Frequently Asked Questions About 4D & 3D Ultrasound
Learning More About 3D Ultrasound / 4D Ultrasound
The questions listed below are the most frequently asked questions about our limited diagnostic prenatal ultrasound packages. Please review and feel free to Contact Us if you have any further questions.
Q: What is an elective prenatal Ultrasound?
We offer elective 2D, 3D & 4D prenatal ultrasounds to provide a positive bonding experience for the mother, father and family members with the unborn baby. We feel that realistic surface images provide a connection between the parents and baby that can be beneficial to the whole family. We make no claims that 3-D as used in this examination is performed to better assess the baby for abnormalities. A routine ultrasound examination should have already been performed to assess the gestational age of the fetus and to evaluate for fetal anomalies as well as the basic components of fetal anatomy recommended for screening.
Q: Does this take the place of an Ultrasound at my doctor’s office?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Women seeking an elective prenatal ultrasound with our facility must already be receiving treatment with a healthcare provider for prenatal care. The issues that we are evaluating in the elective prenatal ultrasound session include a limited diagnostic scan to confirm heartbeat, the number of babies in the pregnancy, the position of the baby, and the placental location. Please note, at no time is this exam to be used in place of a complete diagnostic ultrasound.
Q: What am I required to bring to my appointment?
We require that all clients are under the care of a medical professional for the pregnancy and have had the due date assigned by a doctor or midwife. When you come in for your appointment you will be asked to sign a waiver that states you are under the care of a medical professional.
Q: Is it safe? Are there any risks to me, or my baby?
Extensive studies for over 30 years have found that ultrasound has not been shown to cause any harm to mother or baby. Routine scanning of all pregnancies is now normal throughout the United States. In 3D/4D scanning exactly the same type and intensity of ultrasound is used as with conventional 2D scanning. 3D and 4D Ultrasound both utilizes sound waves to look inside the body. The technology is similar to radar. A probe placed on the body emits sound waves into the body, listens for the return echo and generates an image. 4D ultrasound will be similar to a conventional scan in terms of exposure.
Q: Do I need an appointment?
Yes, appointments are necessary for all of our services. You can make an appointment through our website here: Mother Nurture Ultrasound Online Appointment Scheduler (appointmentquest.com)
Q: How far along should I be before I have a 2D or 3D/4D Ultrasound?
If you plan on having only one 4D ultrasound examination, we recommend having it performed between the 28th and 36th week of the pregnancy. During this timeframe the facial details will be filled out and baby should be head down, which is ideal for these scans. We recommend our 2D services for determining gender, seeing unfelt fetal movements and getting an overall look at the body during 8-27 weeks. We do not have the equipment to see babies earlier than 8 weeks in the pregnancy. If you come in and your due date is wrong and we cannot see the baby because you are not far enough along, we do not issue refunds and free bring backs.
Q: Will I always get a beautiful picture of my baby?
Usually, but not always. Sometimes if the baby is persistently looking face down, i.e. towards your spine it may be difficult to see the baby’s face. We make no promises that the images will be similar to those you might have seen elsewhere or even from our clinic, or that we can always meet everyone’s expectations. Every baby scans differently, depending on its gestational age, position, amount of fluid, and mother’s condition. We promise to make every effort to obtain the best possible images of whatever parts of the baby that can be seen. If we are unable to get acceptable pictures the first time, we will welcome you back at a later date for a complimentary appointment to try again (unless you miscalculated your due date and were not far enough along for the service/package you selected).
Q: Can I bring my family and friends?
Yes. In fact, we encourage our clients to invite family and friends to attend the elective 4D ultrasound session. This is a joyous and wonderful experience, one that can be shared with your family and loved ones, including children of all ages. (Limit of 15 guests please.) Check out our Sonostream Live page to learn how to share it with friends and family who couldn’t make it to the appointment.
Q: Are you able to tell the sex of the baby?
Yes, we can 100% guarantee gender determination as early as 13 weeks with an ultrasound! If baby is not cooperating enough to make 100% determination you will be invited back for a free session at a later date. However, if gender could not be determined because your due date was wrong and baby was not measuring at least 13 weeks, there is no refund or bring back and you would have to pay for a new appointment. Women who are over 200 pounds are encouraged to wait until 14-15 weeks for a more accurate reading.
We also have the Gender determination Blood test which can tell you the gender starting at 6 weeks in the pregnancy. If the results come back inconclusive, we do offer one free redraw.
Visit this link to learn more about the blood tests: 6 Week Gender Determination Blood Test | Mother Nurture Ultrasound
Q: Are you able to hide the gender and put it in an envelope?
Yes! In fact, with gender reveal parties becoming more popular we do this quite often. We will perform the ultrasound as usual and avoid the bottom half of the baby so you won’t see gender. Towards the end of appointment we will turn off the TV, find the gender, and put a picture of it in an envelope for you. If you purchased a package with a DVD it will have gender on it so do not watch it until after your party.
Q: Is the 4D Ultrasound covered by Insurance?
At this point, insurance does not cover the costs of our ultrasounds. Since this is an elective procedure and is not intended to be a replacement for your doctor ordered ultrasound, you will need to pay the cost of this ultrasound as an out of pocket expense. We do accept Health Flex spending cards, Visa, MasterCard, and debit cards. Sorry no personal checks.
Q: What kind of Ultrasound equipment do you use to perform the 4D Ultrasounds?
We use the state of the art Samsung A35/HD Machine to complete all ultrasound examinations. The Samsung A35/HD Machine has been seen in television commercials and many printed articles from around the world. This machine is the best 2D, 3D, 4D and HD ultrasound machine available. The HD technology will give you unparalleled quality images of your baby that you have to see to believe. Please note, many organizations claim to use “state-of-the-art” equipment, when in fact they use older or inferior technology.
Q: Can you tell me how big my baby is?
Since we only perform non-medical ultrasounds we are not able to take measurements or tell you how much your baby weighs.
Q: What happens if you see something wrong with my baby?
Although this is a non-medical ultrasound, and we are not checking on the health of your baby, there are times when we notice things that we feel need to be examined more in depth by a medical professional. In these cases we will contact your doctor, and ask that they call you in for a medical ultrasound. We will inform you that your doctor is being contacted. In the event that we feel you need to be seen immediately, we may ask that you visit the nearest emergency room.
