What is 3D and 4D Ultrasound?
Whether it’s your first child or your fourth, there can be many anxious moments of pregnancy, especially during the first few weeks of fetal development. This is precisely why ultrasound technology is vital to doctors and parents alike. Regularly monitoring the fetus in real time can reveal abnormalities or alleviate concerns.
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Ultrasound technology, which uses sound waves to produce images, has a few key advantages over other imaging techniques, such as:
✅ It provides images of the fetus or organs in real-time
✅ It doesn’t use ionizing radiation, which has been associated with toxic effects on the embryo
✅ Ultrasound allows the technician to capture different viewing angles
What's the difference between 3D and 4D Ultrasound?
For perspective, an ultrasound of a fetus in 2D generates a flat, black-and-white image. However, 2D Ultrasound shows the function of the baby’s internal organs, which is vital to monitor its health.
With 3D and 4D ultrasound scans, you can see the baby in three-dimensional images. They reveal more internal and external detail from different angles, such as the heart wall, valves or blood flow in various vessels, and outside, the skin or the shape of the mouth. Many parents find it exciting to see the baby in such detail, especially if they see their son or daughter yawning or “smiling.”
At the same time, the depth and detail of 3D and 4D ultrasound imagery are remarkably effective in detecting issues such as cleft lip, heart defects, skeletal problems or neural abnormalities.
The most significant difference between 3D and 4D Ultrasound is that 4D allows physicians to “live stream” video of the baby’s images. 4D Ultrasound is essentially 3D Ultrasound in live motion.