What Is An Ultrasound?
An ultrasound exam is a medical procedure that captures live pictures from within your body using high-frequency sound waves.
A special crystal is placed in the ultrasound transducer to send and receive sound waves. When these sound waves are sent, they travel out of the probe and when they hit an object, they bounce back into the transducer. The machine analyzes many parameters of those signals and converts that data into an image on our screens. The signals travel in flat planes, and “slices” whatever is being scanned into layers that we eventually see on screen. In its basic and most widely used form, this is known as 2D ultrasound imaging.
Is 3D Ultrasound Safe For The Baby?
2D imaging is extremely useful and safe. Ultrasound can provide healthcare workers with a massive amount of information that is helpful in medical management. However, we do not live in a two-dimensional world. If you’ve ever seen any 2D ultrasound pictures, you probably wondered how anyone can say anything about anything based on that. We see things in three dimensions, and so it takes a great amount of skill and expertise to interpret an image in 2D quality and apply that to real life. In recent years, many ultrasound disciplines have started utilizing 3D capabilities. It helps us to better interpret the pictures in front of us and view them as real-life images.
Thanks to the superior information obtained from 3D imaging, surgeons now rely heavily on this modality to be better prepared, for example, for certain heart surgeries.
As this is a better way to see things, why not use it to see those beautiful babies! 3D pictures are amazingly close in appearance to real-life newborns.
Not all 3D pictures are created equal, however. The equipment makes a difference. At A Date With Baby, we utilize the best and the latest ultrasound equipment, that provides better 3D pictures but also a much more realistic view of the baby and baby’s surroundings. After all, why stop improving?
Why Aren't Doctors Ordering 2D Ultrasound?
The fact is that more and more physicians around the world are relying on 3D ultrasound to make decisions. Obstetrics is one of the medical fields with lots to gain from using 3D. Early pregnancy ultrasound in 3D can be very helpful in obtaining valuable information. The trouble is, though, that not all labs are equipped with 3D machines. Those machines are much more expensive that the regular ones, however, the government insurance plans to not reimburse more for 3D than for 2D, making the upgrade unattractive. So while, perhaps your doctor would want it, there isn’t much they can do.
Will I Get Any Medical Diagnosis Or Information After My 3D Ultrasound Appointment?
Unfortunately, due to regulations and laws we are not able to provide our clients with medical diagnosis, and our scans will only be for keepsake/entertainment purposes. You physician will be ordering everything you need to ensure you and your baby are safe and healthy!
Can babies feel ultrasound waves?
As the name suggests, ultrasound machines use sound waves to create an image of the baby. However these are not the sound waves that can be heard by a human ear, because the frequency is much higher than what our ears can pick up. Therefore, the short answer is no. However, some research has shown that these sound waves can still be heard by the fetus, although evidence to this is not concrete. The consensus is, however, that no lasting harm is caused to the baby with an ultrasound.
What week is best for a 3d ultrasound?
While you can view your baby at a 3D/4D ultrasound appointment starting at 8 weeks, there are optimal times for a visit, depending on what you’d like to see. At 8 weeks, the baby is still extremely small, and no facial features or limbs are visible. However, one can hear the heartbeat and see some movements of the baby. As the baby grows we tend to see more. For facial images, you could get an appointment starting at 18 weeks. However, in our experience, the absolute best time for 3d ultrasound would be around 24-29 weeks, as this is the time when the baby is well developed and still has enough fluid around the face which makes the 3D/4D work well. After 30 weeks, the baby might get too big with less fluid around, and cover the face more.
Gender can be determined at our studio starting at 16 weeks.
Can too many ultrasounds harm the baby?
While ultrasounds are very safe, we always discourage frequent visits if not necessary. Some of our clients tend to get very anxious, especially during the early stages, and the ultrasound tends to make them feel better. Most of the time, these would be very short sessions, so chances of any harm are extremely low. While no evidence exists that ultrasounds are harmful, essentially we don’t know what we don’t know. In fact, if medically necessary, women might get an ultrasound every week by doctor’s orders, because they are considered extremely safe among medical procedures. However as with anything, moderation is recommended.
What is 4d ultrasound?
In short, the difference between 4D vs 3D ultrasound is that can be observed in real-time. This enables us to see the babies in their full form and observe their movements like yawns and smiles.
The evolution of ultrasound has been a spectacular journey in medicine. At first, a very basic form of ultrasound existed, where only highly trained people would be able to make sense of the pictures. Then, 2D ultrasound evolved into a modality that can show any structure in a two-dimensional cross-section, thereby providing much more information to the reader. This was further developed into a 3D modality, where one could see the structure in a three-dimensional form, and enhance diagnostics even further.
Finally, the fourth dimension – time – was added to this, and now we can see the 3D ultrasounds in realtime.
how much is a 4d ultrasound?
At A Date With Baby, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver outstanding service, crystal clear images, and exceptional customer care all at a reasonable price.
We have specials that change periodically and start from just $85. Our full-priced packages are available here.
Remember that essentially, what you are paying for is time. Some 4D ultrasound packages are cheaper because they require a smaller time commitment on our end. Longer packages would be more expensive. While we always strive to achieve the highest satisfaction, it is important to note that we are dealing with a live person, and the baby might not cooperate all the time. Therefore, while our efforts will always remain high and committed to your complete satisfaction, image results may vary.
how early can 3d ultrasound detect gender?
Specialists at our studio can determine the gender at 16 weeks of pregnancy. While some may offer to do it earlier, keep in mind that the accuracy of earlier gender determinations is much lower, and only at 16 weeks can one confidently determine the sex of the baby? This is because before that time, the baby is small and the external genitalia is not well visible, even with 3D ultrasound.
Is 3d ultrasound covered by OHIP?
Our services are not covered by OHIP. We are a private facility and primarily focus on non-diagnostic ultrasounds. This means that our services are only for the parents, and we do not communicate with your healthcare team regarding any results.
Some private insurance providers may cover our services, and we will be happy to provide an invoice that you can submit to them directly.
