What is the difference between 3D ultrasound, 4D ultrasound AND 5D ultrasound?
3D is a still image with a golden tone. 4D adds the dimension of motion, so you can watch your baby in a 3D image move in real time video. 5D High Definition ultrasound adds multiple light sources to the 4D motion viewing your baby in much better detail & unbelievably realistic appearance ( rose gold flesh tone)
What is your facility like?
We pride ourselves on being an inviting, relaxing, comfortable, and spacious environment for you and your family. We are also located in a cozy and homey retail location rather than sterile looking office buildings.
Is 3D and 4D ultrasound safe for me and my baby?
3D and 4D 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. We follow FDA recommendations on using the lowest possible output power and decreasing the thermal index as well as limiting our scan time to no longer than 30 minutes.
Do you accept insurance?
No, we do not accept insurance because this is an elective procedure. Although we can gladly accept you HSA/FSA credit card.
When is the best time to have a 3d/4d ultrasound?
That depends on what you are looking to see. Many mothers like coming in twice or even 3 times! Early on, 8 to 14 weeks, mom’s love to see that tiny heartbeat flicker and view baby’s first ever wiggle around 9 weeks. Starting at 16 weeks we can see the baby’s sex and determine if baby is a boy or girl. 16-25weeks is a good time to see the baby in whole. We can watch baby jump and somersault, although they are still rather thin during this stage. Between 26 and 34 weeks, your baby develops more fat and gets a more defined face, PRIME TIME for chubby baby photos. 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 39 weeks.
How good are you at determining the sex of the baby?
At 16 weeks we can determine the gender with a very high accuracy. If you are over 16 weeks and the gender cannot be seen, we invite you back for a weekday return appointment and we will rescan you for free within the next 14 days. The need for a return visit is usually due to the baby's position or poor maternal hydration (low fluid).
IF waiting until 16 weeks seems like forever, We now offer Sneak Peek Clinical DNA blood test. The SP Clinical blood test is 99% accurate, money-back guaranteed and preformed by a licenced phlebotomist so there is zero risk of contamination like the popular at home version.
How can I be sure to get the best possible 3D/4D pictures?
DRINK YOUR WATER! Proper hydration of both mom and baby are key to a great photo session. Extra daily maternal water intake will increase and clear out baby’s amniotic fluid and also decrease maternal belly gas. Hydrated baby’s with lots of amniotic fluid are also more active! So drink that water for the best chance at baby wiggles.
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, the mother's skin type and build, amount of amniotic fluid, etc. No worries, we do offer rescans or occasional discounts on our third trimester 3D sessions if no absolutely no photos can be obtained. *Rescans at sonographers discretion.
What should I do prior to the 3D/4D appointment?
Drink plenty of water even several days before your appointment to ensure your amniotic fluid is clear. A few minutes before your 3D/4D ultrasound scan, try to drink a fruit juice or an ice cold water/ slushy 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 ultrasound session?
Depending on the ultrasound package that you select, your ultrasound session will last between 10 and 30 minutes. However, plan on spending 30 minutes to an hour at our studio so that we can send you home with memories to last a life time. It is best to arrive a few minutes early to fill out our paperwork and use the restroom.
Are family and friends welcome to 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. At our location, our ultrasound room can comfortably seat 10 people! The ultrasound is viewed on a 60-inch screen so that everyone is able to see with ease. Please remind your guests to be prompt, sessions are scheduled back to back and if you choose to wait for your guest to arrive, the time may be taken off you scheduled ultrasound scan time.
How can I pay for the ultrasound?
We currently accept major credit/debit cards , cash and FSA/HSA cards.
When do I get my 3D/4D pictures and videos?
Less than 5 minutes after your session has ended. Our Digital Images are sent directly via Email link to your smart phone for saving and sharing!
Will my doctor be contacted about the 3d/4d 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 inform them of our concern and recommend a formal diagnostic session to confirm our suspicion. 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 make a diagnosis.
Will I always get great images of my baby?
Most of the time we can get great images, but not always. Sometimes if the baby is looking face down toward mom's spine we are unable to get images, or if the baby is laying against the placenta. 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.
What will determine quality of the images?
Fetal position is the number one determination of how your image quality. Some babies come ready for viewing and great images are obtained. Others simply turn their back or cuddle up to the placenta or the uterine wall or insist on putting their hands and feet in front of their face. We will try hard to make your baby move to see and image the face. Drinking juice or eating a little candy may help the baby move a little on that 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 at Baby To Be 3D 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. If you do know that your baby is breech prior to your 3D/4D ultrasound, we do advise you to reschedule your appointment a few weeks later to allow more time for the baby to turn. 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 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 recommend amount of water in the weeks leading up to your appointment there is no reason you should not be able to obtain great images!
What People Are Saying
“Shannon was amazing! Our little girl was not being very cooperative and she was trying so hard to get her to move to get good images. She did an awesome job getting images with her being difficult. She was so sweet and loves her job, you can tell she has a passion for what she does. We got a lot of good images and other items for our money. I would definitely recommend them to anyone! :) Thanks, Shannon!”
— Tara Jo R.
“I don’t think we could have had a better experience! From the minute we walked in the door, my family and I felt welcome and comfortable. The environment was inviting. The area for the ultrasound was spacious. The owner was amazing. She takes the time needed to get incredible images. She is very friendly and seems to really enjoy and care about giving each person a special time. She printed a picture of our little for each of my family members for them to keep and cherish. The ultrasound video that we received was such a cool keepsake and allows us to take a peek at our little one whenever we please. We are so thankful for our experience and would highly recommend Baby to Be 3D to other expectant moms.”
— Dana D.
“One of the cutest, relaxing places you can ever go to for an ultrasound. Both ladies that did my ultrasound were so sweet. They always remember you when you walk through the door. They are VERY patient and make sure you don’t leave without getting a good view of your baby. The place is very clean and so homey. There’s many different things you can buy as well! From stuffed animals, to picture frames, to jewelry and a lot more. Been here a few times already with friends and family and can’t wait to go back for the gender in December. I always look forward to being here.”
— SARA S.
“I Do not have enough nice things to say about Baby to Be 3D. We went to find out what our sweet baby would be and we were not disappointed. The studio was very welcoming and comfortable, there were toys to keep my almost 2 year old daughter amused and seating for my family to be able to take part in the ultrasound. We were even able to Facetime with family out of town! The photos she was able to get of our sweet little BOY! were amazing, and we will definitely be back later in the pregnancy to see him again.”
— Lauren K.
Lead Sonographer and Owner, Shannon Shovlin, is an ARDMS registered sonographer since 2010. She is a deep lover of all things baby and cannot wait to meet your growing family! Creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your family to create an amazing pregnancy experience is our #1 goal at Baby To Be 3D. Questions, concerns and comments are always welcome!
We employ only ARDMS registered sonographers who are competent in Obstetric sonography and share the same love of babies
Capture These Special Moments, after all your pregnancy won’t last forever…. but these memories created with last a lifetime!
Still Have Questions?
Feel free to give us a call or send a text @ 570-550-5299
or send us an email using the link below.