An ultrasound during pregnancy is standard today, although it's hard to predict how many you'll have. Every person is different, and you may need more diagnostic ultrasounds based on your age, your baby's health, and other issues that pop up during your pregnancy.
Most ultrasounds are 2D, meaning they show a simple image of the fetus in the womb but can detect a heartbeat and specific abnormalities. However, if you want to see a bit more of your unborn baby, you can opt for a 3D or 4D ultrasound.
A 4D ultrasound is an exciting option that allows you to see your baby in a live video and watch them move, smile, and yawn. At Collaborative Women's Care in Miami, Florida, Dr. Eduardo Valdes offers 3D and 4D ultrasounds to enhance your pregnancy experience.
An ultrasound test utilizes sound waves to image something inside the body. During pregnancy, ultrasounds are crucial in monitoring the growth and development of the fetus.
Women usually get their first fetal ultrasound in the first trimester, around eight weeks of gestation. It allows Dr. Valdes to confirm the pregnancy and estimate your due date.
You may need other ultrasounds during pregnancy for various reasons, typically to check the baby's health. We also use ultrasounds during pregnancy to look for:
We also use them to track your baby's growth, especially if you're at risk for an especially small or large child. We can see how the baby is lying in the uterus and its position as you approach your due date.
A 3D ultrasound is just as it sounds—it offers a three-dimensional, real-time view of your growing baby. We perform a 3D ultrasound by combining various angles of 2D ultrasounds.
The result is a three-dimensional view of your baby's face and body, which is exciting for the parents and sometimes diagnostic for Dr. Valdes. He may need to do a 3D ultrasound if he suspects skeletal abnormalities or facial deformities.
If you think you can see a lot with a 3D ultrasound, you'll be blown away by the 4D images and videos Dr. Valdes can create in the office. A 4D ultrasound is simply a 3D ultrasound that continuously updates, causing the baby to appear video-like.
During the 4D ultrasound, you can see your baby move in real time while we move the probe around your belly.
The 4D ultrasound is a straightforward in-office procedure that you can do without taking off your clothes. If you’d like, you can bring your significant other, friends, or other family to see the ultrasound images.
Before the ultrasound begins, we have you lie on the exam table and expose your abdomen. We put a warm gel on your belly, which allows the ultrasound probe to gently glide over the abdomen to achieve the best images.
When you're ready, we place the ultrasound transducer on your abdomen and begin moving it around. We may take some pictures, which are 3D images, and continue to move the wand around to get the 4D videos.
You can see all the images and videos on the ultrasound screen during the procedure, but don't worry—we send you home with images to treasure for a lifetime. During the ultrasound, feel free to ask any questions you'd like about your baby.
The best part of the 4D ultrasound is seeing your baby move around in real time before they're born. Don't you wish you could capture that image forever? Don't worry—we've got you covered.
After we clean the gel off your stomach and you get cleaned up, we offer you various images and videos to take with you as a keepsake. You'll be able to reference the images any time you want and watch the video of your baby even after your little one is all grown up.
But that's not where we stop—we also provide you with a keepsake teddy bear with your baby's heartbeat inside. You can hold that bear close anytime you want to listen to the heartbeat to soothe your mind and excite your heart.
To schedule your 3D or 4D ultrasound, call our office in Miami, Florida, and request an appointment using our convenient online booking feature.
