Who Gets the Test?
3D and 4D ultrasounds are optional. They’re not standard prenatal tests. Doctors often give them as a courtesy to women who want them. Not all doctors have access to 3D or 4D ultrasounds. Also, your insurance may not cover the cost.
What does the Test do?
Like regular ultrasounds, 3D and 4D ultrasounds use sound waves to create an image of your baby in your womb. What’s different is that 3D ultrasounds create a three-dimensional image of your baby, while 4D ultrasounds create a live video effect, like a movie — you can watch your baby smile or yawn. Parents often want 3D and 4D ultrasounds. They let you see your baby’s face for the first time. Some doctors like 3D and 4D ultrasounds because they can show certain birth defects, such as cleft palate, that might not show up on a standard ultrasound. Studies suggest that 3D and 4D ultrasounds are safe. Plus, the images can help doctors spot a problem with your baby and make it easier for them to explain it to you. The concern comes with companies that offer keepsake ultrasounds. Groups like the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists caution that too much exposure to any ultrasound may not be good for your baby. Getting an ultrasound just to see your baby’s face may not be a good idea especially at an ultrasound center in a local mall or office building that may or may not employ highly skilled technicians.
How the Test Is Done?
For an abdominal ultrasound, you’ll lie down and a technician will put a certain gel on your belly. This helps carry the sound waves. Then the technician will hold a probe against your belly and move it around to get an image.
What to Know About Test Results
Afterward, you may get photos or a copy of a 4D movie to take home. Your doctor will tell you if anything seems unusual. Keep in mind that 3D and 4D ultrasounds are not typically used to diagnose problems with your baby. Also, getting an ultrasound at a commercial center is not a substitute for medical care. The people working there may not be qualified to diagnose or rule out problems.
Early Pregnancy
Sonography
High-level Sonography is conducted by Dr. Sunil Shah & Dr. Binjal Shah who is well experienced in this field and doing it for more than 22 years. Dr. Shah has been trained for basic 2D sonography in Ahmedabad at GynOb centre. Then Dr. Shah took advanced sonography training of colour Doppler, foetal echocardiography and Foetal anomaly at Mediscan centre, Chennai. Mediscan is one of the best centres in the world for foetal medicine and ultrasonography. Dr. Shah has also taken on line training of foetal medicine foundation, London for an 11- 14 weeks scan which is done for finding foetal anomaly early and to screen the foetus for trisomy. Dr. Shah is a certified sinologist of FMF London.
Dr. Shah is a faculty in many conferences across the country.
Internationally recommended sonography for the following indications are done in our centre.
Following is the schedule of USG done in the journey of 9 months.
Up to 10 weeks (Early pregnancy)
- Numbers of embryos (Pregnancies) or number of sacs.
- Cardiac activity (heart beats) and viability.
- Regularities of the sac.
- How is the support to pregnancy?
- Late conception or date of conception or dating of pregnancy
- To judge the abortion process.
11 weeks to 14 weeks NT scan (FMF-London)
See our YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKtpBqeyCIs&t=6s
- Dating (to know the date of delivery and to find out exact weeks of pregnancy +/-3-4 days).
- Pre-eclampsia prediction: Chances of development of high blood pressure in later stage of pregnancy, small babies, oligohydramnios (Less amount of fluid) by colour doppler, BP.
- Down’s syndrome screening (Genetic assumption)
- Anomaly screening: any structural abnormalities- around 95% of abnormalities can be diagnosed at this early stage of pregnancy, which will help taking decision. In this scan from head to foot, almost all parts are seen.
- To know the chances of premature delivery by cervical length i.e length of mouth of uterus or womb.
At the time of this sonography dr can advise blood report of “double marker” (Rs.1800-Rs2000) or NIPT for genetic screening. (not compulsory but useful *, See our YouTube video)
# It is not possible to see each and every thing because of limitations of machine, technology and position of baby. Genetic anomalies are not normally picked up in sonography. For that separate blood reports ( double, triple, quadruple markers and NIPT) is required. For Genetic abnormalities at time CVS and Amniotic fluid study also required.
Anomaly Scan
20-22 Weeks targeted sonography (Anomaly scan/TIFFA Scan)
- In this scan from head to foot, almost all parts are seen.
- The structure seen in the head is Small brain, large brain, posterior fossa, collection of fluid in ventricles, nasal bone, lips, thalami, cavum septum pellucidum and many more.
- Structures seen in the chest are Heart—4 chamber view, 3 vessels trachea view, outflow tracts, heart position on the left side/right side. Lungs.
- Abdomen: Stomach, Kidneys, anterior abdominal wall, umbilical arteries, bladder.
- Spinal cord and vertebral columns almost all segments.
- Both extremities: Upper limbs and lower limbs.
- Weight of baby.
- Heartbeats.
- Placental location.
- Prediction of development of Blood pressure and IUGR ( low birth weight baby) in later stage of pregnancy.
# It is not possible to see each and every thing because of limitations of machine, technology and position of baby. Genetic anomalies are not normally picked up in sonography. For that separate blood reports (double, triple, quadruple markers and NIPT) is required. For Genetic abnormalities at time CVS and Amniotic fluid study also required.
Color Doppler
32 weeks – color doppler (Growth USG)
- Growth of child (weight) comparing baby’s growth with previous sonography and putting a record in the chart. This gives us an idea regarding the proper development and growth of the baby. To rule out early IUGR
- Amount of fluid/water (liquor).
- Oxygen supply judgment by umbilical artery colour doppler and MCA colour Doppler. Quantification of Oxygenation to the baby.
36-40 weeks (Full-term scan with Colour Doppler)
- For the growth and weight of the baby. To rule out and to diagnose IUGR
- Heartbeats per minute.
- Presentation and position of baby: vertex or breech or transverse.
- Amount of fluid/ water-More (polyhydramnios), Less (oligohydramnios).
- Placental calcification. (Drying and calcification of placenta)
- Quantification of Oxygenation to the baby.
By this sonography, we can judge and get the idea of whether the birth of the baby will be vaginal (normal) or abdominal (caesarean).
