Call
(207) 797-9700 for more info.
What is an elective
prenatal Ultrasound?
We offer elective 2D, 3D & 4D
prenatal ultrasounds to provide a positive bonding
experience for the mother, father and family members with
the unborn baby. We feel that realistic surface images
provide a connection between the parents and baby that can
be beneficial to the whole family. We make no claims that
3-D as used in this examination is performed to better
assess the baby for abnormalities.
AccuView Imaging Center
requires verification that you are
under prenatal care with a healthcare provider and a
routine ultrasound examination should have already been
performed to assess the gestational age of the fetus and
to evaluate for fetal anomalies as well as the basic
components of fetal anatomy recommended for
screening.
Click here to print our
BROCHURE
for more info. (Download
Adobe
Acrobat Reader
to open document).
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Does this
take the place of an Ultrasound at my doctor’s office?
ABSOLUTELY
NOT!
AccuView Imaging Center
promotes healthy pregnancy. We
perform elective ultrasound to complement the ultrasound
sessions prescribed by your provider. Women seeking an elective prenatal ultrasound
must already be receiving treatment with a healthcare
provider for prenatal care and have already undergone
a second trimester medical, diagnostic ultrasound ordered by their
provider to confirm their due date, screen for fetal anomalies,
and to look for any other pregnancy related issues. The
issues that we are evaluating in the elective prenatal
ultrasound session include a limited diagnostic scan to
confirm heartbeat, the number of babies in the pregnancy,
the position of the baby, and the placental location.
We do not obtain measurements to determine due dates,
size or weight. If an abnormality is incidentally noted,
we will contact your healthcare provider immediately with
the finding. Please note, at no time is this
exam to be
used in place of a complete diagnostic ultrasound.
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Is it safe? Are there
any risks to me, or my baby?
Extensive studies over 30 years have found that ultrasound
has not been shown to cause any harm to mother or baby.
Routine scanning of all pregnancies is now normal
throughout the United States. Roughly eight out of 10
pregnant women get at least one. In 3D/4D scanning,
exactly the same type and intensity of ultrasound is used
as with conventional 2D scanning. The computer just
renders the 2D images and convert them into 3D/4D. Please
do not be confused with Therapeutic or Doppler ultrasound which uses different frequency
and intensity. The 2D and 3D/4D ultrasound we perform utilizes
high frequency sound waves solely for imaging organs and
tissues. The technology is similar to radar. A probe
placed on the body emits sound waves into the body,
listens for the return echo and generates an image.
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What do I need to make
an appointment?
Call us today at (207)
797-9700
to reserve your appointment. We
require verification that you are under prenatal care and
a diagnostic ultrasound has been done.
Either have your healthcare
provider fill out our
Prenatal Care Verification
OR
get a copy of your ultrasound report.
You can bring or fax(207-878-4135)
it.
Please contact
us within 24 hours if you need to reschedule or cancel.
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How long does the
4D Ultrasound take?
Depending on the package you choose and your baby's
position, the actual 4D ultrasound scanning session will
last between 15 to 30 minutes. If you have purchased the
Gold or Platinum package, plan on spending an hour with us
as the second half hour will be used to capture the images
and video clips on the CD and choose the pictures of your
baby you would like to print.
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How far along
should I be before I have a 4D Ultrasound?
If you plan on having only one 4D ultrasound examination
and wants to see your baby's chubby face, we would recommend having the examination performed
between the 26th and 34th week of the pregnancy. If you
are just interested in the baby's gender, before 26 weeks
is fine. However,
many mothers obtain
more than one 4D ultrasound (Platinum
Plus Package) and have images to enjoy from
their second and third trimesters. See samples of 3D
images of different gestational ages
click here.
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Will I
always get a beautiful picture of my baby?
Usually, but certain factors affect the quality of the
images. Always remember that when it comes to picture
taking, your baby is in Full CONTROL! We
make no promises that the images will be similar to those
you might have seen elsewhere or even from our clinic, or
that we can always meet everyone's expectations. Every
baby scans differently. The combination of
our experienced Sonographer (20 years) and the BEST 3D/4D equipment (GE Voluson
730 EXPERT),
we promise you a wonderful experience and to make every effort to obtain the best possible
images of whatever parts of the baby that can be seen. The main factors that affect the 3D/4D images are:
-
Baby's Face Position: The baby should be looking up or
to the side. If the baby is in a difficult
position, such as with the spine up or face looking down, it may be difficult
to obtain facial views. If this happens, we will
have you change positions, roll on your side, or even have
you walk to stimulate your baby to move to a
favorable position.
-
Fluid In Front Of Baby's Face: The more amniotic fluid
in front of the face, the better the images. If the baby's
face is right on the placenta or uterine wall
without fluid between them, then the images will be of
less quality. Basically anything adjacent to the face,
such as cords or hands & feet can obstruct a clear facial
photos. We recommend hydrating yourself by drinking
lots of water before your appointment.
-
Gestational Age: The younger the baby, the more skeletal appearance
(18-23 weeks). Since the baby is smaller with more
amniotic fluid, you will see more of the baby, but less
details. The older the baby (26-34 weeks), the more fat
they have which shows more facial detail. See samples of
3D images of different gestational ages
click here.
-
Maternal Body Habitus: The more tissues the ultrasound
has to travel, the lower the image quality. We recommend
30-32 wks scan for plus size.
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Can I bring my family
and friends?
Yes, Everyone
Welcome! In fact,
we encourage our clients to invite family and friends
to attend the elective 4D ultrasound session in our relax
setting. Don't forget the grandparents! This is a joyous and wonderful experience, one
that can be shared with your family and loved ones. Our leather sofa and love seat can comfortably
accommodate five, but you're welcome to bring more guests.
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Are you able
to tell the sex of the baby?
Yes, preferably 20
weeks on, we can 100% accurately tell the sex of the baby.
We can't however guarantee that the baby will cooperate
during your session. Certain factors such as the fetal position can affect the
ability to visualize the sex organ. Please let us know prior to the
scan if you do not want the gender known.
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What's the difference
between 3D & 4D image compare to the 2D?
The 2D (2 dimensional) image is the
flat black and white picture that looks like an outline or
skeletal image of your baby you get at your diagnostic
ultrasound. The 3D (3 dimensional) image will look
more realistic, like a detail photograph of your baby. The
4D (4 dimensional) actually uses the amazing 3D technology
to view your baby in "live motion" like a video. 4D is
when you get to see movements, such as kicking, waving,
sucking their thumb, or even smiling. A picture is worth a
thousand words, please refer to the
HOME
page for a quick visual comparison.
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What Ultrasound equipment do you use to perform the 4D Ultrasounds?
We use the
state of the art
GE Voluson 730 EXPERT
to complete all
ultrasound examinations. "This revolutionary quad-beam
technology, obtaining 3D images in Real-Time up to 25
volumes per second, goes beyond the boundaries of
traditional ultrasound and opens the 4th dimension of time
to the medical world." With the GE Voluson 730 EXPERT Ultrasound machine, activities of the baby inside the
womb can be safely seen which are difficult or impossible
to identify on 2D scanning. For example, with
live 4D scanning, the fetus can now be seen to yawn,
cry, swallow, blink and perform intricate finger
movements. The GE Voluson 730 EXPERT has
been seen in GE television commercials and many printed
articles from around the world. This machine is the best
2D, 3D and 4D ultrasound machine available. Don't settle
for mediocre images. Please note, many organizations claim
to use "state-of-the-art" equipment, when in
fact they use older or inferior technology.
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Who are performing
the ultrasound scans and what are their credentials?
Here at AccuView
Imaging Center we have an
Advanced Practice Sonographer with 20 years
experience. We treat this procedure with all the
professional care and concern you’d expect while creating
a safe, comfortable, relaxed environment for you and your
family to bond with your baby. Please feel free to
check the status
and credentials
of our Sonographers in ARDMS,
The American Registry of
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
or
Advanced Practice Sonographer Roster.
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Is the 4D ultrasound
covered by insurance and how much does it cost?
At this
point, insurance does not cover the costs of our ultrasounds.
Since this is an elective procedure and is not intended
to be a replacement for your doctor ordered ultrasound,
you will need to pay the cost of this ultrasound as an
out of pocket expense. We accept cash, checks, and
credit/debit cards. We have packages to fit just about
anyone’s budget. Please refer
to the
“Package Pricing" section of the website for pricing.
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For our Diagnostic
Ultrasound affiliated services please
click
here.
