Understanding the various types of ultrasound scans can help you choose the best option for your pregnancy journey. At Precious Glimpse, we offer a range of ultrasound technologies, including 2D, 3D, 4D and HD ultrasounds, each providing unique benefits for expectant parents.
2D ultrasounds are the traditional form of ultrasound imaging, producing flat, black-and-white images of your baby. These scans provide a cross-sectional view, allowing you to see your baby’s organs, skeletal system, and overall growth measurements. 2D ultrasounds are essential for:
This type of ultrasound is widely used during routine prenatal check-ups to ensure your baby is developing normally.
3D ultrasounds take your pregnancy experience to the next level by combining multiple 2D image slices to create a three-dimensional representation of your baby. This enhanced imaging allows you to see your baby’s outer skin surface, facial features, and movements in greater detail. Benefits of 3D ultrasounds include:
Adding the fourth dimension, time to 3D ultrasound technology results in 4D ultrasounds. This dynamic imaging technique provides live, real-time videos of your baby moving within the womb. 4D ultrasounds offer an immersive experience, allowing you to:
High Definition (HD) ultrasound is the latest advancement in ultrasound technology, delivering exceptionally clear and detailed images. Unlike traditional 3D ultrasounds, HD ultrasounds provide a more lifelike appearance of your baby, capturing finer details with greater depth and clarity. Advantages of HD ultrasounds include:
At Precious Glimpse, our state-of-the-art HD ultrasound technology, such as the GE Voluson, ensures you receive the highest quality images.
For more information on our ultrasound services or to schedule your appointment, please contact us today. Experience the difference with Precious Glimpse and cherish every moment of your pregnancy journey.
Choosing the optimal time for your 3D, 4D, or HD ultrasound scan is essential to ensure you receive the clearest and most detailed images of your baby. At Precious Glimpse, we recommend scheduling your advanced ultrasound scans during the third trimester, specifically between 26 weeks to 32 weeks of pregnancy.
Here’s why this period is ideal and what factors to consider:
Enhanced Fetal Development: By the third trimester, your baby has gained significant weight and developed more defined facial features. This growth phase allows for more detailed and accurate imaging during a 3D, 4D, or HD ultrasound scan.
Clearer Images: As your baby grows, the ultrasound images become more defined, making it easier to capture intricate details such as facial expressions, movements, and overall anatomy. This ensures a more meaningful and memorable scanning experience.
Baby’s Size and Movement: If your baby is measuring larger in size or if you have an anterior placenta (where the placenta covers the front of the uterus), scheduling your scan earlier within the recommended window around 30 weeks or earlier can provide better imaging. An earlier scan allows more room for your baby to move, reducing the chances of shadows or obstructions in the images.
Placenta Position: An anterior placenta can sometimes make it challenging to obtain clear images during later scans. Booking your 3D, 4D, or HD ultrasound before it becomes too settled can help in capturing the best possible pictures.
While 26 to 32 weeks is the recommended timeframe for optimal results, we understand that every pregnancy is unique. Precious Glimpse offers flexibility, allowing you to book your advanced ultrasound scans at a time that best suits your schedule and specific needs.
Whether you prefer an earlier or later scan within the third trimester, our experienced sonographers are here to accommodate your preferences and ensure a comfortable and accurate ultrasound experience.
Please note: This is a non-medical scan. No measurements or reports are provided. We strongly recommend having a medical scan prior to booking any elective session.
Scheduling your 3D, 4D, or HD ultrasound scan before 32 weeks of pregnancy is recommended for several important reasons. However, Precious Glimpse welcomes you to book a scan at any stage of your pregnancy to continue bonding with your baby.
Enhanced Fetal Visibility and Detail
Accurate Measurement and Monitoring
Optimal Imaging Conditions
Continued Bonding Opportunities
Potential Challenges with Fetal Visibility
At Precious Glimpse, we understand that every pregnancy is unique. Whether you need to schedule your ultrasound scan before or after 32 weeks, our experienced sonographers are here to accommodate your specific needs and ensure a comfortable and accurate ultrasound experience.
At Precious Glimpse, we are passionately committed to providing the highest quality ultrasound scans to expectant parents. Our team of experienced and skilled ultrasound technicians strives to capture the clearest and most detailed images of your baby, ensuring a memorable and meaningful experience. However, while we endeavour to achieve perfect image clarity, several factors beyond our control can affect the quality of the ultrasound images.
Baby’s Position
Placental Location
Amount of Amniotic Fluid
Mother’s Body Type
We understand that each baby is unique, and factors such as their favourite positions, limb movements, or how they interact with the placenta add to their individuality. While we strive for the best possible images, we encourage you to cherish the uniqueness of your baby, even if some images are not perfect. These variations are part of what makes every pregnancy journey special and memorable.
To maximise the chances of obtaining clear and detailed images during your ultrasound scan, we recommend the following preparations:
While we cannot guarantee perfect ultrasound images, Precious Glimpse is dedicated to using the latest ultrasound technology and employing highly trained sonographers to provide the clearest images possible. Our goal is to offer a supportive and comfortable environment where you can bond with your baby, regardless of the image quality.
If you have any concerns or questions about your ultrasound scan, please feel free to contact us. We are here to support you and ensure that your experience with Precious Glimpse is positive, reassuring, and filled with cherished memories.
Firstly, we recommend to book within our recommended optimal period between 26 to 32 weeks and preferably when your baby is in a head down position (not breech or transverse). If your baby is measuring bigger or if you have an anterior placenta we recommend to book from 30 weeks and under.
We then recommend keeping yourself well hydrated (2-3 litres of water) daily for at least 1-2 week before your appointment to improve the amniotic fluid volume in the womb. The amniotic fluid is the space that you see around your baby. Many times, mums think it’s a full bladder that creates clear 3D/HD images but in fact it’s actually the fluid in the womb around your baby’ face providing better image results. The more space around your baby’s face the clearer the image. This means that the baby has more space to move with less obstruction from body tissue and limbs. If your baby is right up against the placenta or has arms covering the ultrasound waves have to travel through these thicker layers to obtain the images and this can create a cloudy appearance in the pictures.
Our 3D/4D/HD scan or any elective scans cannot replace your important routine medical ultrasounds referred by your doctor/midwife. During your medical scan our sonographer spends the whole session to properly measure and screen for any fetal anomalies. This can only be done by 2D ultrasound to visualize your baby’s internal organs. We understand many mum-to-be travel a fair distance to reach our clinic and hence, you can extend any medical ultrasound session (recommend 20 weeks+) to include one elective scan.
Example: You can have a Morphology ultrasound ($270) with a Reassurance Plus ($149) as an add-on.
For a Growth scan you can add on the Precious Gold ($199) or Diamond ($279). These add on packages will include 3D/4D/HD imaging, print outs, short video clips as well as extending your session. This will allow our sonographer to have enough time to do both the medical and 3D/HD scan for your baby.
Unfortunately the answer is no, the Early Bonding scans are lovely scans to book anytime you wish to see your baby without a doctor’s referral. These scans cannot replace your important routine medical pregnancy scans as no measurement or report are given for these scans. Our technician won’t be performing any assessment of your baby’s health or measurements during the Early Bonding scan as seen during your medical scan with a sonographer.
During the Early Bonding scan, our technician takes pictures of your baby for your enjoyment and shows you your baby’s movement, heartbeat and position only. They are great scans when you need a sneak peek of what the baby is up to.
We offer both an e-voucher and a physical gift certificate that can be picked up at our clinic.
If you would like to purchase a voucher, please contact our reception at 03 9021 0018 and we can help arrange a gift certificate.
A full bladder helps place bub in a fixed position, so it helps when mothers come in with a full bladder. In most cases, we will ask our mothers to empty their bladder once we find that bub needs to be in a better position.
You can prepare by drinking plenty of water leading up to your appointment, double checking the packages and add-ons you have selected and to arrive early to fill out paperwork.
We recommend wearing comfortable clothes to ensure you are feeling relaxed for the duration of the scan.
If you are attending a medical scan, we suggest bringing your referral, Medicare and EFTPOS card so we can claim the Medicare rebate. If you only have a digital copy, please email your referral to contact@preciousglimpse.handsonit.com.au During COVID lockdown, please read our COVID safety policy before arriving.
Studies have shown that ultrasounds are not harmful to the mother or baby and have an excellent safety record. They don’t have the same risk as x-rays which use ionising radiation. 3D/4D/HDLive screening utilises low-frequency sound waves to look inside the body. A probe is placed onto the mother’s belly which emits sound waves into the body, listens to the returning echo generating an image.
However, prior to any elective scan, we strongly advised you to consult your health professional first.
Our elective services such as the 3D/HD, Reassurance and Gender scan are designed for our mothers to bond with their bubs. They are not intended to diagnose or act as a replacement for your important medical ultrasounds. At this point in time, Medicare does not recognise these types of scans which means there are no rebates available.
Medicare rebate is only available for our medical scans only.
Whilst our technician is highly skilled, we can never guarantee the determination is 100%. Our accuracy rate is at least 99% with an excellent track record. Our technicians take the utmost care and time while completing gender determination and confirmation requires at least two different angles.
If our technicians feel uncertain due to the baby’s position they will not reveal the gender to you and will offer a rescan.
We capture images using the best available technology and with our talented experienced staff. In some cases, it all depends on what bub really wants to show us. Sometimes they are camera shy, sometimes they put on a beautiful show. If we could ask our bubs to position themselves, wave, and smile at the camera, believe us, we would!
In cases where we are unable to capture images to our standards, you will be asked to empty your bladder, walk up and down the stairs, drink cold water or eat some sweets. It is up to our technician’s discretion for a rescan that depends on whether there is a chance of potentially capturing better images than what was taken on the day.
BMI is the body mass index, unfortunately having a high BMI can affect the image quality.
If you are overweight, this will mean that there is more body tissue and layers for the sound waves to travel through as the baby is further away from the transducer probe. Ultrasound sends sound waves through your womb; these waves bounce off your baby and the receiving echoes are turned into an image on the screen.
This increased distance between the transducer and baby will distort the beam as the body tissues absorb these soundwaves as a result the images will become less clear with a fuzzy appearance.
Our experienced technician may ask you to turn to your side or change your position to minimise the beam distortion. We have invested in the latest state of the art technology and continue to upgrade our system yearly to try to overcome this limiting factor. There is only so much technology can do, please prepare that your images may not appear as detailed if this is the case. However, our technicians will always endeavour to do their best.
An anterior placenta means it is located at the front of the womb. This can mean that it is located right in front of your baby’s face and can add extra layers and obstruction for us to capture clear images of your baby.
Ultrasound creates the images by sending sound waves through your womb, these waves bounce off your baby and the receiving echoes are turned into an image. An anterior placenta adds extra layers and distance between your baby and the probe which can result in a less detailed image. Also sometimes babies just love to snuggle right into the placenta which can also make it challenging to get a fuller image of your baby’s face.
We recommend if you have an anterior placenta that you book your 3D/HD scan earlier from 30 weeks and under so that your baby has more room. Our technician may ask you to turn to your side or to move around to encourage your baby to change their position. When booking these scans we kindly ask you to prepare for these setbacks that can occur and to cherish the uniqueness of your baby.
Congratulations! Twins are always fun to see at Precious Glimpse. We recommend you come earlier between 24 – 26 weeks instead of the recommended 28-32 week, as twins take up so much space in your womb that at later weeks, there will be no room left for them to move. If this happens, the likelihood of them in a difficult capture-moment position is high.
Precious Glimpse strongly advised all mothers who are experiencing bleeding, or any emergency assisted query to go to your nearest hospital right away.
Unfortunately, we can only wait for a few minutes before commencing the scan, we want to ensure our technician has adequate time to provide you with the best images and experience possible. However, our receptionist can bring your partner to our room if you wish.
If you feel uncomfortable in any way, please let us know straight away and we will stop the scan immediately. Your safety and comfort is our upmost priority during the scan. We may stop the services all together depending on the length of time and the service.
Yes, we are more than happy for you to shares these moments. Please let your scanning technician know first.
Our medical reports are best interpreted by your general practitioner/midwife or other health specialist. By sending reports directly to the mother, we may create unnecessary stress to an otherwise healthy pregnancy. Therefore, all medical reports are sent directly to your health professionals.
We take priority in sending medical reports to your health professionals in a timely manner, but sometimes there could be issues with reports being received. We urge all of our mothers to contact your health professional at least a day prior to your consultation to ensure they receive it. In the case where they have not yet received it, give us a call or email and we will send it again with a follow-up call to confirm they have received the report on their end.
Sometimes, we experience intermittent internet issues that may stop the upload process of your files. We expect all the images to be sent by the end of the business day.
Double check your packages and add-ons to see if you Tricefy is part of the services, if yes, please call us right away.
It’s Precious Glimpse priority to send reports directly to your referrer, we send reports using e-fax, but to be sure. We also provide a courtesy call to ensure they have received them. If for any reason they still haven’t received them, please call us and we will send again.
The heart recorders have demo batteries supplied by our manufacturer, we suggest to change those batteries to fresh ones. Depending on use, batteries may deplete after 2 months of continuous use. We strongly suggest to have a back-up heart recording file before changing batteries.
For any COVID related questions, please visit our blog here.
We have other interesting blogs for our mothers who likes to know more about ultrasound or pregnancy here.