Ultrasound or ultrasound They allow us to "see" the baby before birth, a technological advance that did not exist a few decades ago and that is an important achievement in prenatal care. There are several types of ultrasound or ultrasound, in 2D, 3D and 4D, which we will comment on.
Thanks to the ultrasound, whatever the type, future parents can see the image of their child before birth, and doctors can check that everything is fine in the fetus: the state of the placenta, the amniotic fluid, the neck uterine…
The images of the baby on an ultrasound are undoubtedly exciting for parents, who try to "decipher" what these images show us and look for the first similar ones.
And although the images shown by ultrasound can be very clear and moving, we still do not know the skin tone, hair ... and sometimes ultrasound can be wrong when determining the sex of the baby. Something has to be left for the final surprise.
Among the different variants of ultrasound, some leave us a clearer picture of the baby. Let's see what types of ultrasound are possible, but not before pointing out that no type of ultrasound is dangerous for the fetus or the mother and can be performed as many times as necessary during pregnancy.
2D ultrasound during pregnancy
Two-dimensional ultrasound, the most common (at the moment) in our environment, is two-dimensional and is displayed on a real-time monitor, although the image will be blurred if the fetus is moving. That is why the doctor can make several attempts before capturing a suitable image to be able to print.
On the monitor the images are seen in motion and in real time, but they are flat and black and white, and on the ultrasound printed on paper, obviously, you can also see a fixed, flat and black and white image.
2D ultrasounds are those that are usually performed in the clinic or hospital to perform a common fetal diagnosis. For parents it is sometimes difficult, in less recognizable photos (those that are not of the face, hands or feet), to distinguish anything in the photo taken from a 2D ultrasound.
Transvaginal ultrasound, which is performed through the vagina and is usually the first ultrasound used to detect or confirm pregnancy, is usually 2D. Abdominal ultrasound, which are made on the belly of the future mother, it is more common that they are of the different types that we comment below.
3D ultrasound
Ultrasound in three dimensions allow you to see the baby more clearly, giving it volume. This type of ultrasound has been used in gynecology since the late 80's and early 90's, revolutionizing the field of diagnostic imaging, as it offers an amazing resolution and sharpness of the fetus compared to conventional ultrasound in two dimensions.
By offering a clearer picture of the fetus, better diagnoses can be made in specific cases where you need to see details, although in general 2D ultrasound already detects malformations or abnormalities.
3D ultrasound is based on the same basic principle of ultrasound, also incorporating the measurement of fetal volume versus ultrasound performed in two planes. It shows us a static image in three dimensions of the fetus and of its structures with a sharper color than the black and white of traditional ultrasound.
The third plane that is incorporated is the frontal plane, if we talk about abdominal probes, and the transverse plane in the vaginal probes.
High-tech equipment that offers rapid image tracking and capture, subsequently obtaining the three-dimensional image of the fetus that is recorded in the software of the computer equipment. Several operations are performed instantly to obtain the 3D image.
As in the case of 2D echo, the doctor can "freeze" several images or frames of the video obtained on the monitor and print them so that parents take it as a souvenir.
4D ultrasound during pregnancy
Ultrasound in four dimensions they are the latest in technology and despite their futuristic name it is a video of the ultrasound of the fetus inside the womb. It is a 3D ultrasound but recorded and seen in real time. Currently, 4D ultrasound is the best quality image and the most real that can be obtained from the fetus.
4D ultrasound shows the fetus in real motion, and it can be seen for example if the baby sucks his finger, makes gestures with his face, yawns, plays with the umbilical cord or if he moves his arms or legs ...
Parents prefer to keep this type of ultrasound because the baby is seen more clearly, however, recording is not routinely performed in a pregnancy.
If the necessary means are available, a 2D or 3D ultrasound scan is seen in real time on the monitor, it is a video, but the “memory” given to the parents is a photograph (or several) of the captured images, that is, as if they were "frames" of the film. What are called "4D ultrasound“They are the video, the full movie of a 3D ultrasound.
If parents wish to perform a 3D or 4D ultrasound during pregnancy, they will usually have to pay for it in specialized centers, and there are even companies that do it at home. In Spain the price can range between € 150 and € 200. Some centers offer the necessary visits for free if you have not been able to capture good images of the baby.
The best time to perform the 4D echo is between weeks 25 and 32, as the baby's movements and facial features can be better appreciated. As it is essentially an ultrasound that is done on a private level, several points must be taken into account before hiring it.
Some private clinics or gynecologists who do have the necessary technology already offer the possibility for parents to bring a DVD to record the 4D ultrasound performed at no additional cost. Here you can see a video of a 4D ultrasound.
These are the types of ultrasound that can be performed during pregnancy, in 2D, 3D and 4D, an exciting memory for parents who first hear the baby's heartbeat or see it move in the womb, either on the monitor or on video. Soon we will return with more data about the different variants of ultrasound.
Photos | Stephen Cummings,.: ElNico:., Mrs Finger on Flickr-CC
In Babies and more | Prenatal tests: ultrasound, Ultrasound in pregnancy, Ultrasound early in pregnancy, Surprise at birth: when ultrasound was wrong
