Frequently Asked Questions
The questions listed below are the most frequently asked questions about our Prenatal Ultrasound sessions. Should you have any questions that are not answered below, please call us at (888) 915-BABY (2229).
What is the difference between 3D and 4D ultrasound?
A 3d ultrasound is a static 3 dimensional image of your baby and 4D adds the dimension of time, allowing you to see your baby’s movements in the womb in real time. While you do go home with images of your baby (3D), the most miraculous part of the experience is seeing your baby move inside the womb. Watch as they smile, yawn and play with their toes. We spend the majority of your session in 4D mode so that you don’t miss any precious movements.. All of our sessions are done in 4D mode with the exception of gender determination. Our gender determination is done primarily in 2D for better accuracy.
I don’t have a CD-Rom drive, and or DVD player? Is there another way for me to get digital images or video from my ultrasound?
Yes, we are proud to offer a customized app that allows us to email you a link to your images that you can then instantly download, print or share. You may even share the link with family and friends. We do ask that you download within a week of receiving your images.
For video we also offer an option for a digital download of your ultrasound session. You may add this option in our office if it is not included in your package. This is a great way to share the entire ultrasound with family and friends who may not be around to watch a DVD. The Video is downloadable to a PC and editable if you would like to add your own touches too it. We also ask that you download within a week.
Does this take the place of an Ultrasound at my doctor’s office?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Women seeking a prenatal Ultrasound with GoldenView Ultrasound must already be receiving treatment with a healthcare provider for prenatal care and have already undergone a medical, diagnostic Ultrasound ordered by their provider to confirm their due date, screen for fetal anomalies, and to look for any other pregnancy related issues.
During the ultrasound session we confirm the heartbeat, the number of babies in the pregnancy, the position of the baby, and the placental location. Please note, at no time is this exam to be used in place of a complete diagnostic Ultrasound.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes, appointments are necessary for all of our services. Call 888-915-2229 for all locations to schedule an appointment.
How long does the 4D Ultrasound take?
Depending on the session you choose, the 4D Ultrasound session will last between 15 and 30 minutes, however, plan on spending 30 minutes to one hour at our facility to allow time for you to complete forms and for us to finalize your DVD and print your photos.
How far along should I be before I have a 4D Ultrasound?
If you plan on having only one 4D Ultrasound examination, we would recommend having the examination performed between the 26th and 32nd week of the pregnancy. However, excellent images of your baby can be obtained anytime after about 22 weeks of pregnancy. We schedule sessions up thru the end of the 36th week.
While we can never guarantee the quality or number of images obtained, the odds of getting images do tend to go down past the 35th week due to the large size of the baby, less fluid in front of the face and other factors. Consider our Platinum Plus two visit session if you would like to come in between 22 and 26 weeks. We also offer repeat visits at a discount and you receive everything that was in your original session. Many mothers obtain more than one 4D Ultrasound and have images to enjoy from their second and third trimesters.
Does the location of my placenta impact the quality of my images?
Not necessarily. Many clients with anterior placenta ( in front ) often ask if there will be difficulty seeing their baby with a 3d/4d ultrasound. A large percentage of our clients have anterior placenta and we are able to scan from the side and around the placenta to see the baby. In some cases, the baby will face into the placenta, whether it is anterior, posterior ( along the back) or fundal ( along the top), in which case, we will work to try to get the baby to move away from the placenta. Some of the images will have parts of the placenta in them, after all, we are imaging the baby in the womb. We will do our best to get as much of the face in view as possible but a full face shot is not always available.
Similarly, babies are often going to be putting their hands and feet in their face and may not free up a view of the entire face. Many moms write back to tell us that their babies make the same gestures and put hands and feet in the face after birth just as they did in the womb and it makes them treasure the ultrasound images even more.
Will I always get a beautiful picture of my baby?
Usually, but not always. Sometimes if the baby is persistently looking face down, i.e. towards your spine it may be difficult to see the baby’s face. If this happens, a repeat scan will usually succeed because the baby has turned to a more favorable position. We make no promises that the images will be similar to those you might have seen elsewhere or even from our studio, or that we can always meet everyone’s expectations. Every baby scans differently, depending on its gestational age, position, amount of fluid, and mother’s condition. We promise to make every effort to obtain the best possible images of whatever parts of the baby that can be seen. We do not offer refunds on any of our services but do offer a free second session (weekdays only) if we are not able to obtain at least a partial view of baby’s facial features. While we do our best, we cannot guarantee full face images. The need for the return visit is at the ultrasound technicians discretion and should be scheduled within 2 weeks or in the time frame deemed most appropriate by the ultrasound technician.
Ultrasound works best when the sound waves have plenty of fluid to travel through. A well hydrated system of the mother will help to optimize the images. This is probably the most important factor.
Increased body weight of the mother can often affect the quality because sound does not travel as easily through tissue as it does fluid. Full figured mothers should consider having their ultrasound
session around 31-35 weeks.
Can I bring my family and friends?
Yes. In fact, we encourage our clients to invite family and friends to attend the ultrasound session. This is a joyous and wonderful experience, one that can be shared with your family and loved ones. We can comfortably accommodate up 5 to 8 people in addition to the mom. More than 5 guests may come with you but this gives you a general idea of the amount of seating in the room. We can work to accommodate others. Our seating is specifically arranged so that everyone in your party will have an excellent view of our large screen 4D images of the baby. Babies and children are also always welcome at our facility.
Don’t forget to ask about Sonostream Live, our internet streaming service for family and friends far away that cannot attend the session with you for just a small fee of $12.95.
Are you able to tell the sex of the baby?
Yes, in most cases we can provide an indication of the sex of the baby. We can’t however guarantee that the baby will cooperate during your session. Certain factors such as body tissue content, developmental stage and fetal position all affect the ability to determine sex. If we are unable to determine the sex of the baby, we will reschedule a quick peek return visit one week later at no additional cost. We will continue to offer this return visit until we can obtain an optimum view.
Is the 4D Ultrasound covered by Insurance?
At this point, insurance does not cover the costs of our Ultrasounds. Since this ultrasound is elective and is not intended to be a replacement for a complete diagnostic Ultrasound, you will need to pay the cost of this Ultrasound as an out of pocket expense. We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Amex, and debit cards.
What kind of Ultrasound equipment do you use to perform the 4D and HD Ultrasounds?
We use the state of the art equipment from GE to complete all Ultrasound examinations. Our equipment has been seen in GE television commercials and many printed articles from around the world. This machine is the best 2D, 3D, 4D and HD Ultrasound machine available.
Please note, many organizations claim to use “state-of-the-art” equipment, when in fact they use older or inferior technology. Only the GE equipment generates 3D images with amazing clarity and gives you the same clarity with 4D imagery of your baby in motion. Our sonogram equipment allows you to see your baby in live motion video unlike any other on the market today.
How much does it cost?
We have sessions to fit just about anyone’s budget. Please refer to our pricing section of the website for pricing.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please try to allow us at least 48 hours notice for cancellations. Any cancellation or reschedule less than 24 hours prior to the appointment may be subject to a $50 late cancellation fee. Any no show will be subject to a $50 no show fee.