Do NOT use this facility for your 3D/4D Sonogram

[Anonymous]

It's not that they are not safe, but rather that superfluous sonograms are not recommended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's up to the consumer to know what they're buying/paying for. Buyer beware.

Right, and the OP is helping future buyers beware.

Whether multiple sonograms is a problem is open to dispute; WedMD reports a study that says they are no problem and my OB had no objection. We should admit that the medical community doesn't take one view of this one.

Based on the OP's post, it sounded like there was full disclosure about refund policies on the website of the business that was doing this and she missed that until after her purchase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not that they are not safe, but rather that superfluous sonograms are not recommended.

This is exactly right. There is gray area and the medical community has not said they are completely safe ("without risk" would be the medical terminology). But they have said that whatever small unknown risks there may be are outweighed by the benefits to patient and baby. The issue becomes that there are no benefits with a medically unnecessary sono. Thus, without any benefit, it can't outweigh the risk. That's the rationale here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not that they are not safe, but rather that superfluous sonograms are not recommended.

This is exactly right. There is gray area and the medical community has not said they are completely safe ("without risk" would be the medical terminology). But they have said that whatever small unknown risks there may be are outweighed by the benefits to patient and baby. The issue becomes that there are no benefits with a medically unnecessary sono. Thus, without any benefit, it can't outweigh the risk. That's the rationale here.

Yes, they do say that they are without risk. Are you trying to scare people here? Anyhow, I don't have time to debate you here. OP wanted to see her baby - good for her!

OP: I'm sorry you didn't get a good image. Babies are pretty unpredictable! Mine wouldn't turn around during the 20w u/s so we didn't know if she was a he. Also, he refused once to move for a full half hour during a fetal non-stress test.

Best of luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not that they are not safe, but rather that superfluous sonograms are not recommended.

This is exactly right. There is gray area and the medical community has not said they are completely safe ("without risk" would be the medical terminology). But they have said that whatever small unknown risks there may be are outweighed by the benefits to patient and baby. The issue becomes that there are no benefits with a medically unnecessary sono. Thus, without any benefit, it can't outweigh the risk. That's the rationale here.

Yes, they do say that they are without risk. Are you trying to scare people here?

I would love to see your authority for this. No, not trying to scare people. The risk is very minimal, but I don't think there's any reason to misrepresent medical opinions so as to not scare people. I have no judgment for those who take on the risk. But there's no reason to lie about it either.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. In Japan, u/s are routinely given at every prenatal appointment.

[Anonymous]

Just my HO, but I agree with the other posters that these images can be pretty creepy. My sonographer has the ability to do these on her machines and she showed me an image where a patient's baby was caught with its eyes open. I can't explain exactly why but the image was very disturbing. I decided right then and there that I'd rather wait a few weeks for the real thing!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. In Japan, u/s are routinely given at every prenatal appointment.

I had one at every appointment too. Loved them.

[Anonymous]

I had multiple sonograms (I was a hi-risk pregnancy) and at 27 weeks I used this company for a 3D sono. My baby didn't want to face the camera either so we didn't get many pictures, but we did get a couple of images. Would I have wanted more? Yes, but I wasn't upset with the company when it didn't happen. DS just didn't want to pose for the camera.

To OP: As a PP said, be happy your pregnancy is healthy. Also, your baby will be here soon enough and you can take all the pictures you want!

I also want to note that my husband and I were very pleased with the service of this company. Aside from DS not wanting to cooperate and the fact the sono tech was dying to tell us the sex (she didn't), I found everything to be top notch and worth the money!

[Anonymous]

PP raises a good point: there are other factors to consider in choosing a facility, other than their refund policy. OP probably provided valuable information to some people but may have gone too far in urging others not to use this company.

[Anonymous]

My wife and I had an experience similar to OP's with Motherhood Sonogram and we found the office manager to be cold and disinterested in the fact that we didn't get any pictures of our child's face. I couldn't agree with OP more. These facilities are a dime a dozen folks so do your research and choose wisely. In hindsight we never would have used Motherhood had we put more time into researching some of the other facilities out there.

[Anonymous]

I wanted to post this experience, thanks to a suggestion from a friend, because I was SO upset yesterday morning with what happened at this place.

Basically, I had a 3D ultrasound scheduled well over a month in advance with Motherhood Sonogram (a section of Vital Signs Imaging). One hour before our appointment on Saturday, we get a call from Jhia Khan (the irony of this last name astounds Star Trek fans everywhere) who starts out apologizing and cancels our appointment due to a power outage in their area. She said that Dominion Power wouldn't have had power turned back on until 5pm (conveniently their closing time -- so no reschedule for that day). Naturally, I started out thinking "oh crap, those poor people" so I was really kind to her on the phone, until things got a little fishy...

First, within an hour we got an automated email from their office asking for a reschedule. If the power's out at the office, how is it that their system is sending the email? Second, I decided to pick up the phone and call Dominion Power. Guess what? Power's fine in the Tysons Corner area and Falls Church... I gave them the address and they confirmed there were no power outages at all.

DH thinks that they were overbooked and bumped us since we didn't sign up for their highest cost package. Oh well I guess.

Since my mother had driven up 5 hours to spend the weekend with us just for this event, we dialed up InfantSee4D as soon as we found out the problem. We told the manager there, Maria, everything that happened. Maria really stepped up to the plate to help us. She stayed way past their normal work hours to accommodate us and was just as enthusiastic with us as she would have been early in the morning with the first customer. We had an awesome session. It wasn't rushed and was very relaxing.

I'm so upset about Motherhood "F***ckergram". I just want others to hear of this experience so that they don't have to deal with this like we did. Further research revealed that they have done this in the past to other mothers, so the more I can spread this information, the better off everyone will be.

[Anonymous]

What's a 4D sonogram? Don't we give birth to 3D babies?

I'm sorry you all had a bad experience. I have to say, though, all this focus on elective sonograms is a bit creepy.

[Anonymous]

To offer a different perspective, this is an article (albeit 4 years old) from the FDA cautioning against elective ultrasounds:

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/104_images.html

[Anonymous]

Yes, Motherhood Sonogram is the worst! They are simply out to make money and nothing else. They could care less about the expecting parents feelings or anticipations! Why do people continue to use them!??!