Frequently Asked Questions

2D ultrasound is the black and white image that you see during your medical ultrasounds. 3D ultrasound is like taking a picture of baby - it allows us to see baby’s face just like we would if we were taking a picture in real life! 4D ultrasound is a video. This allows us to see baby moving in 3D. Virtual HD is advanced technology that lets us see a more realistic 3D image of baby - we can change the lighting in the picture to make it look more life-like!

We are able to get the best pictures when there is lots of fluid around baby’s face! Drinking lots of water in the week or two leading up to your appointment will help us get clear pictures!

Please drink 64 oz of water every day in the 1-2 weeks before your appointment!

(No need to have a full bladder for the ultrasound!)

This is a big topic, but the short answer is, YES!

Ultrasound has been used as a diagnostic tool in pregnancy since the 1950’s and no negative side effects have been found.

In a typical pregnancy, an expectant mom will usually have 2-3 diagnostic ultrasounds, but in high-risk pregnancies, ultrasound assessments can range anywhere from once a month to every 2-3 days up until delivery. That’s a lot of ultrasound exposure!

Despite a lack of evidence for any harmful effects, a qualified technologist will still exercise an abundance of caution when performing your scan.

This means that the lowest frequency sound waves will be used, and Doppler (this is what we use to hear baby’s heart rate) is not turned on until after the first trimester. (If you are interested in learning more about this, check out my blog post on ultrasound safety!)

At the time of your appointment, we will come to your home and set things up to perform the ultrasound in the room of your choice. The ultrasound machine can be hooked up to your TV for a big screen viewing experience! You will be lying comfortably on your couch/bed during the scan.

Clean towels will be used to protect your clothes/furniture from the ultrasound gel. Please have these ready to go - 1 larger one to cover the furniture you will be lying on and 1 to 2 smaller ones to protect your clothes!

Please allow time for the ultrasound setup in addition to the scan time. (Expect the whole process to take anywhere from 1 to 1.5h from start to finish.)

Different points of time in your pregnancy will allow you to see your baby at various stages of development and growth. The optimal time for a scan depends on what you want to see!

If gender determination is the goal, you can book in as soon as the 15-16 week mark! (Please wait until after you’ve had an ultrasound with your Doctor first to book!)

If you’re wanting to see baby’s face in more detail in 3D, it’s best to wait until 28-32 weeks. (Twin moms: 28-29 weeks is going to be your best window!) At this point, baby will have “plumped up” allowing us to get a better look at those cute facial features!

As you begin to get closer to your due date, baby continues to gain weight and fill out, but keep in mind that the farther along you get in your pregnancy, the harder it is to capture baby’s face without a hand/foot or placenta in the way – things start to get crowded!