F.A.Q.s
These are some of our most frequently asked questions, if you have questions about anything not seen below please give us a call.
Q: What is an elective prenatal ultrasound?
An elective 3D/4D ultrasound is a prenatal ultrasound meant to provide a proactive, positive bonding experience for the mother, father and family members with the unborn baby. Realistic surface images provide a connection between the parents and baby that can be beneficial to the whole family.
Q: When is the best time to get the 3D/4D Ultrasound done?
It really depends on when you wish to see your baby. Earlier in your pregnancy, you will see cute, tiny body parts and often the baby is moving quite a bit. Mid pregnancy the baby is growing and filling out and you are able to better see facial features. Later pregnancy will show a full faced baby, and chubby hands and feet, but not usually in the same frame as they are larger now, unless of course they have the hand or foot in the face!
Q: Can I bring my family and friends?
Absolutely! This is an event for your friends and family to enjoy with you. The more the merrier. Your guests will have a private waiting area before the session and will then be able to relax on the sofa during the ultrasound. A large 50” HD TV provides everyone in the room with an up close view of your new baby.
For those of your guests that can’t make it there is a video of the ultrasound available for them to view.
Q: Does this replace an ultrasound at my doctor’s office?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Women seeking an elective prenatal ultrasound MUST be receiving treatment with a healthcare provider for prenatal care and have already undergone a medical, diagnostic ultrasound ordered by their provider to confirm their due date, screen for fetal anomalies, and to look for any other pregnancy related issues. These diagnostic services are also available onsite at Delray MRI.
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: Is this safe?
Yes! Extensive studies 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 utilize 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: Why are some pictures less clear or what if the baby’s hands, feet or cord are blocking his/her face?
Every baby’s image is different and there are several factors that determine the clarity of an ultrasound image. The amount of fluid surrounding the baby, its gestational age, the position of the baby, and the physical condition of the mother are a few of the factors that affect the image. We cannot guarantee that your scanned images will be similar to others you might have seen in our ultrasound lounge or elsewhere.
Ultrasound works best when the sound waves have fluid/water to travel through. A well hydrated mother will help to optimize the image. This is probably the most important factor. Increased body weight of the mother can often affect the quality because sound does not travel as easily through tissue as it does fluid.
Our goal and passion is to give you a pampered, peaceful experience to be relived for years to come. We make every effort to work with the mother trying various angles best visualize the baby.
Q: Are there discounts for repeat clients?
Yes! All previous members of The Teddy Bear Club receive discounts for their next pregnancy!
Q: How long does the 3D and 4D ultrasound take?
Depending on the package you choose, the 4D ultrasound session will last between 20 and 30 minutes. Overall your visit can take up to one hour depending on the package and amount of materials to be created for you to take home!
Q: What’s the difference between 2D, 3D and 4D ultrasounds?
A 2D ultrasound is watching your baby in 2 dimension (black and white), which is usually what you get to see when you go to the doctor’s office. A 3D ultrasound is a static 3 dimensional image of your baby (still photo) and 4D adds the dimension of *time*, allowing you to see your baby’s movements in the womb live in real time. You will go home with still images of your baby (3D) but the most miraculous part of your experience with us is seeing your baby move inside the womb. Watch as they smile, yawn, give a thumbs-up and play with their toes. We spend the majority of your session in 4D mode so that you don’t miss any of your baby’s precious movements. All of our sessions are done in 4D mode with the exception of gender determination. Our gender determination is done primarily in 2D.
Q: Are you able to determine the sex of the baby?
Yes, in most cases we can provide an indication of the sex of the baby. We can’t however guarantee that the baby will cooperate during your session. Certain factors such as body tissue content, developmental stage and fetal position all affect the ability to determine sex.
Q: Can you accommodate appointments outside of normal business hours?
Yes! We want to make sure all families have the opportunity to experience this. If you cannot come during normal business hours call the office and our staff will be happy to work with your schedule to find a time convenient for your family.
Q: Do you charge extra if I’m carrying multiples?
Absolutely not! Membership and session prices do not change depending on the number of babies you’re carrying.
Q: What if I DO NOT want to know the gender of my baby?
No problem! We believe that waiting to find out what you’re having is an amazing surprise to get at the end of a long 9 months! It’s no problem at all to avoid that area on the baby so that gender is kept a secret until delivery day. Just be sure to let our staff know!
Q: How far along should I be before having a 4D ultrasound?
If you plan on having only one 4D ultrasound examination, we would recommend having the examination performed between the 24th and 32th week of the pregnancy. However, excellent images of your baby can be obtained anytime after about 22 weeks of pregnancy. Many mothers obtain more than one 4D ultrasound and have images to enjoy from their second and third trimesters.
Q: What if I am unhappy with the images?
Our best customer is a happy one. We get more business from word of mouth than anything else. In the rare event the baby is in a position that does not allow for satisfactory pictures we’ll make arrangements to have you try again.