3d ultrasound of your fetus | ultrasoundtransducers.org

3d Ultrasound Pictures

3d ultrasound give us a 3 dimensional image of what we are looking at on ultrasound.

Most often, pregnant women want to see these types of images of their babies but there are some factors that need to be considered.

Factors to consider before having a 3d ultrasound of your baby

3d ultrasound does not replace 2d ultrasound imaging
3d ultrasound allows us to visualize the external image of a fetus
2d ultrasound is still optimal for imaging the internal organs of a fetus
3d ultrasound helps with imaging the extent of abnormalities such as cleft lift/palate, polydactyl (extra digits on hands or feet)

3d ultrasound imaging is not as easy to obtain as people think. There are certain criteria to getting the perfect pictures of a fetal face for example and pregnant women need to understand that they will not always get the perfect 3d pictures that they see advertised.

The Criteria for Good 3d Ultrasound Imaging of the fetal face.

There must be a good amount of amniotic fluid in front of the fetal face
The position of the fetus must be precise
Maternal habitus or thickness of the skin also plays a roll
3d ultrasound requires the high skill of the ultrasound technologist

The best time to obtain a 3d ultrasound of your baby

The recommended time to have a playful 3d ultrasound of your fetus is between 28 and 32 weeks gestation. By this time, your fetus will have skin and features that you will be able to see.

3d ultrasound to check gender

Although 3d ultrasound is an incredible tool, when it is performed prior to 20 wks gestation it not as accurate as you may be lead to believe for gender determination.

The same goes for 2d ultrasound imaging. Development of the gender goes through many imaging stages and it is recommended that you wait until your 20 wk diagnostic ultrasound to get the most accurate imaging and determination of gender.

3d ultrasound is not 100% to tell gender prior to 20 wks gestation, just as 2d ultrasound isn’t as accurate until 20 wks gestation as well. Telling gender through ultrasound is also very dependent on ultrasound technologist experience and skill.

The roll of 4d ultrasound in imaging your baby

4d ultrasound is the same technology as 3d ultrasound except that it is in real time. It is done with the same equipment. Meaning that while the still shots are in 3d, the action or motion shots are almost like a movie. This is a special way for a pregnant woman to bond with her unborn baby.