[Weeks 27-32] Take a peak at your babys face with 3D ultrasound!
3D and 4D ultrasound can be performed at different stages of pregnancy and are not limited to one specific gestational age. Medically indicated ultrasound examinations are performed when appropriate for your pregnancy, while unnecessarily prolonged or repeated scanning solely for keepsake images is generally not recommended. 3D/4D ultrasound is not routinely required for medical diagnosis in most pregnancies, and many parents choose it because they would like to see their baby’s face and features more clearly. If you would like a clearer view of your baby’s face, around 27–32 weeks is often a good time. By this stage, more fat has developed under the skin, giving the face a fuller and more defined appearance. If the scan is done too early, the baby may not yet have developed enough facial fat for well-defined features. Later in pregnancy, space inside the uterus becomes more limited, and the baby may cover their face with their hands or arms, or be in a position that makes the face difficult to see. There are 3D and 4D ultrasounds. A 3D ultrasound combines multiple two-dimensional ultrasound images to create a three-dimensional still image of your baby. A 4D ultrasound displays these 3D images continuously in real time, allowing you to see your baby moving. Put simply, 3D is like a photograph, while 4D is more like a video. You may be able to see your baby changing facial expressions, moving their mouth, opening and closing their hands, or bringing their hands up to their face. Blood flow in areas such as the heart and umbilical cord is generally assessed using a separate technique called Doppler ultrasound.