What is an elective prenatal Ultrasound?
We offer elective 2D, 3D, 4D, and 5D HD prenatal ultrasounds to provide the best bonding experience for the mother, father and family members, with the baby before birth. We feel that these ultrasounds provide a connection between the parents and baby that can be beneficial to the whole family to see. These ultrasounds are in no way used to better assess the baby for abnormalities. A routine ultrasound examination should have already been performed to assess the gestational age of the fetus and to evaluate for fetal anomalies as well as the basic components of fetal anatomy recommended for screening. In fact, you can’t have an elective ultrasound at our facility if you have not been seen by a provider.
Does this take the place of an Ultrasound at my doctor’s office?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Women seeking an elective prenatal ultrasound at our facility must have a provider for prenatal care. However, these ultrasounds will be performed by a registered technologist and in the unfortunate event an abnormality is seen, it will be communicated with your provider. At no time is this exam to be used in place of a complete diagnostic ultrasound.
Is there a best time to get 3D/4D images?
We recommend 28 to 34 weeks. At this point in the pregnancy, it is more likely the baby will have a fuller face, allowing us to see those chubby cheeks. There are still many other factors that can affect getting “perfect” images. The position of the baby, especially if the baby is facing the spine, can hinder the outcome of the scan. If your placenta is anterior, the baby may be pressed up against it the further along you are. We cannot guarantee that every scan will be perfect but we will try our best to provide you with the best experience and images we can get.
Is it safe? Are there any risks to me, or my baby?
Many studies have shown that there are no harmful effects of ultrasound. Routine ultrasounds of pregnancies are a normal practice in the United States. In 3D/4D scanning, exactly the same type and intensity of ultrasound is used as with conventional 2D scanning. 3D, 4D, and HD Ultrasounds all utilize sound waves to look inside the body. A probe placed on the body emits sound waves into the body, listens for the return echo and generates an image. No scans will take over 30 minutes at our facility.
Will I always get a beautiful picture of my baby?
We will try our hardest but sometimes the baby has other plans. If the baby has their hands or feet in front of their face or is looking down or towards the spine, it can be difficult to obtain images. Every baby and mother is different, so every scan is going to be different. We will make every attempt to get those beautiful images while you are in our facility.
What happens if you see something wrong with my baby?
Even though this is not a diagnostic exam, it will be performed by a registered technologist. If an abnormality is seen, we will contact your doctor and ask that they follow up with a diagnostic ultrasound. We will communicate with you that you should follow up, as well, not keeping you in the dark at any time. If we feel the situation is more emergent, we may ask that you visit the nearest emergency room.
What can I do to prepare for my exam?
Drink plenty of fluids a few days before the exam. If you have noticed when your baby is more active, try to schedule your exam at that time (within reasonable business hours). If you are having a first or second-trimester scan, we ask that you have a full bladder. Ultimately, you decide how good your exam will be. If you don’t fill your bladder, then you, not us, will have hindered your scan.
How do I schedule an appointment?
You can submit the form online or call us to schedule an appointment. Ultrasounds will only be scheduled on an appointment basis; no walk-ins will be provided.
Should I plan my gender reveal party for the same day as my scan for gender determination?
We would not recommend this - some babies are "shy". Not every baby is the same and there is a chance that we may not be able to determine the gender at the time of the scan.
Growing Joy Imaging is located in DuBois, PA and provides prenatal elective ultrasound services for expectant patients In Clearfield, Jefferson, Clarion, Elk, Indiana, and Armstrong County and surrounding counties in Western and Central Pennsylvania. If you are interested in Prenatal Elective Ultrasound Services to document your baby, please Contact Us to find out more about our services and'or to book an appointment.