First let's talk about the 3d ultrasound.

As the sonographer is performing your ultrasound, they are saving images to print or save to a CD in jpeg format. Once your ultrasound session is finished, your images will be downloaded onto a CD so you can print from your computer or through a photo department in a store such as Costco or Walmart. You can also download them to your computer to share with friends and family on social media!

A 4d ultrasound is the movement or video part of the ultrasound.

So if you choose a session that comes with a DVD, it is recorded live during your ultrasound session. That means that every movement your baby makes during your session, like yawn, a stretch, a thumbs up, a wave or summersault, all will be captured on your DVD for you to view over and over. And how fun would it be to show your child later in life the video of him or her in the womb!! Priceless!!

How is our machine different than the machine in your doctor’s office or imaging center? Our ultrasound machine uses the same imaging capabilities using sound waves, which is the most safe imaging tool today because no radiation is involved! The only difference is a computer program embedded into our machine that transfers those images from 2d (the black and white ultrasound pictures) to both a 3d or 4d ultrasound images.

One last thing I would like to mention is you should be drinking plenty of fluid during your pregnancy! It makes a big difference in your ammonic fluid and it is recommended that everyone drink ½ ounces of water (juice or soda does not count) per pound. So if you weigh 150 pounds you should be drinking at least 75 ounces of water everyday, pregnant or not! Having plenty of fluid can be the difference between great pictures and just average pictures of your baby, not to mention that plenty of fluid is vital for your baby’s health. Our sonographers always check Mom’s fluid level with each ultrasound and it is included in our limited diagnostic exam with each ultrasound we offer.

We also recommend that you drink some juice before your session, something like orange or cranberry juice and not a caffeinated drink. We find that caffeine is over stimulating and it’s best to stick with a natural sugar found in real fruit juice. That is usually enough to get baby moving around a bit and makes for better images especially if you choose a session that includes a DVD.

I hope that help clarifies the difference between 3d and 4d ultrasound but if you have any further questions, we would be happy to answer those for you by calling us at 951.703.3087.