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Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is 4-D ultrasound and how does it differ from 2-D?When is the optimum time in my pregnancy to come in to view my baby? Is it safe? What should I expect to see? What if I am not satisfied with the images? Will you be able to tell the sex of the baby? Do I need a referral from my doctor? Is this covered by my insurance? Can I bring family or friends with me? Can I bring young children to my appointment? What are your business hours? How does this differ from the ultrasound I get at my doctor's office? What do I need to do to get ready for my appointment? Will I be able to take all materials home with me the same day? What is your hold and cancellation policy? What makes Baby Pictures different than most other centers out there? |
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What is 4-D ultrasound and how does it differ from 2-D? |
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 2-Dimensional Ultrasound Image |
 4-Dimensional Ultrasound Image (same shot as the 2-D*) |
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Baby Pictures Ultrasound™ offers Regular (2-Dimensional) Ultrasound Services which was introduced to the public in the 1970's and provides amazing insight into the human body. Finding your baby on a 2-Dimensional image, however, is often difficult; you have to squint or close one eye to figure out exactly where an arm or head is positioned. The 4-Dimensional Ultrasound offers not only the opportunity to see the baby clearly in 3-D, but also adds the 4th dimension of time which allows the incredible opportunity to see moving images of your unborn child. * The 4-D image seen above is the same shot taken at the same time as its 2-D counterpart to the left. Look closely and you will recognize the smile on the baby's face - somewhat decipherable in 2-D and really brought to life in 4-D! When is the optimum time in my pregnancy to come in to view my baby? There is no guaranteed “perfect” time to see your baby, but we would recommend you come in for viewing at 26 weeks or more in your pregnancy for the 4-D ultrasound and at least 20 weeks for 2-D. Before about the 24th week of pregnancy, you are able to see more of your baby at one time, but the features are not as filled out. You will start to see more facial detail after about 28 weeks. If you are having twins, we recommend coming in before 28 weeks to get the best view of your babies. ** At Baby Pictures we feel very strongly about giving you the best visit possible, therefore we will not schedule an appointment before your 17th week of pregnancy. We do not feel that you will be able to get a clear enough view of your baby at this early stage to give you the full Baby Pictures experience. Is it safe? 3-D/4-D ultrasound uses the same technology as traditional 2-D Ultrasound. 2-D Ultrasound has been around for more than 30 years and there have been no harmful bio-effects found with it's use. Our sonographers at Baby Pictures are RDMS with more than 15 years ultrasound experience. This ultrasound is not intended to replace your diagnostic ultrasound or any other prenatal care. What should I expect to see? Your view of the baby depends on many factors including the gestational age, the position of the baby and placenta, and the amount of fluid. Given favorable conditions, we should get a very clear view of your baby’s face, hands and feet and also see the gender if you would like. Amazingly, you are often even able to get an idea of your little one’s personality. What if I am not satisfied with the images? Baby Pictures does not offer refunds, but has a reasonable policy about return visits for a very small fee and sometimes no fee depending on the circumstances. Will you be able to tell the sex of the baby? Yes. Baby Pictures Ultrasound can provide gender determination upon request. If you would like to it to be a surprise, let us know and we will not even go near that area! Do I need a referral from my doctor? Yes. You will need a note or verbal authorization from your doctor or midwife. It is important to know that you have had prenatal care and your doctor/midwife knows that you are coming. You may download an authorization form here in PDF format. Is this covered by my insurance? No. This is an elective procedure and therefore is not covered by insurance. I do accept cash, VISA, or MasterCard. Can I bring family or friends with me? 
There is plenty of room for family members to share in this experience
with you. Baby Pictures has 3 very large flat screen TV's so that all family and friends
can comfortably watch.Can I bring young children to my appointment? Baby Pictures strongly feels that your experience here is to be shared with family - it is one of the main reasons we do what we do. Having said this, it is important to note that our office (which is full of expensive machinery) is not equipped to entertain small children. It has been our experience that children under the age of 3 do not typically get much out of the visit. If you have a busy child who needs focused attention, or entertaining, please make appropriate arrangements so you and other families who may be there at the same time can enjoy your session to the fullest extent and without distraction. If you have to reschedule your visit due to the needs of your toddler, we will unfortunately have to charge you for that session. Thank you for your understanding - we are committed to making this a worthwhile experience for all families while they are in our care. What are your business hours? Baby Pictures is open from 9 am -5 pm on Monday - Friday with the last appointment of the day starting no later than 4 pm. Weekends and holiday appointments may be made by special arrangement. These spots fill up very quickly so please plan to make a weekend or holiday appointment far in advance. See rates page for special weekend and holiday pricing. How does this differ from the ultrasound I get at my doctor's office? Baby Pictures does not do the standard ultrasound that the hospital or clinics will do for you. This is NOT intended to replace that ultrasound. Baby Pictures will do a limited OB study, but no report will be sent to your doctor. What do I need to do to get ready for my appointment? We recommend being very well hydrated for your appointment. Drink plenty of fluid for a few days before your appointment. The better hydrated you are, the clearer the pictures can be. You do not need a full bladder for the appointment, but we do recommend having a snack or something to drink about 15 to 20 minutes before your appointment. Sometimes sweet things work, sometimes spicy. If you are on a restricted diet, please do not eat something you are not supposed to eat just for this appointment. And lastly be sure you have the OK from your doctor. Will I be able to take all materials home with me the same day? Yes! All images, videos, CDs and DVDs which you have purchased will be available for you to take home at the completion of your appointment. What is your hold and cancellation policy? When booking your appointment at Baby Pictures, please have a credit card handy as we will ask for a credit card number in order to hold your appointment. This card will not be charged for the appointment at that time. You may still use a different VISA, MC debit card or cash to pay for your appointment. NO checks please. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you must let Baby Pictures know at least 24 hours prior to your appointment. For a Monday appointment, you must notify us by the Friday prior to your appointment. For a Saturday appointment, you must notify us by the Wednesday prior to your appointment. If we have not heard from you within the specified time frame, your card we have on hold will be charged for your appointment. Thank you for your consideration. What makes Baby Pictures different than most other centers out there? Have you ever wondered why a lot of the other ultrasound centers all have the same pictures on their websites and the same testimonials with just names and locations changed? Have you noticed most of the sites don't tell you who will be doing the ultrasounds on your very precious unborn child? Some of these places reuse images on their websites from other centers! In many cases, these pictures are not even representative of the work that is done in their facility! Someone else may have taken those images! Does a testimonial mean the same if it is from a completely different center in another state? The reason some of the centers don't tell you who will be performing the ultrasound is that some of these centers don't use qualified, registered sonographers. They tell you they are trained by "the company" or that they have been trained on the 3D/4D machines, but that means nothing. Sonographers go through many years of training. We learn anatomy, physiology, and physics. We take national boards in these areas. We have to attend continuing education every year to keep up our credentials. A doctor's office or hospital couldn't and wouldn't allow these people to do any ultrasounds on their patients. Why would you allow them to do yours? Make sure you go to an honest, reputable, and licensed facility to see your bundle of joy. Just because these other centers are part of a franchise machine, does not mean you should believe everything you see. This is a very personal time in your life that requires personal and qualified service. Make sure you go to the best. A place where what you see on our website has come directly from our own registered sonographer on our own state-of-the-art 4D ultrasound machine. Come to the center that has never compromised and has been in business for 15 years. You want to come to Baby Pictures! |
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