The ultrasound has a long history in the field of obstetrics as a diagnostic and monitoring tool in pregnancy. Physicians can use ultrasounds to check for viability of a pregnancy, monitor fetal growth, look for common birth defects, determine a baby's gender and assist in necessary interventions. Recent years have seen an increase in the prevalence of the 3D ultrasound.
Features
A traditional ultrasound is two dimensional and directs sound waves at a pregnant woman's uterus. The sound waves, too high-pitched for humans to hear, pass through soft tissue and bounce off harder tissue, allowing technicians and physicians to view an embryo or fetus. A 3D ultrasound, explains ObUltrasound.net, is similar to a traditional scan, except that waves come from many directions, producing a clear, three-dimensional image.
Medical Function
There is very little that a 3D ultrasound can do during pregnancy that can't be achieved through use of a traditional, or 2D, ultrasound. While it's difficult for expectant parents to make much sense of a traditional ultrasound image, seasoned medical professionals have no difficulty extracting relevant information. 3D ultrasound is most useful in cases where a clearer picture might help a medical professional detect an abnormality, explains a 2004 article in the medical journal, "Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology."
Elective Function
While not necessarily medically important, there is another reason for the increased popularity of 3D ultrasounds in recent years. Boutique ultrasound businesses offer expectant parents the opportunity to view their unborn child through use of ultrasound scanning. In general, these boutique uses are frowned upon by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which condones ultrasounds only when medically indicated. Regardless, a 2004 article in "Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology" does suggest that use of 3D ultrasound in pregnancy may help enhance parent-fetus bonding.
Process
A 3D ultrasound, like a traditional ultrasound, is noninvasive and isn't painful, explains the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Early in pregnancy, women are asked to drink a significant amount of water before the exam to ensure that the bladder is full--this helps the technician view the uterus, since a full bladder pushes the uterus up out of the pubic area. Later in pregnancy, the uterus is high enough that the water is unnecessary. The technician uses a small wand lubricated with gel to direct sound waves at the belly and views an image on a screen resembling a television. Women can generally watch the image as it's generated.
Warning
As important as it is for mothers to bond with their babies, and as much as parents may long to see real-life images of their baby while it's still in utero, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology strongly cautions parents against obtaining nonmedical 3D ultrasounds. They note that while there haven't been any adverse effects of such ultrasounds yet reported, boutique ultrasound businesses may use higher power ultrasonic waves than medical offices, and this could theoretically damage fetuses. Further, the college doesn't feel that there's been sufficient research to determine that ultrasounds are safe outside of medically-mandated occasions.
References
- ObUltrasound.net: 3D Ultrasounds
- "Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology"; Three-dimensional ultrasound with maximal mode rendering: a novel technique for the diagnosis of bilateral or unilateral absence or hypoplasia of nasal bones in second-trimester screening for Down syndrome; B. Benoit, et al; 2004.
- "Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology"; Effects of ultrasound on maternal-fetal bonding: a comparison of two- and three-dimensional imaging; E. Ji, et al; 2004
- American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology: 3D Ultrasound
