Nine months can be a long time to see your baby. As an eager expecting parent, you are perhaps anxious to see the little one’s development who starts out as a fetus in your belly and slowly goes on to develop a heartbeat, body, head, tiny fingers and toes.
For the longest time, doctors recorded this development using 2D ultrasounds that offered black and white and grainy images of the baby. However, with the advancement of imaging, you now have 3D and even 4D ultrasound examinations that give you clearer look at the unborn baby. The depth and detail are far better than 2D ultrasounds, which makes it so mesmerising for most expecting parents.
But what exactly is a 4D ultrasound and should you get one in the first place? Here’s what you need to know.
What Is A 4D Ultrasound?
A 4D ultrasound is similar to a 3D ultrasound and uses multiple two-dimensional images taken from various angles. These images are then pieced together to create a three-dimensional or 3D rendering of the baby.
But the image shows movement like a video would, which makes it a 4D ultrasound.
In a 4D sonogram, you will actually see the baby doing things in real-time like sucking their thumb, opening or closing eyes and more.
When Do You Get An Ultrasound?
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Expecting mums with low-risk and complication-free pregnancies to undergo at least one ultrasound through the nine-month period.
Specifically, expecting mums should consider scheduling their 4D ultrasound anytime between 22 and 27 weeks.
The requirement may change if the mother is older or the pregnancy has some complications. Your gynaecologist will ask you to get an ultrasound done for the following reasons:
- Confirm your estimated due date
- Check your baby’s heartbeat
- Ensure the pregnancy isn’t ectopic and is in the uterus
- To confirm the number of babies in the utero
- Measure the baby’s organs
- Check the baby’s position and development
- Determine the baby’s gender
- Rule out birth defects
- Check the amniotic fluid levels
When Do You Need To Get A 4D Ultrasound Done?
Most medical practitioners use 2D and Doppler ultrasounds in uncomplicated pregnancies to examine the fetus. There’s no hard and fast rule for using 4D ultrasound and it’s completely optional.
Doctors will use this option only when they need to closely examine the baby for suspected fetal anomalies, such as cleft lip and spinal cord issues, or to monitor something specific. In other words, 3D sonograms and 4D ultrasounds are usually not part of routine prenatal exams. That said, you can ask the doctor to write you one if you are eager to see the baby.
Most doctors will not specifically ask you to get a 4D ultrasound done. Also, remember that 4D ultrasound is more expensive compared to 2D ultrasound, so your medical insurance is less likely to cover the cost of the same.
Make sure to check your insurer’s terms and conditions on the matter.
How Is A 4D Ultrasound Done?
The 4D ultrasound is no different from other tests. A technician will apply the gel on your belly that helps carry the sound waves.
They will then hold the probe against your belly and move the handheld device called a transducer around to get an image of the baby.
Is 4D Ultrasound Safe?
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While 4D ultrasound is largely safe for the mother and the baby, they aren’t usually recommended by doctors. Studies are also evaluating the safety of ultrasound technology at present.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that while there are no known risks of ultrasounds for pregnant women, they should be used for medical purposes only. The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that when ultrasound enters the body it heats the tissues slightly, which can create small pockets of gas in body fluids or tissues. The long-term effects of getting a 4D ultrasound are not known at the moment.
The ACOG recommends getting a 2D ultrasound between the 18th and 22nd week of the pregnancy, which is when most women have the ultrasound during the first trimester.
Some 4D ultrasound exams may last over 45 minutes, which is longer than a medical scan. This can be intrusive for the fetus who is growing and developing in the womb. But on an average, a scan will take no more than 15 minutes in terms of time consumed.
While getting an ultrasound is indeed a special moment through the pregnancy period. It does not replicate the feeling of seeing and holding your baby for the first time. So, unless absolutely required, avoid getting a 4D ultrasound – at least till the technology develops to be safe enough for use on a regular basis.
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