Did you have a 3-d Ultrasound?

[Anonymous]

I'm 21 weeks and really would love to have a 3-d ultrasound. I've seen pictures online that show images so clear it almost looks like a photo. But a friend went and said their image of the baby was fuzzy and not any better than the regular ultrasound. Had anyone had one done? If so, were you happy with the results and how much did it cost? TIA

[Anonymous]

We had one during our checkup last week. I am 19 weeks along and we waited to have the pictures printed out because the baby didn't have enough fat yet for you to see the features well

[Anonymous]

My doctor's office has the machine, and the tech always does one or two of these shots after doing the regular ultrasound shots. I wouldn't pursue getting one until late in the pregnancy, they're just creepy looking. My last one was at about 33 weeks (checking for previa, my placenta had been way low earlier in pregnancy) and it's still just creepy looking.

[Anonymous]

My sister paid for one as a gift for us four years ago. It was at Baby Insight in Potomac. I think she paid $250 or so.

Honestly? I wish she'd have saved the money, or given us something else. The pictures we got were not the clearest, like the ones on the website. I think the coppery babies are kind of eerie looking.

I just don't think it's worth it to pay out of pocket. If your OB office does them, that's one thing.

[Anonymous]

We had one simply because it was in the doctor's office and frankly it was the creepiest picture I have ever seen! You may want to look at a few first before you pay extra for one. Realize that sometimes the baby will not be in a good position for a good picture.

[Anonymous]

Best time to go for a 3-D ultrasound is 26-28 weeks. It's probably not covered by insurance; we did it out-of-pocket and paid about $150 for a 15-minute video and a bunch of still shots. One or two of the still shots were pretty neat -- we can actually tell what the baby will look like (he's got my husband's nose, lips and chin) and he was rubbing his eyes, sucking his thumb, waving, crossing his legs, etc. Looked like an actual baby. I think if you do it closer to your 20-week ultrasound they don't look as much like a baby and it's a little freaky. If you do it too late they are cramped, don't have a lot of room to move, and there's not enough fluid to get really clear shots.

I don't think it was worth $150, but if you shop around maybe you can find a place that does it cheaper. Since it's for nostalgic value, not diagnostic, it doesn't matter where you go. A relative got one for $30 at a mall somewhere, but not in this area. We couldn't find anything significantly cheaper in this area.

[Anonymous]

Worth it to us, but insurance covered it. I knew I had to have another ultrasound done, so I waited until 27 weeks, which is about the latest you can see the baby (before his/her face is too scrunched up in the uterus). Then, rather than have a regular ultrasound done at the doctor's office, we made the appointment at Washington Radiology in Fairfax b/c I knew they had 3-D imaging. I didn't ask for it per se because then it would have cost more. But they switched it on at the end and got some 3-D pics.

My husband and I absolutely loved it, but some people don't like them because it does look sorta weird. But seeing the baby's nose, eyes, mouth made me feel better and more connected to her. She was born recently and her face looks similar - I can see her in the 3-D image now, although when you are looking at the picture, it looks like clay so it's hard to imagine how your baby will turn out. Ours is much cuter than the 3-D image (which itself was cute), and I think that's common too. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

We did ours at 29 weeks and you could see the face clear as day. It was pretty cool. Don't let them tell you it's too late just because you're beyond 28 weeks -- but don't wait too long either!

[Anonymous]

We had some 3D pictures taken during our diagnostic ultrasound around 19 weeks. I then went to www.infantsee4D.com in Fairfax for an elective 3D/4D scan. It was really cool and worth every cent. A good way to memorialize my last pregnancy.