3D or 4D ultrasounds can be done during prenatal between the 26th and 29th weeks and are used to see the baby's physical details and assess the presence and also the severity of illnesses, not only performed with the aim of reducing curiosity from parents.
The 3D examination shows details of the baby's body, making it possible to see the face and genitals more clearly, while in the 4D examination, in addition to the well-defined features, it is also possible to visualize the movements of the fetus in the mother's belly.
These exams can cost around R $ 200 to R $ 300.00, and are done in the same way as conventional ultrasound, without needing any special preparation. However, it is recommended that you do not use moisturizing creams on your belly and drink plenty of fluids the day before the exam.
When to do
The best time to do 3D and 4D ultrasound is between the 26th and 29th weeks of gestation, because in these weeks the baby is already grown and there is still plenty of amniotic fluid in the mother's belly.
Before this period, the fetus is still very small and with little fat under the skin, which makes it difficult to see its features, and after 30 weeks the baby is very large and takes up a lot of space, making it difficult to see its face and its movements. Also see when the baby starts to move.
Diseases identified by ultrasound
In general, 3D and 4D ultrasound identify the same diseases as conventional ultrasound and are therefore not normally covered by health plans. The main changes detected by ultrasound are:
- Cleft lip, which is a malformation of the roof of the mouth; Defects in the baby's spine; Malformations in the brain, such as hydrocephalus or anencephaly; Malformations in the limbs, kidneys, heart, lungs and intestine; Down syndrome.
The advantage of 3D or 4D exams is that they allow a better assessment of the severity of the problem, which can be done after diagnosis on conventional ultrasound. In addition, in most cases, morphological ultrasound is used, which is part of the prenatal exams that must be done to identify diseases and malformations in the baby. Learn more about morphological ultrasound.
When the image doesn't look good
Some situations may interfere with the images generated by 3D or 4D ultrasound, such as the baby's position, which may be facing the mother's back, which prevents the doctor from identifying her face, or the fact that the baby is with the limbs or the umbilical cord in front of the face.
In addition, the small amount of amniotic fluid or excess fat in the mother's belly can interfere with the image. This is because the excess fat makes it difficult for the waves that form the image to pass through the ultrasound device, which means that the images formed do not reflect reality or do not have good resolution.
It is important to remember that the exam starts with normal ultrasound, as 3D / 4D ultrasound is only done when good images are obtained in the conventional exam.
