3D Ultrasounds Specialist

Why do I need an ultrasound?

Your doctor at The Women's Specialists of Fayette performs an ultrasound examination to correctly date your pregnancy, what’s known as the gestational age, and to assess the viability of your pregnancy. An ultrasound can also provide information about the growth and health of your pregnancy, including:

• Whether you have one or more fetuses
• The fetus’s position in your uterus
• The movement, breathing, and heart rate of your fetus
• To estimate the size and weight of your fetus
• To help screen for genetic disorders
• To check for ectopic pregnancy
• To see the amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus and the location of the placenta

Your doctor also may use an ultrasound as guidance during tests that look for genetic abnormalities, such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis.

What are 2D, 3D, and 4D ultrasounds?

Doctors used to be limited to just 2D ultrasounds, and that’s still the case in some practices. However, The Women's Specialists of Fayette offers 3D and 4D ultrasounds.

Here’s the difference between 2D, 3D, and 4D ultrasound technologies:

2D: uses sound waves to create a two-dimensional image that looks flat, like a photo

3D: produces three-dimensional images that look more realistic and may make it easier to see developmental problems, such as a cleft lip

4D: because the ultrasound continually updates, four-dimensional ultrasounds produce movie-like images of your growing fetus

Because the images are more realistic, 3D and 4D ultrasounds are often called fetal photos.

When do I have ultrasounds?

Your doctor at The Women's Specialists of Fayette performs your first ultrasound early in your pregnancy. You’ll have a second anatomical ultrasound when you’re 20 weeks along. This ultrasound allows your doctor to screen for any developmental abnormalities. Your doctor may recommend additional ultrasounds if medically necessary.

To see 3D renderings of your fetus’s gender, the optimal time to schedule your ultrasound is at 16 weeks. For a rendering of your fetus’s face, the ideal time to have a 3D ultrasound is at 28-30 weeks. Because this type of ultrasound is not considered medically necessary, 3D and 4D ultrasounds aren’t covered by insurance.

If you’re pregnant and would like the advantage of having a 3D or 4D ultrasound, The Women's Specialists of Fayette offers both options. Call today or schedule a consultation online.