All You Need to Know About 3D/4D Ultrasound Pregnancy Scan

Posted by James Tyler on February 2nd, 2017

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting time in a life of a woman. It is filled with anticipation and various questions such as how will her baby look and is he/she healthy? Thanks to the advances in medical sciences, parents can now get an answer to most of these questions even before their baby enters the world.  A doctor asks an expectant mother to have a 2D ultrasound performed in order to check the progress of the baby and to diagnose any issues that may be present. This is usually done when a woman is halfway through her pregnancy. The 2D ultrasound is a great for knowing the gender and the general health of the baby. However, it cannot accomplish what 3D and 4D ultrasounds can.

A 3d/4d ultrasound pregnancy scan can help you see your unborn child for the first time. Every practitioner does not offer this level of testing as this procedure isn’t a standard test for all pregnant women. However, a lot of places such as Baby Scan Studio Lancaster provide these kind of scans to their patients. Read on to know more about this scan.

A 3d/4d ultrasound scan in pregnancy uses sound waves to make pictures of the baby. 2D scan provides only a flat image. However, 3D image allows you to see the features and shapes of the fetus in depth. And a 4D scan allows you to see a live motion picture of the baby moving in your womb.

What should you expect?

The whole procedure of scanning may take around 30 to 60 minutes based on the reason for the procedure. If the scan is being done in order to examine the fetus, then it will be necessary to examine various details in order to gain information about the baby. However, if you are getting the process done voluntarily, then you’ll have this time for observing your baby.

During this procedure, your belly is exposed while you lie back on the examination table. The technician will then apply the gel on your skin. The gel serves as a transducer for the sound waves. Then the technician will hold the probe on your belly. When the probe is in the right place, you’ll be able to look at a monitor and see the images of your baby. As the probe moves around, you’ll see different images of your baby on the screen.

When scans are performed during early pregnancy, the patient is required to have a full bladder. A full bladder plays a useful role in the sonography process. It serves as a black background and the baby appears white against the black background. When these procedures are performed at later stages in pregnancy, a full bladder isn’t essential.

What is the optimal timing for this test?

If you plan to take 4d ultrasound packages, then you should know that the timing of the test is important. For best viewing, these tests are usually scheduled between 27 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. Waiting until later might give you unclear images.

Results:

After a 3d/4d ultrasound, patients are provided with printed images to take home. Some physicians may also provide digital images on a CD or moving 4D images of the baby to their patients as a keepsake. If you wish to know the gender of the baby, then you may receive this information during the test.