Making Friends in the Maternity Community

This week, 3DBabyVu went to a mixer hosted by The Bump magazine at the Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa in downtown Sausalito. The Bump was recently purchased by The Knot (joining the family of The Knot, The Nest, and Lila Guide), but has been around for several years, providing informative and fun reads for parents - super relevant whether you are expecting your first or fourth (or nth...) baby.

What an amazing experience! There were about 20 women and 2 men (major props to GreatDad.com and 3DBabyVu's own Mark Hayward) in attendance, representing a variety of different resources for new and expecting parents - maternity and newborn photography, maternity stores, yoga and dance centers, a coffeeshop just for parents and their little ones (!)and spas (The beautiful Corte Madera Spa is home to Barefoot & Pregnant, one of the few places in the Bay that uses only certified prenatal massage therapists). All in all, a very innovative group of people, all of whom sincerely look to provide services and products that enrich the experiences of mothers, fathers, and their families. I'm trying to stay in touch with all of them to help build a community of locally-owned, quality places for you. so stay tuned for some exciting partnerships between 3DBabyVu and some of the amazing individuals and local businesses that we met in the very near future!

Why Should I Have a 3D Ultrasound Scan?

Having a 3D Ultrasound scan, though considered "elective," is an indispensible way for expecting mothers to bond with their incoming baby. 3D Ultrasounds have obvious benefits, such as a beautiful photos and family fun, but the rewards reach beyond that of a luxury service.
Scientific studies have shown that:

• The experience of 3D Ultrasound has a stronger impact on maternal-fetal bonding than just 2D Ultrasound. (link)
• Seeing ultrasound images of their baby is reassuring for parents, making them less anxious and stressed out about having a child. (link, link)

Studies have also shown that multiple prenatal ultrasound scans do not hinder childhood development (link). Yet, it is still worthwhile to be cautious when choosing a 3D ultrasound provider. 3DBabyVu uses ONLY fully-credentialed sonographers -- registered, licensed medical sonographers (RDMS) with over two years of schooling and one year of supervised training -- and the same low OB scanning mode that your OB/GYN uses at his or her practice. Additionally, our sonographers are the most experienced in 3D Ultrasound, each having performed thousands of scans since we opened our doors in 2002. In contrast, many other ultrasound centers use individuals with no medical background, who have attended only a weekend's worth of classes.

The New 3DBabyVu 3D Ultrasound Gift Registry

Ah! Exciting! My new pet project for the past few weeks or so, 3DBabyVu Pleasanton has just added the option for mothers to open up a gift registry with us! Check out more information the 3D Ultrasound Gift Registry web page.

With the gift registry, its easier to give your favorite expecting mother (which can totally be you!) the gift of 3D Ultrasound. Friends and family that are informed that momma is registered at 3DBabyVu can contribute funds over the phone or in person, making that Platinum Package you've been pining for suddenly within reach!

How Big Is Your Babe?

An interesting comparison between your baby in that belly and fruits and veggies, depending on how many weeks old your baby is. Sorta cute, or sorta weird? I think both. Either way, certainly interesting. How Big is Baby?

LBD for Expecting Mothers

Lil Sugar has an excellent post up on this mandatory article of clothing: Little Black Dresses (the Slightly Larger, Maternity Options)

The OTHER Most Popular Question

Determining whether or not your baby is a boy or a girl is a question that most expecting mothers are going nuts trying to find the answer to, especially when their OB can't tell them!

I'll keep this one simple: No sonographer in the world can promise determine the sex* of the baby any earlier than 15 weeks, simply because your baby has not developed the indicating features yet at that time (I tread carefully on my wording, since this is the company's blog, but I think you get my drift?). Our sonographers can determine boy or girl status at 16 weeks 99% of the time -- the only thing obstructing that last 1% is the positioning of the baby -- for example, if baby is asleep with her/his body blocking a view of the identifying features.



*We say sex, not gender, because sex (male or female) is assigned biologically, but gender is a social construct. (Oops, just liberal-ed all over you.) Wikipedia article here if you are interested in further edification.

When is the best time to come in for a 3D Ultrasound?

"When is the best time to come in for a 3D Ultrasound?"
This (excluding "when can you tell me if my baby is a boy or a girl?") is the most popular question for mothers to ask when they are booking their appointment. Most mothers want to come in when they are four or five months pregnant and be able to see detailed images of their baby's face. Unfortunately, that is not what the baby looks like quite yet!

If you, like most mothers, plan to have a 3D Ultrasound scan only one time and expect to see your child's face, the best time to come in (in my humble opinion) is between 28 and 34 weeks. Why, you ask? At this point, the baby's facial features are well-developed, and she (or he) has quite a personality already! Our favorite photos generally come from this time period in the 7 to 8 month range.

That is not to say that there are not benefits to coming in earlier than 28 weeks -- not only does every baby develop differently, but every mom has different needs. Many mothers want to see their baby as soon as possible once they have heard about the 3D ultrasound option, and many choose to come on multiple occassions so that they can track their baby's development. Good facial photos can be obtained anytime from 24 to 34 weeks (though I recommend 28), and exciting images where you can see more of your baby's body and shape can be obtained from 18 weeks, so there are options available for even the most impatient mothers.

The Ultimate Baby Log for New Parents

Skip Hop's New Day To Night Baby Log with Illuminated Time Capsule ($39) looks like it would make an useful and attractive gift for any new parent. From their website:

With sections to record daily feedings, changing times and sleeping schedules,
this six-month book helps new parents keep track of baby's busy schedule.
Our patent pending illuminated Time Capsule is perfect for those diaper
changes and feedings in the middle of the night. The four LED lights cast a
gentle glow across the pages, making it easy to add entries when the lights are
off. The light-up clock helps parents know the date and time for every entry,
especially late at night when they're half asleep. The handy built-in timer
makes monitoring nap and feeding times a breeze.

Clean, Safe, and Green Baby

Method makes exceptionally well-designed body and household cleaning products, and they made sure that your baby won't be left out! Their line of baby and children's bath products does not disappoint, using gentle, and 99% natural ingredients. Their ability to ensure high quality and inexpensive products while promoting an agenda of sustainability through active environmental and anti-animal testing policies is admirable... and all their products smell amazing!

Method: Kids+Baby

What is a 3D Ultrasound?

3D Ultrasound is a new application for ultrasound technology. Conventional 2D Obstetric Ultrasound, which you are probably already familiar with, uses sound waves to visualize baby images. 3D ultrasound sends sound waves at different angles to create a recognizable visualization of the baby in the womb, so you can see details such as facial features, toes, and fingers. The application of 4D Ultrasound introduces time to 3D ultrasound, and thus baby is seen moving in real time. At 3DBabyVu, we use both 3D and 4D ultrasound during scans.

Our New Baby Blog!

In our quest to become a strong resource for expecting mothers in the Bay Area (and beyond!), 3DBabyVu's latest addition to our web family is this new blog. We hope that this can grow into a place for us to share exciting and fun information with moms and their families.