WHAT IS AN ELECTIVE PRENATAL ULTRASOUND AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT THAN A DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND IN MY OB/GYN OFFICE?

We offer elective 3D & 4D prenatal ultrasound to provide a bonding experience for the mother, father, and family members with your unborn baby. Providing keepsake images helps form deep connections between the parents and baby. This is beneficial to strengthen family units. We make no claims that our keepsake ultrasound images are to be used for any type of diagnostic studies and are only for bonding.

A routine diagnostic ultrasound examination should have already been performed by your OB/GYN to assess the gestational age of the baby, diagnose any abnormalities, evaluate the position of the baby and placenta, determine if there are multiples, and assess for the well-being of the baby prior to a keepsake appointment. We do not perform any diagnostic testing and advocate for early prenatal care for all women.

Many women have a diagnostic ultrasound performed at 18-20 weeks. In some cases, your doctor or sonographer may even take some pictures and video of your baby in 3D/4D but this is a very different experience than an elective ultrasound at our facility. A medical ultrasound is focused on looking for abnormalities and performing diagnostic measurements. We do not perform any diagnostic ultrasounds in our studio but instead offer beautiful keepsake images of baby for bonding purposes only.

DOES THIS TAKE THE PLACE OF AN ULTRASOUND AT MY DOCTOR’S OFFICE?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! Women seeking an elective prenatal ultrasound with M&F Ultrasound Studio must already be receiving treatment with a healthcare provider for prenatal care and may only rely on a medical, diagnostic ultrasound ordered by their provider to confirm their due date, screen for fetal anomalies, and to look for any other pregnancy related issues. M&F Ultrasounds are for the enjoyment of seeing your baby and getting an indication of the gender of baby only. Please note, at no time is this exam to be used in place of a complete diagnostic ultrasound.

DO I NEED AN APPOINTMENT?

Yes, appointments are necessary for all of our services.

WHAT PAPERWORK DO I NEED TO COMPLETE?

When you book your appointment, you will be sent a consent that must be signed that will state you have started your prenatal care and that the OB/GYN has stated it is safe for you to have an elective 3D/4D Ultrasound for keepsake images during your pregnancy. You will also have a few forms to fill out in the office when you arrive.

WILL I ALWAYS GET A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF MY BABY?

Usually, but not always. Sometimes if the baby is persistently looking face down, i.e. towards your spine it may be difficult to see the baby’s face. If this happens, a repeat scan will be offered. It is more likely than not that the baby will have moved, and we will be able to get a better image during the next session. We make no promises that the images will be similar to those you might have seen elsewhere or even from our clinic, or that we can always meet everyone’s expectations. 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. Hydrating well before the appointment helps. There must be some fluid in between baby and any other structure for an image to render so please hydrate prior to your appointment.

CAN I BRING MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS?

Yes. We encourage our clients to invite family and friends to attend the elective 3D/4D ultrasound session. This is a joyous and wonderful experience, one that can be shared with your family and loved ones. We can accommodate up to 8 guests seated and several more standing.

ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL THE SEX OF THE BABY?

Yes, in most cases we can provide an indication of the gender of the baby. We can’t however guarantee that the baby will cooperate during your session. Certain factors such as body tissue content, developmental stage and fetal position all affect the ability to determine gender. For gender determination, we offer the SneakPeek test to ensure accurate results. We will be glad to take a look for you and give an indication of gender anytime however, we certainly do not guarantee accuracy. The best way to determine gender with confidence is with the blood test and it can be done as early as 6 weeks!

DO YOU NEED TO BE UNDER THE CARE OF AN OB/GYN FOR THE SNEAKPEEK TEST?

No, we do not expect mamas to be under the care of an OB especially since some women aren’t seen in a doctor’s office until 8-10 weeks after their LMP. We will always advocate for early prenatal care for the health of you and your baby but in this case you do not need to be under prenatal care in order to take the test.

What is the difference between 2D, 3D and 4D?

2D is the standard black and white ultrasound and is recommended for babies that are 20 weeks or younger. We use 2D for gender determination.

3D ultrasound captures a clear image of the baby. It is recommended to do 3D imaging later in pregnancy when the baby has put on a little fat in their cute little faces.

4D is simply 3D ultrasound captured live in motion. This mode of imaging allows you to capture the baby's movement and activity in 3D. You may be able to see the baby smile, yawn, play with its hands and feet, etc.

Is Ultrasound Imaging safe and what is it?

Ultrasounds have been used for over 40 years and according to the FDA, there have been no proven side effects from its proper use. There is no radiation involved when using the sonography.

According to ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), “Ultrasound is energy in the form of sound waves. During an ultrasound exam, a transducer sends sound waves through the body. The sound waves come into contact with tissues, body fluids, and bones. The waves then bounce back, like echoes. The transducer receives these echoes, which are turned into images. The images can be viewed as pictures on a video screen.”

When is the best time to get the 3D/4D done?

It really depends on when you want to see your baby. Earlier in your pregnancy you will be able to see the entire body of your baby. Mid-pregnancy the baby is growing and filling out and you are able to see facial features much better. Later pregnancy scans that are before 34 weeks will result in great images of the baby’s face.

Many mothers like coming in twice, early on, 14-26 weeks, when they can see the baby as a whole, and then again between 28-34 weeks when their baby develops more fat and gets a more defined face.

When is the earliest you can see the gender and what happens if we are unable to see it?

Around 14 weeks we can begin to get an indication of gender. If we are unable to see gender and your primary reason for your appointment is to find out the gender, we offer a SneakPeek test for verification. If you do not wish to see the gender, just let us know and we will be sure to keep it a secret for you!

What if I want to know the gender and I am still early in my pregnancy?

We offer kits in office from SneakPeek Test. You can know within a few days if you are having a girl or a boy as early as 6 weeks! Please hydrate well on the day of your appointment. It makes blood collection much easier and the process much faster.

When can I hear my baby’s heartbeat? Do you offer Heartbeat Recordings?

AIUM guidelines state that listening to the heartbeat with ultrasound is best to do in the second trimester (after 13 weeks). At that point, we can record your sweet baby’s heartbeat during the ultrasound and place the recording inside a cute little stuffed animal.