Nearly a dozen firms in the Dallas-Fort Worth region provide 3-D and 4-D keepsake ultrasound services, according to a fast Google search.
More than ever, expectant parents are paying for photographs and videos of their newborns that are more realistic than the 2-D ultrasounds available at their doctors' offices. Despite the fact
that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises parents to avoid them, they continue to be popular. Commercial ultrasounds are also discouraged by medical organisations such as the American
Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
I know you're looking forward to seeing your kid. It's easy to be sucked into booking a picture session. However, it's vital to understand that ultrasounds aren't only for fun. It's a crucial
medical examination. Let's speak about why physicians use them and when they're used, as well as my worries about getting a 3-D or 4-D ultrasound in a non-medical context.
What's the difference between 2-D, 3-D, and 4-D ultrasounds?
Sound waves are used in all ultrasounds to generate a picture of your baby in the womb:
A cross-sectional image of your baby is created using a standard 2-D ultrasound.
Many 2-D photos are acquired from different angles and stitched together to generate a three-dimensional picture in a 3-D ultrasound. This seems to be more like what you'd see in a regular
image.
4-D is similar to 3-D, but it includes movement, allowing you to watch your kid kick or open and close their eyes.
So, since we have the technology, why don't we utilise 3-D all of the time? Simply said, 2-D is often more efficient. We don't normally require 3-D to measure your baby's development. While 3-D
ultrasound may provide a wonderful view of your baby's exterior, 2-D ultrasound is the gold standard for detecting anomalies in your baby's development and growth.
However, 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds may be useful for assessing certain anomalies that are difficult to see in 2-D, such as cleft lip and palate. They're also useful when we need to explain
something to parents. While physicians and sonographers may be able to see it on a 2-D imaging, parents can typically see the anomaly more clearly in 3-D images.
Is it safe for your infant to get an ultrasound?
The ultrasound waves that are utilised to scan the infant expose the newborn to thermal energy. Under rare conditions, heat may lead to birth abnormalities. That's why, while doing ultrasounds,
we follow the ALARA principle: as low as reasonably attainable. That means we utilise the ultrasound machine's settings carefully to utilise the least amount of power feasible and to restrict the
length of time it takes to collect photos, exposing the growing baby to the least amount of energy feasible.
“Although there are no known biological effects on patients caused by exposures from current diagnostic ultrasonography devices, the potential remains that such biological effects may be
established in the future,” ACOG said in its warning against commercial use of ultrasound. As a result, ultrasonography should be utilised with caution to give medical benefit to patients.”
Bottom line: I have no concerns about ultrasounds being used to assist manage a pregnancy and obtain information about the growing baby.
Keepsake ultrasounds are causing some concern.
Waiting forty weeks to see your baby might seem like an eternity. Ultrasounds in 3-D and 4-D may seem to be the ideal way to obtain a sneak glimpse at your unborn child. I've seen parents remark
things like, "Oh, he has his grandfather's nose," or "She looks just like her sister when she was born," after viewing one of these ultrasounds.
However, there are a few things to consider when getting a 3-D or 4-D ultrasound outside of a medical setting.
Qualifications of the individual who is going to do the ultrasound
If you have a 3-D or 4-D souvenir ultrasound done outside of a medical environment, the individual doing it is more concerned with taking a nice picture and video for you than with analysing your
baby's health. They may not have had the same extensive training as sonographers employed by a registered ultrasound centre.
They may not be willing to assist you with information, assistance, or follow-up if they observe anything that makes them uncomfortable. You may need to see your doctor for another ultrasound in
certain circumstances. This might cause undue worry and distress.
The use of commercial ultrasounds might also lead to false confidence. A attractive snapshot may be seen by some women as proof of good growth. If the person evaluating the ultrasound is not a
skilled medical expert, they may not be able to detect problems with the baby or other structures such as the placenta or the umbilical cord.
Cost
Ultrasounds in 3-D and 4-D that are sold commercially are not inexpensive! Having a child is also costly these days. If you obtained a souvenir ultrasound and think everything is great with the
pregnancy, don't miss a prescribed ultrasound or other testing at your doctor's office. Consider how you might put the money you'd save by skipping the souvenir ultrasound to good use, like as
buying diapers or beginning a college fund.
Safety
As I have said, there are problems about using ultrasonography on growing babies. I'm concerned that the person doing a commercial ultrasound isn't as vigilant about decreasing the ultrasound
machine's power settings or limiting the amount of time the baby is exposed.
3D ultrasound of a baby
Not every 3-D ultrasound picture is appealing. Some photos may seem frightening, but this does not always indicate that anything is wrong with your child.
Expectations of parents
You've undoubtedly seen 3-D ultrasound photographs of friends' infants that, well, look like babies. You may have also seen gorgeous 3-D ultrasound pictures in magazines.
However, capturing those ideal images requires some luck. It is necessary for the baby to be in a comfortable position with enough of fluid around them. The ultrasound may take longer, or you may
need to go in more more once to obtain a decent snapshot, exposing you and the baby to more energy. Even so, you can be dissatisfied if your images don't meet your expectations.
Some 3-D ultrasound images might be rather frightening. I've had parents come in scared that their infant was sick because the pictures didn't appear "right."
If you opt to obtain a souvenir ultrasound, the gorgeous photos you see in publications are more likely to appear between 24 and 28 weeks. Your kid is starting to plump up and won't seem as
skeletal at this time. There's also a lot of fluid surrounding the infant, which is required for a beautiful snapshot. The fluid surrounding the face may be less generous during the third
trimester, and the baby may push up against the uterus, making it more difficult to acquire a good snapshot.
It's worth asking your doctor whether a 3-D or 4-D ultrasound may be done at the same time as the 2-D ultrasound. If they had the technology and the time, they could be receptive to it. However,
I strongly advise you to heed FDA guidance and restrict ultrasounds to medical applications and only when administered by qualified health care experts. When your new one comes, there will be
many of picture chances!