Having your first ultrasound during pregnancy brings great joy and excitement because you can see how your baby is developing and hear its heartbeat. A prenatal ultrasound, also known as 4D ultrasound, is one of the safest ways to check your infant in utero during any stage of the pregnancy. A fetal ultrasound allows a doctor to check on the baby’s heart and spine and to determine the sex of the child.
Also, checking your baby regularly allows you to enjoy its development and be calm and prepare as best as possible for the delivery day.
Some future moms choose a 4D ultrasound over 3D because the imaging is much clearer, and you can see your baby’s face and movements. For more premium features like these during your prenatal care, you should visit MY OBGYN Specialists clinic and schedule a consultation.
Additionally, 4D ultrasound helps the medical provider discover any potential birth defects the baby might have and ensure that the parents know the conditions and what to do next.
Prenatal Ultrasound in 4D
As mentioned, a 4D ultrasound is a prenatal procedure that also incorporates the dimension of time into the ultrasound imaging process. It not only captures still images but also produces live-streaming videos of the baby while in the uterus. These features help doctors discover congenital anomalies which are sometimes not visible in 2D and 3D ultrasound techniques.
Because there are not many issues that are not detectable through 2D ultrasound, experts do not recommend having 4D ultrasound often to avoid exposing the baby to more ultrasound than absolutely necessary.
Here are some of the most common advantages of the 4D technique:
- Faster screening of the heart of the fetus and diagnosis of conditions
- Emotional and mental relief after seeing your infant healthy and moving body parts
- More precise identification of potential birth defects on the face
- Live video of your future child
- Following more detailed progress of the baby’s development
Although there are many advantages, doctors often recommend a 4D ultrasound to patients whose future children are at risk of having congenital anomalies or some other medical conditions such as cleft palate, fetal aneuploidy, uterine fibroids, ovarian masses, neural tube defects, etc.
Aside from detecting potential health issues, 4D ultrasound is also used for typical check-ups and confirmations of fetal development, due date, whether the person is pregnant or not, what is the position of the placenta, etc.
The 4D ultrasound should not be performed before the 26th week of the pregnancy and after the 30th week because, in this period, the baby has enough fat so that the skin can be more accurately captured.
What Is the Difference Between 2D, 3D, and 4D ultrasound?
In order to clarify the differences between all of the different dimensional ultrasounds in a simple way, here is a short overview:
- 2D ultrasound is the most traditional type of imaging, and it is done in black and white by producing flat-looking images which show only outlines. The doctors can check on the heartbeat, the bone structure, and the infant’s internal organs. Usually, a 2D ultrasound alone is enough to determine whether a baby is healthy because it includes almost all the necessary information on the baby’s health you might need.
- 3D ultrasound offers a better resolution of the image, and you can get a more high-quality visual of the internal organs of the child, but it cannot capture movements.
- 4D ultrasound, as already stated, captures the baby’s movements on a video, like watching your child live while in-utero.
Apart from what has already been mentioned, in general, ultrasounds during pregnancy can be used for a wide variety of purposes, and they also include:
- Issues with the mother’s cervix, ovaries, placenta, uterus, etc.
- Discovering the sex of the baby
- Signs of birth defects
- Level of the amniotic fluid
- Baby’s position in utero
The Ultrasound Procedure
The prenatal ultrasound procedure, regardless of the type of ultrasound, includes a visit to the medical provider’s office, where the patient lies down on the examination table, and the doctor uncovers their stomach to do the exam. They use a gel to carry the sound waves applied to the abdomen. Afterward, the probe is put against the stomach and moved around to create images that can be seen immediately on the screen in front of the doctor.
The doctor usually takes some time to examine everything thoroughly, so the procedure takes between 15 to 20 minutes and is pain-free and pretty comfortable. You do not need any painkillers or anesthesia before the exam.
After the examination, the doctor wipes off the gel residue, and you are free to go home. The ultrasound results are immediate, and most doctors walk you through the ultrasound results while doing the exam so you understand the screen in front of you and get the information first-hand.
You will discuss with your medical provider about the potential scheduled date, along with other things you should know about before attending the ultrasound.
Which Ultrasound to Choose?
There are many advantages to using these technologies, but you should know that they do carry some risks, as the higher levels of radiation may cause some harm to the mother and the unborn baby. Having that in mind, it’s essential to know what type of ultrasound is the best for you, even if you only want to make memories.
As said above, 2D ultrasounds will do a great job checking the overall well-being of your unborn child, while 3D and 4D variants will add more depth and detail, but from a purely medical standpoint, they aren’t necessary.
To know which one would suit your case best, it’s always a great idea to speak to an expert to explore your options.
When Should a 4D Ultrasound be Performed
Experts encourage mothers to schedule an ultrasound appointment when they are at least 22 weeks pregnant or in their second trimester. Why then? Because at this time of the pregnancy, it’s easier to capture a clear image (footage) of the baby.
Are There Any Risks Involved?
Because of the use of ultrasound energy, experts advise doctors and mothers alike to use these 4D scans with caution and minimally. While studies have concluded that the procedure is safe and that the levels of exposure to ultrasound radiation are the same as in the case of classic 2D scans. Still, some experts argue that 4D units expose the unborn fetus to more ultrasound that would otherwise be deemed medically necessary. Because of this, there are some doctors who only use 4D scans in cases where there’s an evident medical reason for using them.
Learn More
At this moment, you may feel confused and overwhelmed. The topic of ultrasounds can be a bit complex, even though the reason for it is relatively straightforward. To learn more about the benefits of 4D ultrasounds and whether it is for you, feel free to reach out to us today and schedule an appointment.