Congratulations on your pregnancy from the team at Southern Crescent Women’s HealthCare in Fayetteville, Newnan, and Stockbridge, Georgia! We know that when you’re expecting, there’s nothing more exciting than meeting your baby and seeing what they look like for the first time.
Thanks to advances in imaging technology, today’s ultrasounds make this a possibility sooner than ever before. There are a few kinds of ultrasounds, and they can be used for routine care, to make a diagnosis, and, in the case of keepsake ultrasounds, to give you a memory for a lifetime.
Most women have at least one ultrasound during their pregnancy as part of routine prenatal care. Your provider uses the information from the ultrasound to check on your baby’s development and diagnose any complications.
Different ultrasounds provide different pictures, from “flat” two-dimensional (2-D) images, to more realistic three-dimensional (3-D) studies, to four-dimensional (4-D) images that include movement and sound. Here’s what’s involved with each:
Two-dimensional ultrasounds are the most common type of prenatal ultrasound. These ultrasounds use sound waves to create “flat,” black-and-white images that reveal your baby’s skeletal structure and allow your provider to view the infant’s internal organs.
This type of ultrasound is typically for diagnostic purposes. For example, your provider may use a 2-D ultrasound to confirm pregnancy, estimate your due date, and look for any physical abnormalities or birth defects.
Three-dimensional ultrasounds also use sound waves to create images of your baby. However, 3-D ultrasounds put together multiple 2-D images from different angles, resulting in a 3-D picture of the unborn baby.
This means that instead of seeing the outline or profile of your baby’s face, you can see their facial features more clearly. Your provider may also use a 3-D ultrasound to get a more complete picture of your developing infant as needed.
Like 3-D ultrasounds, 4-D ultrasounds also create a more lifelike picture of your baby. However, 4-D ultrasounds create a live-video effect, allowing you to see your baby move and make expressions, such as yawning, smiling, or blinking.
Keepsake ultrasounds are nondiagnostic ultrasounds. In other words, these imaging studies are done to give you and your family a sneak peek at your growing baby and create memories together, not to perform routine care or diagnose a condition.
At Southern Crescent Women’s HealthCare, you can choose from the following types of keepsake ultrasounds:
Keep in mind that gender 2-D ultrasounds take place around 16-18 weeks, while 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds are offered around 28-32 weeks.
Absolutely! With keepsake ultrasounds, you get to revisit your baby again and again through the photos and DVD recordings. In addition, you also experience additional benefits, including:
The team at Southern Crescent Women’s HealthCare takes time to answer your questions and address any concerns. We want you to feel comfortable, so you can decide when it’s the right time to visit your baby on screen.
To schedule a keepsake ultrasound, or for more information about the different ultrasounds, call 770-991-2200 or book an appointment online with Southern Crescent Women’s HealthCare today.
