The parents-to-be go through a joyful yet worrisome experience. From listing down the possible choices of names to choosing which ultrasound techniques to go for, new parents have a lot to decide upon. An ultrasound is crucial for providing the new parents-to-be with diagnostic information about fetal growth, position and development. Ultrasound is an imaging technique which produces images of a fetus using sound waves.
Where ultrasound provides the image of the developing baby, it also helps diagnose infections, swellings and causes of pains in the mother’s body. However, with the advancement in technology, pregnancy clinics now provide you with various ultrasound techniques. For example, where the traditional 2D ultrasound technique gives a grey and blurry image of the baby, the 3D and 4D ultrasound provide a more realistic picture of the infant.
2D, 3D, 4D – Which is better?
Let’s start with identifying the basics of the three—2D ultrasound produces an image which only consists of the outlines of the body and a blurred vision of the internal organs; for many parents sitting doesn’t provide satisfactory results.
As the name says, 3D ultrasounds give a picture in three dimensions. In three-dimensional ultrasounds, you can see the facial features, skin, gender and shape. The only difference between 3D and 4D ultrasound is that in 4D technique also tells you the expected time. The best and probably the most advanced part of 4D ultrasound is that it gives a moving picture of the baby.
2D, 3D, 4D – Safety level:
The traditional 2D technique is highly secured as exposure to waves is highly limited. On the other hand, 3D is as safe as 2D as it doesn’t involve employing additional medical equipment. Taking a 3D ultrasound is similar to the 2d technique; the only difference is between the image processing methods. In the 3D design, a collection of various 2D images is taken and converted into a 3D dimensional image through a computer software package.
Since the frequency of sound waves is pretty high in the 4D and 3D scans, most doctors advise against it as it can leave the baby more exposed to the waves. The only time a doctor would go for the 3D and 4D scan is when there’s a risk of any congenital disability or health-related abnormality. Using 4D and 3D scans for video souvenirs is not a medically safe option. Since the 3D and 4D techniques use ultrasound energy and sound waves higher than the standardized levels, it could potentially impact the fetus.
Concluding thoughts:
Adding 3D and 4D ultrasound is one of the greatest innovations in reproductive technology. However, exposing the baby to diagnostic imaging is not what the doctors would suggest. Suppose you are still indecisive about which technique to use. In that case, you can contact pregnancy professionals and specialists at Ultrasound Plus to book your next appointment and acquire high-quality visuals and ultrasound results.
