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alabamababy.com of Family Health Associates, PC is
pleased to offer 4D Ultrasound. These are the most commonly
asked
questions, but if you have more, please contact us. 2D (two
dimensional) Ultrasound is the standard format in black and
white that most doctors’ offices use to exam your baby as a
part
of your prenatal care. 2D shows the baby’s internal
organs,
skeleton and allows measurements to be taken. Because 2D is a single
“slice” of your baby’s anatomy, it can be
difficult
to see. 3D Ultrasound is a still image in a three dimensional
format that allows you to see the surface of the baby’s face
in a
more realistic way. 4D is live action or “real
time” in 3D of what your baby is really doing at
the time
of the scan.
How
do I get
my Doctor to order a 4D Ultrasound? Just ask!
How early can
you determine the sex of my baby?4D Ultrasound is performed at the mother's request, not for medical reasons and does not take the place of any diagnostic sonogram your doctor may determine to be necessary. Because communication with your Doctor is important, you must have asked his or her permission to obtain this exam. Most doctors have no problem with you having a 4D Ultrasound because they know it is safe and a wonderful way for mothers-to-be and family to bond with the baby even before she arrives. We
will only see you after you have had your medical sonogram with your
doctor, usually done around 20 weeks, and most of the time, the sex can
be determined at that time. If for some reason your doctor has not been
able to determine the sex, we will be happy to see you after your
medical sonogram even if it is a little earlier than our suggested 4D
time of 26 to 32 weeks. Please understand that earlier
sonograms
are less likely to allow the pretty 4D shots of the face because the
baby is still young and does not have much fat on the face. A
good compromise would be to look between 22 and 24 weeks for sex
determination and a more defined 4D view. We will not see you prior to
your medical sonogram.
Will
my
insurance pay for my 4D Ultrasound? 4D Ultrasound
is not paid for by any insurance company because it does
not provide information necessary for your or your baby’s
care.
No insurance will be filed under any circumstances and the scan will be
paid for in full, by cash, debit or credit cards prior to the scan. NO
CHECKS, PLEASE!
Who
will do
my 4D Ultrasound? All exams are
performed by a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
with an OB/GYN Specialty Certification and many years of experience.
What
does it
cost? 4D Ultrasound
costs $150 (twins are $200) for a DVD, CD-R images in
color and black & white that can be e-mailed or printed, and 6
or
more black and white thermal printer images.
When
is the
best time to have 4D Ultrasound? To see those
pretty baby faces, 4D Ultrasound is performed ideally
between 26 and 32 weeks. There are several factors that influence how
well your baby will show her face. Position of the baby, the
amount of amniotic fluid, age of the baby and the size of the mother
are the major factors. A larger mother with a thick abdomen
should wait just a little longer than a thin mother. Of
course,
all mothers should drink lots of water throughout pregnancy for health
reasons, but a baby surrounded by a generous amount of amniotic fluid
due to a well hydrated mom will show up best.
How
do I
schedule my 4D Ultrasound? Call
or e-mail . The
sonographer actually
schedules all 4D Ultrasound so that you may ask questions of the person
you will actually see when you come to our office. If you get
voice-mail, it is because an Ultrasound is in progress so please leave
a message.4D Ultrasound is scheduled at a time that is convenient for
you. We do
stay booked ahead, especially for our Saturdays, so call or e-mail
about 3 to 4 weeks ahead if at all possible. If you cannot come at your
scheduled time, please give 3 days notice to allow us to schedule
someone else at that time. If you are late, your 30 minute appointment
time will be decreased according to the amount of time that you are
late. If you miss your appointment, there will be an extra $50 charge.
Who
can come
with me? Whomever you
want!
You may bring guests to view the exam with the only limit being the number that can fit into the room. There is an extra viewing monitor located so that everyone can see the entire procedure. We want the scan to be a pleasurable and informative experience for the entire family, but because it can take up to 30 minutes to be performed properly, it may not be appropriate for small children who are easily distracted. Your guests must also be on time. The scan will not be repeated for latecomers. I
want those
perfect pictures! What do I do to get them? We start by
using the best equipment available: GE VOLUSON combined with an
experienced ARDMS registered Sonographer, this gives
you the best opportunity to get those fabulous pictures.
However, all babies do not co-operate for the perfect picture. BUT, with a little advance preparation and appropriate timing, we can usually get good pictures with the use of 4D as well as 2 and 3 D. Drink plenty of fluid all the time and eat something in the hour before your appointment. Caffeine and sugar are not needed to get a baby to move, just a normal meal or snack!Wear comfortable, 2 piece clothing that can be raised and lowered easily. A little fluid in your bladder may help, but it is not necessary for you to be miserable. What
happens
if my baby does not co-operate? It is rare
that we cannot get good pictures, but if your baby is
totally un-photogenic on the day of your 4D Ultrasound, depending on
the reason, you may elect to return at a discounted charge.
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4D
Ultrasound
- Family Health Associates
801
20th Avenue East
Jasper,
Alabama 35501
205-401-0462