Getting Ready For Your 3D/4D/HD Ultrasound
We love getting to scan adorable babies in the womb! 3D/4D/HD ultrasound technology has come so far. It is amazing to see all the sweet little details of each baby that comes to First Glimpse, from the pouty lips to the 10 fingers covering their faces to them playing with their umbilical cords!
There are a few things Mommy-to-be can do to get ready for their scan and help make their pictures that much better:
While all pregnant women get sick of hearing drink more fluids, having good amniotic fluid levels is the most important component.
The more amniotic fluid you have, the clearer the picture can be! The baby will also have more room to move around when your levels are a bit higher than normal. So 1-2 weeks prior to your 3D/4D/HD scan, you want to drink extra fluids, especially water.
One thing we always get asked is “Should I have eaten something?”
This is kind of hard to answer, as every baby is different. Babies do feed off of what Mom eats, but it’s actually not the food we eat that is affecting them to move around — digestion is not a quiet process, and since babies are right next to the whole thing, those noises are what wake them up! I always suggest eating like you normally do. You don’t want to eat a Thanksgiving size meal because sometimes babies go into a food coma and take a wonderful nap, making it almost impossible to get them to move around. You do want to eat something though, don’t come hungry! If you know a little sugar or caffeine gets your baby moving around, by all means, eat or drink a little of that before you come in!
The last thing is “How far along should I be when I come in?”
This really is baby growth pending, but our suggested time at First Glimpse is 27-34 weeks. Babies do not start getting fat on their little bodies until 24 weeks, but even still you want to give them a little time to grow and get that cute round face you are hoping to see. They are skin and bones and still developing, so as hard as it is we do suggest waiting and letting them get cute and chunky!
If you know you have an anterior placenta (meaning it is in the front), then you want to try to come for your 3D/4D/HD scan around 27 weeks. (We cannot tell you whether it is in the front, that is a question for your doctor. Please understand we are non-diagnostic and cannot give information about the health and well-being of your little one.) Although we have gotten some great pictures up to 38 weeks, we do not suggest it because babies start getting into birth position — head down and facing Mom’s back, which is away from the camera. They also are very tight in there, balled up in the fetal position, making it hard to see them.
So to recap, Mama!
Drink plenty of fluids 1-2 weeks prior, make sure to eat a little something before you come in, try to come in the optimal 27-34 week gestational time, and we will hopefully get some wonderful pictures of your sweet baby!
We hope this helps give everyone a little more confidence and excitement when coming in for their ultrasound!
Give us a call to schedule your appointment with us or you can schedule yourself through our website.