Tuesday, September 9, 2008

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.

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