Contents:
- Medical Video: 2D Ultrasound Vs 3D and 4D Ultrasound
- What is the difference between 3D and 4D ultrasound?
- Is 3D and 4D ultrasound safe to do?
Medical Video: 2D Ultrasound Vs 3D and 4D Ultrasound
When you are pregnant, of course you are curious about the sex of your baby, your baby's appearance, baby's weight, baby's length, and so on. For this reason, the most eagerly awaited moment during pregnancy is ultrasonography (USG). From this ultrasound, you can find out how the baby's condition includes seeing what the baby is doing in the womb. The ultrasound method has developed, not only can you see babies in two dimensions, but it can be done with 3D (three-dimensional) ultrasound or 4D ultrasound (four dimensions).
What is the difference between 3D and 4D ultrasound?
3D and 4D ultrasound certainly has many advantages compared to 2D ultrasound. With increasingly sophisticated technology, both of them can support a deeper examination of the baby in the womb. By doing 3D or 4D ultrasound, you can see the shape of your baby's eyes, nose, ears and mouth more clearly, not just like black and white images in 2D ultrasound.
However, the results of 3D and 4D ultrasound images have differences. 3D ultrasound presents a motionless image. Meanwhile, 4D ultrasound can provide moving images, like you are watching your baby's movie in the womb. You can see what the baby is doing in the womb while doing 4D ultrasound, like a baby yawning, thumb sucking, moving, and all other changes.
Medically, both 4D and 3D ultrasound can identify if there are abnormalities in your baby. Both types of ultrasound can show different angles in seeing babies, so abnormalities in babies can be seen more clearly, when compared to using 2D ultrasound. Some conditions or defects in babies that can be seen through 3D or 4D ultrasound are spina bifida, cleft lip, bent legs, and abnormalities in the baby's skull.
Is 3D and 4D ultrasound safe to do?
Both are safe to do as you do a 2D ultrasound. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has also stated that there is no scientific evidence that ultrasound is harmful to developing fetuses. However, doing too much ultrasound is not recommended, except for medical reasons.
After all, doing 3D and 4D ultrasound also requires special equipment that is more expensive than 2D ultrasound. So that, if done in frequency often it might be burdensome for you. Experts also recommend that 3D and 4D ultrasound be performed when there are medical needs (to check abnormalities in infants). And remember, only do 3D, 4D, and 2D ultrasound with experts who are certified.
The best time to do ultrasound 4D or 3D is when the pregnancy is between 26-30 weeks. Before 26 weeks' gestation, the baby in the womb still has less fat under his skin, so that the bones on his face may be visible (the baby's face has not been fully developed). Whereas after 30 weeks' gestation, the baby's head might be under your pelvis, so you might have difficulty seeing your baby's face and this could be useless.
