an ultrasound picture from your... read more
by uipadmin | Feb 22, 2016 | Uncategorized
You just made an appointment for an elective ultrasound and you are soooooo excited to see your baby! You tell all your friends and family, announce your appointment date and time to all your Facebook friends, and gloat about the pictures and videos to come! During all the excitement and anxiousness, sometimes it’s easy to forget a few important things you need to do to prepare for the appointment. Whether you are coming in for a gender determination ultrasound, or just to get some great shots of your baby’s face, here are some tips we recommend to prepare for the appointment: 1. Plan your appointment date/time around when your baby is most active When a baby is awake and moving, it makes the ultrasound more interesting. You will have a better chance of catching those super cute facial expressions, the baby opening their eyes (yes they do that in the womb too!), and it will make it easier to get the baby to put hands or feet down if they are blocking the face or gender. 2. Stay EXTRA hydrated the week leading up to the appointment The recommended daily fluid intake when pregnant is 64-84 ounces. It is important to drink at least this amount, if not more, to make sure there is sufficient fluid in the amniotic sac. This will help with the clarity of the photos. 3. Eat or drink something with sugar right before your appointment Sometimes this will help make sure baby is active and moving during the ultrasound. 4. Don’t wear a dress for the appointment Since the ultrasound... read more
by uipadmin | Feb 3, 2016 | Uncategorized
Whether it is your first pregnancy or your fifth, every expecting mother looks forward to the moment they get to feel the baby move for the first time. I remember the awkward sensation with my first pregnancy when I couldn’t determine if the subtle feelings were gas bubbles from the Mexican food I just ate, or the little human inside me kicking to let me know she didn’t appreciate the spicy food. I was 19 weeks along when I could finally recognize the difference between the digestion of my last meal and my baby kicking and turning in the womb. However, when my best friend was pregnant she said she felt her baby as early as 16 weeks! How is this possible? The truth is, there is no exact time when you will feel the baby move, it is different for everyone and is influenced by a number of factors. Perhaps the biggest factor is the location of your placenta. It can either be anterior, meaning it is along the front of the uterus, or posterior, which is along the back of the uterus. You can also have a fundal placenta which means it lies on the top rounded part of your uterus, however, this is not as common. Women with an anterior placenta tend to feel the baby move later in the pregnancy because the placenta acts as a barrier between the top of the stomach and the baby’s kicking feet. Sometimes an anterior placenta also makes it more difficult to find the baby’s heartbeat with a Doppler device. Women with a posterior placenta usually feel the baby earlier in... read more
by uipadmin | Jan 12, 2016 | Uncategorized
In today’s world technology is changing and advancing faster than most of us can keep up with. Seems like only yesterday I was listening to my walk-man on my way to school and now I’m live streaming music through my cell phone at the touch of a button! The medical industry is no different, and each year they are coming out with more advanced, high tech equipment, allowing us to see and understand the human body like never before. Within the ultrasound industry there have been some major cutting edge advancements in just the past few years. GE and Samsung, the two leaders in the field, both released almost identical versions of a technology for prenatal ultrasound that allows expecting mothers to see their baby in amazingly crisp, clear detail. GE trademarked their version HD LIVE! ™ and Samsung’s is known as Feto Realistic View™. In lament terms, the improved image quality is comparable to the newer technologies available on the consumer market, such as high definition TV’s. Like every expecting mother, of course you want the best experience seeing your unborn baby. So you’re probably wondering where you can find this new technology and if it costs more. Most doctor’s offices/ medical facilities have been slow to upgrade, but many elective ultrasound studios across the country have started to. Currently, there are only two facilities in the state of Washington that offer the new technology. You guessed it; Mother Nurture Ultrasound is one of them! We are the only facility in Pierce County and surrounding area that offers the Feto Realistic View™ by Samsung. Be wary of facilities... read more
by uipadmin | Nov 13, 2015 | Uncategorized
I often have people ask me about the differences among all the types of ultrasounds; specifically between 3D and 4D. And recently, the new addition of the HD technology has confused people even more. In this blog I am going to clear up all the confusion. Below are some lament term definitions 2D, 3D, 4D and HD ultrasound: 2D: This is the traditional ultrasound technology like what you receive at your doctor’s office. In 2D, high frequency, non-ionized sound waves are sent and received in just one plane. The sound waves reflect back a black and white image of the baby. During medical ultrasounds, 2D is commonly used to evaluate fetal anatomy and morphology. At elective facilities we use 2D technology to perform gender determination. 3D: As technology in the medical field advanced, 3D ultrasound was developed using image volume data acquisition. 3D technology utilizes the same high frequency sound waves as 2D and is just as safe to use. The sound waves create reflections from different angles to each other; the ultrasound machine then integrates these reflections with its high-speed computing software, resulting in a 3-dimensional image. 3D technology is used at elective facilities to give you a life-like view of your baby and see he/she in finite detail. 4D: This is simply 3D with the addition of real time. Meaning while the ultrasound is being performed and you are watching your baby LIVE, the real time is considered the 4th dimension. HD: HD stands for “High Definition” and it’s the same concept as other HD technology on the market; offering a more crisp, clear, defined image. The... read more
by uipadmin | Nov 6, 2015 | Uncategorized
Owning an elective ultrasound facility, I often get the age old question “When is the best time to come in for a 3D/4D ultrasound?” My facetious response: When you’re pregnant. My professional business response: Well, that depends… I know, neither of the responses are very helpful right?! But let me elaborate a bit more on my professional business response. The “best” time to come in for a 3D/4D ultrasound really depends on what you want to see. Below is a breakdown on what to expect during an ultrasound depending on how many weeks pregnant you are: 14-18 Weeks: A 3D/4D ultrasound will allow you to see the entire baby in one picture. The baby is very active during this stage of the pregnancy. Therefore, if the baby is awake, you will be able to see all the unfelt fetal movements. You can watch the baby kick, wave, grab its feet, etc… During this time frame you will be able to make out that the baby has two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. However, you will not see the facial composition in elaborate detail, i.e. it will be hard to say “oh baby has dad’s nose” or “mom’s lips.” 19-26 Weeks: The baby’s facial features will be filling out and becoming more prominent. However, there is also a high probability the baby will be breach, which is not ideal for getting good 3D/4D pictures. When babies are breach they usually have hands and feet in the face or are folded in half. Therefore, I generally only recommend coming in during this stage of the pregnancy in special circumstances, such... read more
by uipadmin | Oct 30, 2015 | Uncategorized
How is an Elective Ultrasound Different Than What I Get at My Doctor’s Office? You’re 18-22 weeks pregnant and the day has finally arrived when you get to see your little miracle during your anatomic ultrasound at the doctor’s office! You squirm in discomfort as you desperately try to hold your overly full bladder you were told was necessary for the appointment. However, the discomfort gets pushed to the back of your mind as you gush over anticipation of getting to find out the sex of the baby, see what he or she looks like, and maybe even catch them sucking their thumb or smiling. You’ve been waiting for this day for what seems like centuries and your expectations are high! I hate to be the Grinch who stole Christmas, but I am here to tell you your expectations are also unrealistic. Your anatomic ultrasound will not be a “photoshoot” of your baby and you may not even find out the gender. Here’s what you can expect: during your anatomic ultrasound, the technician or the doctor will be taking measurements and looking for any signs of slower than normal development. They will be checking the vital organs, including the heart and brain, and also the bones such as the spine and skull. Based upon the results of the measurements, the gestational age of the baby will be predicted based upon the average size of other babies scanned during the 20th week of pregnancy. If any abnormalities are found, additional examinations will be scheduled. Depending on the technician or the doctor, and if you caught them on a “good day,”... read more
by uipadmin | Oct 22, 2015 | Uncategorized
Gender Guilt Let’s Face it, Deep Down We All Have a Preference! As if it was just yesterday, I remember walking into an elective ultrasound studio when I was 16 weeks pregnant with my second child. My husband and I already had a daughter and I so badly wanted a son; a “Mama’s Boy” who I could teach to shoot guns, catch bugs, play rough, and get dirty! When I laid down on the table I held my breath, and quietly prayed it would be a boy. As soon as the ultrasound tech probed over my stomach, and before she even had a chance to speak, I saw it, and unintentionally shrieked with pure joy “That’s a penis!” I’ll always remember the excitement I felt that day and the embarrassment on my husband’s face over my outburst, but I often wonder how I would have felt if I was told I was having another girl? How would I have reacted during the appointment? Would I have been disappointment? Would I have cried? Now that I perform ultrasounds at my own elective facility, Mother Nurture Ultrasound, I witness a wide variety of reactions during gender reveal ultrasounds. These reactions, which I’ve seen from the mom, dad, and even siblings, vary tears of joy to tears of devastation. Whether it’s their first baby or fifth, it seems that almost every expecting family is both anxious and sometimes nervous to find out the sex of the baby. But why are there such strong feelings about having either a boy or a girl? I mean shouldn’t everyone just be hopeful to have a... read more
