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When pregnant, of course you are curious about the gender of your baby, how your baby looks, baby's weight, baby's length, and so on. For this reason, the most eagerly awaited time during pregnancy check-ups is the time of ultrasonography (USG). From this ultrasound, you can find out how the baby is, including seeing what the baby is doing in the womb. The ultrasound method has also developed, not only can you see the baby in two dimensions, but it can be done with 3D ultrasound (three dimensions) or 4D ultrasound (four dimensions).
What is the difference between 3D and 4D ultrasound?
3D and 4D ultrasound certainly have many advantages compared to 2D ultrasound. With increasingly sophisticated technology, both of them can support more in-depth examinations of babies in the womb. By doing a 3D or 4D ultrasound, you can see the shape of your baby's eyes, nose, ears and mouth more clearly, not just like a black and white image in a 2D ultrasound.
However, the results of the 3D and 4D ultrasound images have differences. 3D ultrasound presents a stationary (still) image. Meanwhile, 4D ultrasound can present moving images, like you are watching a movie of your baby in the womb. You can see what the baby in the womb is doing when doing 4D ultrasound, such as yawning, thumb sucking, moving, and all other changes.
Medically, both 4D and 3D ultrasound can identify any abnormalities in your baby. Both types of ultrasound can show different angles in seeing the baby, so that the abnormalities in the baby 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?
Both are safe to do just like you would a 2D ultrasound. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has also stated that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that ultrasound is harmful to a developing fetus. However, doing ultrasound too often is not recommended, except for medical reasons.
Moreover, doing 3D and 4D ultrasound also requires special tools which are more expensive than 2D ultrasound. So, if done in a frequent frequency, it might be burdensome for you. Experts also recommend that both 3D and 4D ultrasound be done when there is a medical need (to check for abnormalities in babies). And remember, only do 3D, 4D, or 2D ultrasound with certified experts.
The best time to do 4D or 3D ultrasound is between 26-30 weeks of gestation. Before 26 weeks of gestation, the unborn baby still has a small amount of fat under the skin, so the bones in his face may be exposed (the baby's face is not fully developed). Meanwhile, after 30 weeks of gestation, the baby's head will probably be under your pelvis, so you may find it difficult to see the baby's face and this can be useless.
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