Weeks 14 Thru 16:

The baby’s skin is transparent and a fine hair (lanugo) begins to form on the head.  The baby begins sucking and even swallows small amounts of amniotic fluid.  Fingerprints are now developed on the tiny fingers of the baby.  Flutters may be felt now as the baby begins to move around more.  Sometimes feeling the movement will come a little later though.  These early flutter feelings can feel similar to gas or bubbles in your stomach.  The baby has reached 4 inches in length (crown to rump) and weighs around 3-4 ounces.  Baby is about the size of an avocado at this point.

Weeks 17 Thru 20:

The baby has reached a point where movements are being felt more often.  The baby now has eyebrows and eyelashes growing in, and tiny nails are beginning to grow on the fingers and toes. A heartbeat can be heard via stethoscope now. Studies suggest that baby can now hear your voice, so go ahead and start reading aloud or singing to Baby.  The baby has reached a length of 6 inches (crown to rump) or 10 inches from head to feet and weighs about 10 ounces. Baby is about the size of a mango at this point.

Weeks 21 Thru 24:

The baby is beginning to look more and more like a newborn as the skin becomes less transparent.  Your uterus has now risen above your belly button and is near the size of a soccer ball.  Baby’s movements start feeling more like full-fledged kicks instead of little flutters.  The baby weighs about 1 pound and 5 ounces now and is about a foot long!  His body is more proportional now, but still pretty skinny. Baby will put on more fat during the third trimester. Baby is about the size of a grapefruit at this point.

Weeks 24 Thru 27:

Your baby has now developed a sleep and wake cycle and you may begin to notice the pattern yourself. Baby’s wrinkled skin will start to smooth out as he or she develops some baby fat. Hair is also growing now! Starting in the 27th week, your baby will be able to open and close his or her eyes! Along with kicks and movements, you may notice little rhythmic movements- baby hiccups! Weighing in at almost 2 pounds and 14 inches long, your baby would be capable of functioning now if born- with medical help of course. Baby is about the size of a cabbage at this point.

1) What is the difference between 3D ultrasound and 4D ultrasound?

-3D is a still image while 4D adds the dimension of motion, so it looks like a video.

2)What is your facility like?

-We pride ourselves on being an inviting, relaxing, comfortable, and spacious environment for you and your family. 

3) Is 3D and 4D ultrasound safe for me and my baby?

-Ultrasounds have been used for over 35 years and there has been no proven side effects from its proper use. We strictly adhere to the FDA’s standards. 3D and 4D ultrasound use the same frequency as your doctor uses in the normal 2D ultrasound.

4) Do you accept insurance?

No, we do not accept insurance because this is an elective ultrasound.

5)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, early on, 15-26 weeks, when they can see the baby as a whole, and then again at 25-34 weeks to see a more detailed face. Between 28 and 32 weeks, your baby develops more fat and gets a more defined face. 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 36+ weeks.

6)How good are you at determining the sex of the baby?

-At 15 weeks we can determine the gender with a very high accuracy. If you are over 15 weeks and the gender can not be seen due to babies’ position, we invite you back for another appointment and we will rescan you for a free, limited scan within the next 14 days.

7)How can I be sure to get the best possible 3D/4D pictures?

-Most doctors recommend maintaining a healthy fluid intake, especially while you are pregnant. This will help to ensure your healthy amount of amniotic fluid as well as the fluids clarity. 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.

8) 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 and abundant. About a half hour before your 3D/4D ultrasound scan, try to drink a fruit juice so that your baby will be awake during your session (unless you are told not to by your physician).

9) How long is the 3D/4D ultrasound session?

-Depending on the ultrasound package that you select, your session will last between 10 and 35 minutes. However, plan on spending 40 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.

10) 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. We can comfortably seat 7 plus people in the same ultrasound room, but more are welcome if they would like to stand. The ultrasound is projected onto a very large screen so that everyone is able to see with ease.

11) How can I pay for the ultrasound?

-We currently accept major credit/debit cards, cash, venmo, paypal, Samsung pay, and the like.

12) When do I get my 3D/4D pictures and videos?

-Less than 5 minutes after your session has ended.

13) 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 send her the report. We do require, however, that you currently are under prenatal care and if you have any concerns, you should ask your doctor. Ultrasound technicians cannot make a diagnosis.

14) Will I always get great images of my baby?

–Most of the time we are able to get great images, but not always. Sometimes if the baby is looking face down toward mom’s spine, or baby is lying against the placenta, we are unable to get images. 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.

15) 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 adjust in order to see the face. Drinking juice may help the baby move a little on that day of imaging.

16) 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 tremendously.

17) What if we are not able to get images?

It is our number one priority at Angel Face Imaging to obtain the absolute best images of your baby & make sure you are fully satisfied. We use 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, you may reschedule & come back for a second appointment within the next 14 days at no charge to you.

18) 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. Please call me if you have any questions about this, I will be happy to speak with you and determine what is the best time to visit.

19) 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, although 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!

19) Why are ultrasounds performed?

An ultrasound exam is medically indicated throughout pregnancy. Here are some of the reasons:

First Trimester:
Confirm pregnancy
Confirm heartbeat and rate
Measure the crown-rump length
Determine estimated due date
Confirm molar or ectopic pregnancies
Assess abnormal gestation
Second Trimester:
 
Diagnose fetal malformation:
13-14 weeks for characteristics of potential Down syndrome
18-22 weeks for congenital malformations
Structural abnormalities
Confirm multiples pregnancy
Verify dates and growth
Identify hydramnios or oligohydramnios –(excessive or reduced levels of amniotic fluid)
Third Trimester:
 
Identify placenta location:
Observe fetal presentation
Observe fetal movements
Check fetal growth
Identify uterine and pelvic abnormalities of the mother

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