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Your baby will be here before you know it and you can’t wait. You cradle your growing bump and imagine what it will be like to hold your little one in your arms. You picture what their sweet face might look like. Will the eyes be the same shape as yours? Will the lips be bowed like your partner’s? Or will your great-uncle Joe’s ears make an every-other-generation appearance? Until recently, you could only guess.
However, now you can find out, thanks to 3D baby ultrasounds. It’s a tempting idea and one many parents, if given the opportunity, are quick to explore. But 3D ultrasounds are expensive — sometimes prohibitively so.
By this point in your pregnancy, you’ve probably heard of these miracles of modern technology. You’ve may have even received pop-up ads in your social media feeds for convenient local sites where you can have one done. Even so, you may not be entirely familiar with what they are.
Essentially, a 3D ultrasound scan shows your baby in three dimensions, in a single static shot. The ultrasound tech will give you a photo as a keepsake. You may also be intrigued by the idea of a 4D ultrasound. A 4D ultrasound reveals an image of your infant over an extended period of time, usually about 15 to 20 minutes. The baby, if they're awake (yes, babies do sleep in the womb!) may be seen moving their arms and legs, turning around, sucking their thumb, or, as in one case, even appearing to clap their hands!
“I remember the process as being amazing, just like the regular ultrasounds only even more so,” mom Linda Sharps told The Stir about the 3D ultrasound she had of her firstborn. “The baby was super active, and we saw him making lots of faces and playing with the umbilical cord. Also, we got a very clear shot of the, ah, twig and berries area, so we were extra confident there wouldn't be a big surprise during the birth.”
Costly keepsake
The price of these ultrasounds varies depending on a variety of factors, including location, range of options selected, and the amount of time the ultrasound tech devotes to getting just the right shot. Some locations may charge as little as $65 for a “sneak peek” 3D ultrasound that includes one photo of your child’s face. Prices range from there: It’s $125 for the “fall in love with your baby” package that includes a 20-minute 4D video and $244 for three visits that includes a 4D ultrasound set to music.
Ultrasounds of this type, which are not part of standard prenatal care, aren’t covered by insurance unless deemed medically necessary. While a 3D or 4D scan may be helpful in diagnosing congenital differences such as a cleft palate, their main draw is that parents can clearly see what their baby will look like. Traditional 2D ultrasounds — the kind given at your obstetrician’s office and are covered by your policy — show a rather distorted, flat image that, while sweet and exciting, doesn’t show what the baby looks like. You may be able to see the shadowy outline of Great-Uncle Joe’s ears, but that’s really about it. On the other hand, the 3D or 4D scan will not only show you the ears but you’ll also see if the baby has your eye shape or your partner’s bowed lips.
What do doctors think?
Some doctors like 3D and 4D ultrasounds because they can show certain birth defects, such as a cleft palate, that might not show up on a standard ultrasound. Studies suggest that 3D and 4D ultrasounds are safe. Plus, the images can help doctors spot a problem with your baby and make it easier for them to explain it to you.
That said, the concern for doctors is with companies that offer keepsake ultrasounds. Groups like the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists caution that too much exposure to any ultrasound may not be good for your baby. While ultrasounds are considered safe, they are known to raise the temperature of exposed tissue. The FDA cautions that the long-term effects of tissue heating are not known, so unless there is a medical need, excessive ultrasounds should be avoided.
"I know that they are exciting,” board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Rebecca Brightman cautioned in a statement to CBS News. “But I don't think women should abuse the medical technology for their entertainment purposes.”
A new way to bond
On the whole, 3D and 4D ultrasounds give expectant parents a different way to familiarize themselves with their little one and creates a new way to bond.
“I didn't even really consider one with my second son, figuring, I suppose, that I'd see him soon enough,” Sharps said. “Still, I'm glad I did it the first time around, and I think it's a pretty special opportunity for those who are interested.”
