Learn the Importance of 3D and 4D Pregnancy Scan

Imagine starting your baby’s first photo album, before bub is born. Bundles Baby Ultrasound allows mothers-to-be, family and friends to see an unborn baby’s expressions such as smiling and yawning on a 42-inch plasma screen using high quality 3D/4D ultrasound technology.

A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses high frequency sound waves to create pictures of a baby in the womb, as well as the mother’s reproductive organs. The average number of ultrasounds varies with each pregnancy and should only be used when medically indicated.

An ultrasound, also called a sonogram, can help to monitor normal fetal development and screen for any potential problems. Along with a standard ultrasound, there are a number of different, more advanced, ultrasounds—including a 3D ultrasound, a 4D ultrasound, and a fetal echocardiography, which is an ultrasound that looks in detail at the fetus’ heart.

Advances in 3D and 4D ultrasound technology now offer capabilities ranging from better visualization of congenital birth defects to dynamic, multiplanar views of the fetal heart.

Like regular ultrasounds, 3D and 4D ultrasounds use sound waves to create an image of your baby in your womb. What's different about 3D ultrasounds is that they create a three-dimensional image of your baby. 4D ultrasounds create a live video effect -- it's like a movie. You can watch your baby smile or yawn.

Parents often want 3D and 4D ultrasounds. They let you see your baby's face for the first time. Some doctors like 3D and 4D ultrasounds because they can show certain birth defects -- such as cleft palate -- that might not show up on a standard ultrasound.

The medical benefits of 3D and 4D ultrasound aren't clear. Studies suggest that 3D and 4D ultrasounds are safe. But experts worry that too much exposure to any ultrasound could cause risks. Getting an ultrasound just to see your baby's face may not be a good idea -- especially at an ultrasound center in a local mall or office building.

Talk about the pros and cons with your doctor.

webmd.com

This is when an ultrasound machine sends high-frequency sound waves through a mother’s uterus. These sound waves are higher than can be registered by the human ear, which is why pregnancy ultrasound is a quiet procedure. The sound waves are emitted from a small, vibrating crystal housed in a hand-held device known as a transducer. It is a painless procedure and will not hurt you or your baby. During pregnancy ultrasound, the sound waves which are created bounce off the baby and in turn are interpreted into an image on a screen. These images are occurring in real time; there is no delay between when the images are picked up and when they can be seen on the screen. So the baby can be seen moving around and kicking, as it actually is, rather than “snapshots” of still imagery.

huggies.com.au

The purpose of this literature review was to survey available information and research related to routine three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound technology in obstetrics, with an emphasis on current medical uses, safety, and availability issues. Several data bases, including Cochrane, WHO, NIH, CINALH, Blackwell Synergy, ERIC, PubMed, and Medline, were used along with information from Internet search engines. Although fetal 3D ultrasound is used in both medical and commercial settings, recent studies focus on its possible uses rather than the more difficult issues of safety and commercial applications. Professional organizations associated with ultrasound technology support limiting ultrasounds in pregnancy to medically necessary events, whereas commercial venues use "direct to consumer" marketing to promote this technology as a way to "see" the baby before it is born. How safe is routine or frequent use of 3D ultrasound? Further research is needed to address these important questions.

nursingcenter.com

A three-dimensional ultrasound, which uses high-frequency sound waves and special imaging software to provide incredibly clear images of your baby, can be done at any point in pregnancy in addition to or instead of a traditional, two-dimensional ultrasound. While 3D ultrasounds are becoming more common, there's really no medical benefit to having one for most women, so you may or may not be offered one as part of your routine prenatal care.

parents.com

Most pregnant women cannot wait to get their ultrasounds; these belly scans provide them with the first glimpses of their unborn babies. Ultrasounds have been used in obstetrics since the late 1950s and are used to confirm pregnancy, establish the gestational age and size of the fetus, show the sex, track development and placement as well as indicate any problems the fetus may have.