Frequently Asked Questions
The questions listed below are the most frequently asked questions about our elective ultrasound packages. Should you have any questions that are not answered below, please call us at (336) 286-3100 or send us an email.
Q: What is an elective prenatal ultrasound?
We offer elective prenatal ultrasounds to provide a positive bonding experience for the mother, father, family members and friends with the unborn baby. We feel that realistic surface images provide a connection between the parents and baby that can be beneficial and enjoyable to the entire family.
Q: Does this take the place of an ultrasound at my doctor’s office?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Women seeking an elective prenatal ultrasound MUST be receiving treatment with a healthcare provider for prenatal care and have already undergone a medical, diagnostic ultrasound ordered by their provider to confirm their due date, screen for fetal anomalies, and to look for any other pregnancy related issues.
The issues that we are evaluating in the elective prenatal ultrasound session include a limited diagnostic scan to confirm heartbeat, and the position of the baby. Please note, at no time is this exam to be used in place of a complete diagnostic ultrasound with your medical provider. However, if we are suspicious of a possible abnormality, your doctor will be notified.
Q: Is it safe? Are there any risks to me, or my baby?
Extensive studies over 30 years have found that ultrasound has not been shown to cause any harm to mother or baby. Routine scanning of all pregnancies is now normal throughout the United States. In 3D/4D scanning, the same type and intensity of ultrasound is used as with conventional 2D scanning. 3D/4D ultrasound both utilize sound waves to look inside the body. The technology is similar to radar. A probe placed on the body emits sound waves into the body, listens for the return echo and generates an image. 4D ultrasound will be similar to a conventional scan in terms of exposure.
Q: What does the term 4D mean?
The term 4D in an ultrasound simply means you will be able to see the baby’s movements in real-time during your ultrasound. All of our ultrasounds are in 4D.
Q: Do I need an appointment?
Yes, appointments are necessary for all of our services.
Q: Will I always get a beautiful image of my baby?
Usually, but not always. Sometimes if the baby is persistently looking face down, i.e. towards your spine it may be difficult to see the baby’s face. If this happens, a repeat scan will usually succeed because the baby has turned to a more favorable position. We make no promises that the images will be similar to those you might have seen elsewhere or even from our studio, or that we can always meet everyone’s expectations. Every baby scans differently, depending on its gestational age, position, amount of fluid, and mother’s condition. We promise to make every effort to obtain the best possible images of whatever parts of the baby that can be seen. Ultrasound works best when the sound waves have plenty of fluid to travel through. A well hydrated system of the mother will help to optimize the images. This is probably the most important factor.
Q: How far along should I be before I have a 4D ultrasound?
If you plan on having only one 3D/4D ultrasound, we would recommend having the examination performed between the 24th and 35th week of the pregnancy. However excellent images can typically be obtained from 15-38 weeks. Many mothers obtain more than one ultrasound and have images to enjoy from their second and third trimesters. You can come in as early as 15 weeks for gender determination.
What stage of development do you want to capture?
That depends on what you are looking to see. There is always “give and take” at each stage of development, but they are all beautiful. That’s why many mothers obtain more than one ultrasound and have images to enjoy from their second and third trimesters. Between 15 -27 weeks, the baby is thinner in appearance, and the facial details aren’t as developed, but we tend to get more of the baby on the screen and you can see more movement. Between 28 -35 weeks, the baby is chubbier in appearance, the face looks more like they’ll look on arrival, and we tend focus on the face or other body parts since the entire baby won’t fit on the screen.
Moms with twins should come in before 27 weeks for the best chance of capturing images of both babies. The further along the mother is, the larger the babies become, thus the more difficult it becomes. Full figured mothers should consider having their ultrasound session around 31-35 weeks. Increased body weight of the mother can often affect the quality because sound does not travel as easily through tissue as it does fluid.
Q: Can I bring my family and friends?
Absolutely, this is a family event. The more the merrier! This is a joyous and wonderful experience, one that can be shared with your family and loved ones. Our seating is specifically arranged so that everyone in your party will have an excellent view of our large 50” screen!
Q: Are you able to tell the sex of the baby?
Yes, we can determine sex at 15 weeks with 100% accuracy! We can’t however guarantee that the baby will cooperate during your session. Certain factors such as body tissue content, developmental stage and fetal position all affect the ability to determine sex. If for some reason we are unable to determine gender during your session, we will invite you back at no additional cost.
Q: How early can you determine gender?
We can determine sex at 15 weeks with 100% accuracy! Additionally, we do gender confirmation (if requested) for every package to give our mothers that extra piece of mind.
Q: Is the 4D ultrasound covered by Insurance?
No, since this is an elective procedure and is not intended to be a replacement for your doctor ordered ultrasound, you will need to pay the cost of this ultrasound as an out of pocket expense. We accept Visa, MasterCard and cash. We cannot accept personal checks.
Q: How much does it cost?
We have packages to fit just about anyone’s budget. We continuously strive to provide the highest quality products and packages at the most affordable costs. We always have special discounts so continue to visit our website or give us a call. Click here for package options.
Q: What is your cancellation and refund policy?
We request that you provide 48 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. We do not offer refunds, however if we are unable to obtain at least a profile picture of your baby due to baby’s position we let you come back for a free rescan. Rescans our offered Tuesday – Friday.
Please Note ~ This ‘Complimentary Repeat Scan Guarantee’ excludes scenarios in which Mommy-To-Be has not properly hydrated prior to her appointment, thus resulting in unclear images.
Q: What kind of ultrasound equipment do you use to perform the 3D/4D ultrasounds?
We use the world’s best 3D/4D ultrasound machine; the GE Voluson. This is the only state-of-the-art ultrasound machine that has frame speed fast enough to allow you to see real-time movement. This allows us to deliver high quality 2D, 3D, and 4D images with a superior resolution when compared to other ultrasound machines on the market. If your provider is not using utilizing the GE Voluson system you are not receiving the best service or best pictures
Q: I know you recommend staying hydrated by drinking water. How much water should I drink before my 3D/4D experience?
5 days prior to your 3D/4D experience it is recommended that you aim to drink about 64 fluid ounces of water per day. Ultrasound works best when the sound waves have fluid/water to travel through. A well hydrated system of the mom-to-be will help to optimize the images of your baby.
Q: What should I wear when I come to Tiny Toes for my ultrasound?
We suggest that you wear shorts, capri pants, jeans or slacks. Please avoid wearing dresses as the ultrasound is performed on top of your tummy.
Q: What if I DO NOT want to know the gender of my baby?
We have many moms and dads who do not want to know baby’s gender until the birthday. There is no problem having this remarkable 3D/4D ultrasound session performed without determining the gender.
If you are having a gender reveal party and don’t wish to know gender, we will place the gender in an envelope for you to give to your secret keeper. Due to baby being so small, the ultrasound will be viewed via the ultrasound machine and the large projector will be turned off as not to risk showing gender.
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