QUESTIONS

Having a 3D ultrasound is one of the most exciting moments of your pregnancy journey. We are committed to providing you the most remarkable and detailed images of your baby throughout your pregnancy. There are many factors that can effect picture quality, many of these are outside of our control. We have to remember our little one's are still in the womb. To help put your mind at ease, we have listed some important facts to consider before scheduling your 3D/4D ultrasound and some helpful tips to get the best prenatal images possible.

CHOOSE YOUR FACILITY

When choosing an elective facility, it's important to ask what type of education and training the technicians receive. We employ Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and ARDMS-eligible technicians. Our sonographers have graduated from an accredited program in all 4 modalities of medical ultrasound. This allows us to provide you with both peace of mind and reliable imaging.

CHOOSE THE BEST TIME

Depending on what experience you are wanting, times will vary.

Gender can be more accurately determined after 14 weeks.

Most 3D/4D ultrasounds are performed between 24 and 32 weeks.
Prior to 24 weeks, babies have not started putting on fat so they will not have the "Gerber Baby" look.

Between 24-27 weeks, facial features are becoming more defined. This is considered an ideal time for our "mommies with multiples" to schedule their 3D/4D ultrasound.

*If you are only scheduling one elective 3D and 4D ultrasound, around 28-30 weeks is the best time. The baby has had time to build up body fat, but still has plenty of room to move.

Between 30-32 weeks is also a great time. Your baby now has those sweet chubby cheeks that we all love. Baby is getting larger and starting to drop.

After 34 weeks, space is becoming limited, and getting the desired facial pictures becomes more challenging.

Prepare for your scan

Drink plenty of water (at least 8-10 glasses per day) especially 3 -4 days prior to your ultrasound. Proper hydration can significantly increase the clarity of your images.

Eat something light (sandwich, salad, pasta, etc.) about 30 minutes to an hour before your ultrasound appointment.

Also, scheduling your 3D/4D ultrasound session when the baby is most active allows the opportunity for more poses.

Wear loose clothing. You will need to have your pants slightly below your hips during the ultrasound. Choose an outfit that you will be comfortable in that position.

Know that some factors are beyond our control.

Every baby scans differently, depending on its gestational age, position, amount of fluid, and the mother's condition.

Amount of amniotic fluid: Sound waves travel through the fluid to create images. The more fluid around your baby, the clearer the images will be. It's always good to drink plenty of water during your pregnancy, however, try to drink a little extra starting a few days before your 3D/4D ultrasound session.

Location of the placenta: The placenta can be on the front of the uterus, the back, or the side. When the placenta is on the front, it can block the baby's face, because the sound waves pick up the placenta as the same type of tissue as your baby.

Maternal body tissue: If the mother is full-figured, the sound waves have more tissue to travel through which causes grainier-looking photos. If this is the case with you, it's best to wait until around 32 weeks for your 3D/4D ultrasound because the tissue will be stretched out as your baby grows.

Most importantly RELAX and enjoy this special time for you and your family.

** IMPORTANT PLEASE READ**
It's that time of year, Flu Season! If you are trying to decide, should I get a flu shot while pregnant? The answer is YES. We have been asked by several our referring OB/GYN Physicians to spread the word on the importance of the flu vaccine during pregnancy. We want all of our Mommies and their friends and families to be safe and healthy! Please read the informative article below and discuss with your doctor.

How to prevent the Flu:

http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/doctor-tips-to-prevent-the-flu-5?src=soc_fcbks#slide-5

FAQ

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 3D ULTRASOUND AND 4D/HD ULTRASOUND?

3D is a still image while 4D adds the dimension of motion so we can see baby move LIVE. HD (High Definition) LIVE is the latest and greatest in Ultrasound Imaging for seeing baby live in the clearest view and our machine uses a technology called RealVue to enhance that HD picture even more. No more sepia-colored images!

ARE ULTRASOUNDS SAFE?

Ultrasound has been known as one of the safest forms of imaging available. Ultrasound uses sound waves to visualize baby so there is no radiation at all and we use the lowest frequencies possible. 3D and 4D/HD ultrasound use the same frequency as your doctor uses in the normal 2D ultrasound. Ultrasounds have been used for over 35 years and there have been no proven side effects from its proper use. We strictly adhere to the FDA's standards.

WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION LIKE?

We pride ourselves on being an inviting, relaxing, comfortable, and spacious environment for you and your family. We are also located in an up-scale retail location rather than sterile-looking office buildings.

DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?

No, we do not accept insurance because this is an elective procedure.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO HAVE A 3D/4D/HD ULTRASOUND?

That depends on what you are looking to see. Many moms like coming in twice, early on (14-26 weeks) when they can see baby's whole body, and then again at 25-34 weeks to see a more detailed face. Between 28 and 32 weeks, your baby develops more fat and gets a more defined face. After 34 weeks, it becomes more and more difficult to obtain good pictures since the baby is running out of room. However all babies are different and we have been successful in obtaining great images all the way up to 40 weeks.

HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT DETERMINING THE SEX OF THE BABY?

At 14 + weeks we can determine the gender with very high accuracy. We have been fortunate enough to have been able to determine the gender of thousands of babies early on. If you are 14 + weeks and the gender can not be seen, we invite you back for a free return appointment within the next 14 days. If we were to get the gender wrong you will receive a FULL REFUND. The need for a return visit is usually due to the baby's position, or umbilical cord in the way.

HOW CAN I BE SURE TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE 3D/4D/HD PICTURES?

Most doctors recommend maintaining a healthy fluid intake, especially while you are pregnant. This will help to ensure your amniotic fluid is clear as well as full. There are many things out of the sonographer's control like the baby's position, mother's build, amount of amniotic fluid, etc.

WHAT SHOULD I DO PRIOR TO THE 3D/4D/HD APPOINTMENT?

Drink plenty of water even several days before your appointment to ensure your amniotic fluid is clear. About a half hour before your 3D/4D ultrasound scan, try to drink a fruit juice so that your baby will be awake during your session (unless you are told not to by your physician).

HOW LONG IS THE 3D/4D/HD ULTRASOUND SESSION?

Depending on the ultrasound package that you select and baby's cooperation, your session can last anywhere between 5-40 minutes. However, plan on spending 30 minutes at our studio so that we can send you home with memories to last a lifetime. It is best to arrive a few minutes early to fill out our paperwork

CAN FAMILY AND FRIENDS JOIN?

Yes! We encourage you to bring your friends and family to share this special moment with you. Children are also welcome and we provide them with plenty of toys and books to keep them entertained.

HOW CAN I PAY FOR THE ULTRASOUND?

We currently accept major credit/debit cards and cash.

WHEN DO I GET MY 3D/4D/HD PICTURES AND VIDEOS?

Immediately after your session

WILL MY DOCTOR BE CONTACTED ABOUT THE 3D/4D/HD ULTRASOUND?

We do not contact your doctor prior to the scan since this is an elective procedure. If we do see something wrong during the scan, we contact your doctor and send him/her the report. We do require however that you currently are under prenatal care and if you have any concerns, you should ask your doctor. Ultrasound technicians in general cannot legally make any sort of diagnosis.

CAN THIS REPLACE MY ANATOMY SCAN?

Absolutely not! We cannot legally give diagnostic information, or scans. Your baby's anatomy scan is very thorough and looks for abnormalities. Should we find something incidentally we can only contact your doctor about it. We recommend still getting any routine ultrasounds at the doctor's office.

WILL I ALWAYS GET GREAT IMAGES OF MY BABY?

Most of the time we are able to get great images, but not always. Every baby scans differently, depending on its gestational age, position, amount of fluid, and mother's condition. We promise to make every effort to obtain the best possible images of whatever parts of the baby that can be seen. If we are not able to obtain great images rest assured we will invite you back for a FREE Repeat Session until we do.

WHAT WILL DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF THE IMAGES?

Hydration and Fetal position are the main determinations of image quality. Some babies come ready for viewing and great images are obtained. Others simply turn their back, cuddle up to the placenta/ uterine wall, or insist on putting their hands and feet in front of their face. We will try hard to make your baby move in order to see and image the face. Drinking lots of water the WEEK leading up to your appointment can ensure your amniotic fluid is nice and clear. Drinking juice, or eating a little candy may help the baby move a little on the day of imaging.

WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE THE IMAGES OF MY ULTRASOUND?

WATER! is the best answer to how to improve your images. You should be drinking plenty of water beginning at least 7 days before your scheduled appointment. Water can improve the quality of an ultrasound.

WHAT IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET IMAGES?

It is our number one priority is to obtain the absolute best images of your baby & make sure you are satisfied to the fullest. We use the top of the line ultrasound equipment to ensure this, however, some factors that determine the outcome of your ultrasound are out of our control such as: location of your placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding your baby, the clarity of the amniotic fluid, the baby's position, & the overall fetal environment. If we are unable to determine the gender of your child or obtain 3D/4D images at your scheduled appointment due to these factors mentioned above, you will be asked to reschedule & come back for a second appointment within the next 14 days at no charge.

WHAT IF MY BABY IS BREECH?

Breech position is when the baby's head is located at the top of your uterus & feet are down. Good pictures can be obtained with breech babies, but they not guaranteed & are much more likely if the baby is head down. However some babies remain breech until very late in the pregnancy or never turn, if this is the case you can still do a 3D/4D ultrasound and we should be able to get good images if you have plenty of amniotic fluid.

IF I AM OVERWEIGHT WILL I BE ABLE TO GET CLEAR ULTRASOUND IMAGES?

If you are overweight you should not be afraid to have a 4D elective ultrasound, however, we strongly urge that you wait until after 30 weeks of gestation to give the baby time to obtain more fat on their face. If you are overweight you will need to have a VERY high level of amniotic fluid to obtain clear images of the baby. If you drink the recommended amount of water in the weeks leading up to your appointment there is no reason you should not be able to obtain great images!

Treasured Memories Imaging