3D Ultrasound – Advanced Technology Provides Improved Image of Fetus

3D Ultrasound of 28 week old Fetus

Don`t be alarmed if your healthcare provider asks you to schedule a 3-D ultrasound. Instead, you should be excited about the extraordinary possibilities 3d ultrasounds hold, including a more realistic image or picture of your unborn baby, one that allows you to see what your child looks like as it grows in the womb.

Be prepared. The images can be so clear that you may very well see your baby smiling, even waving his or her arms and hands, for the 3d ultrasound showcases real-time three dimensional images of the baby, making it a popular choice among soon-to-be moms and dads.

Oftentimes, an ultrasound that boasts such capabilities is optional, for the standard 2D ultrasound can validate the babys sex, can determine the approximate due date and shows fetal movement. If this is the case, the optional 3-d ultrasound certainly should not replace the medically needed ultrasound, but instead be used to enhance the parents-to-be pregnancy experience.

And, if you desire to have the viewing options that exist with 3d ultrasounds to be paired with real-time movements of the baby, you can have a 4D ultrasound (four dimensional image of your baby) performed and see the baby moving in real-time and in color.

By offering improved quality and improved imaging, 3-d ultrasounds are growing in popularity. And, while in some cases these can be used to determine a babys sex as early as 10 weeks into the pregnancy, it may be best to wait until the second trimester to have the optional ultrasound performed. Even then, factors such as body tissue content, the fetus’ position and developmental stage may hamper even the best efforts to determine sex, but the best chance for this does exist with the advanced technology that is associated with the 3D and 4D ultrasounds.

Prices vary for the 3D and 4D ultrasounds. Because these are generally optional, shopping around within your driving distance can save you a great deal of money. Even so, you can expect 3-Ds to run anywhere from just under $200 to just over. As for the 4-D ultrasounds, the price range is about $250 to $300. There are “package” deals that include color photographs, even videos, so inquire about this when you call, as this can be expected to affect the price.