The Wonder of 4D
Not content with the 2D scans that are offered to every pregnant woman, technology has gone one better. 4D scans give the opportunity to see baby in intricate detail, enabling bonding before baby has even arrived. Flying Start sends Samantha Duckworth to see what all the fuss is about...
Approximately five years old, 4D is an additional scan to those the hospitals offer. They are generally performed from 26 - 32 weeks gestation as before that the pictures may not be as clear and after that the baby is too big. On the whole, 27 - 28 weeks is a good time.
One of the benefits of having a 4D scan is that it gives the parent/s the opportunity to enjoy watching the baby in a relaxed and unhurried environment. Another advantage over 2D scans is that 4D allows visualisation of the baby's face, meaning parents can see the facial features. Quite often, they will also get to witness their baby moving, rubbing his/her face, yawning or swallowing as 4D gives a life like moving image. The clarity of the scan images is dependent on a number of factors, including the position of the baby, overlying arms and legs, and the cord. However, just the opportunity to spend the time looking at your baby is usually very exciting and reassuring.
Mandy Wood has been a sonographer for 18 years and spent the last 13 years as manager of an ultrasound department within the NHS. After realising there was a gap in the 4D scan market, she opened New Dimensions Ultrasound in Preston, Lancashire with her husband in July 2006. Mandy says: “People are generally amazed by the images. They are also excited and thrilled by seeing their baby's antics, such as thumb sucking, yawning and movement.”
There are a range of 4D scan packages on offer, all of which include colour prints and a CD of all 'still 3D' images taken throughout the scan. A DVD of the scan can also be obtained. The cost for a 3/4D scan at New Dimensions Ultrasound is from £80.00 - £160.00. All packages come with colour 3D prints and a CD Rom. Visit www.newdimensionsultrasound.co.uk or call 01772 866200 for more information.
Case Study
Twenty-nine-year-old Samantha Duckworth from Lancashire was 30 weeks pregnant when she went for a 4D scan. She tells Flying Start about her 4D experience.
“When I booked my 4D scan my partner Dan and I both had mixed emotions about it. On one hand, we would be seeing how our baby actually looks, but on the other hand, we were worried that the scan might pick up anything that might be wrong with our baby. On the whole though, we were definitely excited about it.
On the day, we were shown to our room straight on arrival. The room was not how we expected, not at all like the hospital. It was completely set out for our needs, so that both of us could get a really good look at our baby. There was a large screen on the wall in front of the bed that I lay on and another screen to the side of me.
The scan itself is just like one that you have at the hospital except it takes longer. First of all the nurse scanned my belly in 2D (which is what you see at the hospital). She scanned the whole of our baby from top to toe, explaining every part of him in detail. We could see our baby on the big screen in front of us which was brilliant! We really felt at ease and got a better understanding of it all. We had been told previously at the hospital that it could be a boy and when we had the 4D scan, we could both clearly see that it definitely was!
Once we were happy with the 2D scan, the nurse changed it to 4D and that is when we really saw what he looked like. It was amazing! He had lovely chubby cheeks, a cute button nose and his tiny hands were up by his face. My placenta and his umbilical cord were across his face so she had to scan through those so we could see him.
The nurse told us to have a five minute break and walk around to see if he would move so we would be able to get a better view of him. However, he was still in the same position when we came back. She did a bit more scanning for us and then booked us another appointment for a few days time, so that we could get some better pictures. Even though the seven pictures that we were given were great, we were really pleased about this because it meant that we got to see our baby boy again.
When we went back unfortunately he was still in the same position, but we didn't mind because we could still see lots. The nurse kept telling me to cough and every time I did he did something different. The first time he smiled! I couldn't believe it, he looked so cute and it really brought a tear to my eye. Another time he yawned and that was just amazing! Then another time he just pulled a grumpy face, I think he had got a bit fed up of me coughing!
When the scan was over, we got another ten printed pictures and a DVD of everything that we had seen in the scan. On the DVD were all the pictures as jpegs and about 30 minutes of video, which was great as it meant my family could watch it.
On the whole it was a wonderful experience. Not only did it put our minds at rest about all the concerns we had as to whether he was healthy or not, but we really got to bond with our baby. Now when I think of him, he's not just a bump anymore but a little person inside my belly, I can put a little chubby cheeked face to him! If we had anymore children, I think we would definitely have the 4D scan done again.”
