3D / 4D SCAN

3D scans are still pictures of your baby in three dimensions. 4D scans are moving 3D images of your baby, with time being the fourth dimension. You're probably really excited by the prospect of your first scan. But some mothers find the standard 2D scans disappointing when all they see is a grey, blurry outline.

This is because the scan sees “right through” your baby, so the photos show your baby's internal organs. Both types of scans are just as safe as a 2D scan, because the image is made up of sections of two-dimensional images converted into a picture. There's no evidence to suggest that scans aren't safe, and most mums-to-be gain reassurance from them. These pictures show the kind of detail you can see on a 3D scan. The image on the right is of a baby at 14 weeks. With 3D and 4D scans, you see your baby's skin covering her internal organs. You may see the shape of your baby's mouth and nose, or see your baby yawn. The special transducers and software required to do 3D and 4D scans are expensive and hence they 3D / 4D scans are costly. 3D and 4D scans may nonetheless show more detail about a known abnormality.