Your Ultrasound Questions Answered

Expecting moms have a lot of questions about ultrasound!  Whether it’s:

“What can you see on a 6 week ultrasound?” or “When can baby’s heartbeat be seen or heard?

My 17 years of obstetrical ultrasound experience comes in handy for answering these questions! So, I searched Google to find the most popular questions related to the ultrasounds that we do, here at Wonder Time. And here they are, with my answers, enjoy!

Does insurance cover ultrasounds during pregnancy?

Most insurances do cover the diagnostic ultrasounds that a doctor orders for you.  Insurance will not cover ultrasounds done for reassurance. For example, your morning sickness suddenly stops, your other symptoms are gone too, is baby OK? If you aren’t bleeding and you don’t have any pain, most doctors cannot or will not order an ultrasound to check on your baby. Why not? Because insurance will not pay for it. Here at Wonder Time, we offer a 5 Minute Quick Peek Reassurance Scan, designed only to show you that your baby has a heartbeat and is active.

 

Is 6 weeks too early for ultrasound?

No, not if the calculated gestational age of the baby is correct. At 6 weeks, baby should have a visible heartbeat on ultrasound. Measurements can be taken, but may not be as accurate as a measurement taken at 9-12 weeks. Here at Wonder Time, we routinely help parents see a quick peek of their baby at 6 weeks. At this age, our typical scan lasts about 3 minutes, includes seeing the heartbeat, measuring the heart rate and measuring the length of the baby. During this delicate and rapid time of development, a quick peek is best. Baby is going to grow a millimeter every day for the next month or so!

Baby Ultrasound at 6 Weeks

 

Why does my stomach look big at 6 weeks pregnant?

In the beginning of pregnancy, hormones like progesterone increase, slowing down mom’s digestive process. This results in slightly more constipation and gas than normal. The other factor is the uterus is growing and displacing the intestines further up into the abdomen. All of this can make for a bloated effect, even at 6 weeks.

 

Is no heartbeat at 6 weeks normal?

That’s a tough question. If we are absolutely sure of dates of conception and ovulation, it can be a bad sign that we do not see a heartbeat at 6 weeks. However, most of the time, this situation occurs when mom thinks she is 6 weeks, but ovulation actually occurred later in her cycle, making her closer to 5 weeks and 4 days, or less. You see, the heart starts beating at 5 weeks and 5 days. If you are actually 5 weeks and 4 days, no heartbeat will be seen at that time- and that is OK. In cases like this, where no heartbeat is seen, and the size of the gestational sac (area where baby grows inside of the uterus) is sometimes measuring smaller than 6 weeks, and a repeat scan in a few days or weeks is recommended. Of course, if we see anything that causes alarm, or the need for a formal ultrasound, we advise you to see your doctor ASAP.

 

Can you tell gender at 12 weeks?

By ultrasound, gender can be determined at 12 weeks, and at a very high rate of accuracy if the nub angle (angle of the genital tubercule relative to the sacroiliac spine) is indicative of a boy. However, what appears to be a female, 2% of the time, may actually be a male. This margin of error goes away at 13 weeks, when our gender expert- Glenda – has been able to correctly determine 100% of the babies she has scanned – since Wonder Time was born, in 2017!

 

What week can you tell gender by ultrasound?

Wonder Time can 100% accurately tell gender at 13 weeks of pregnancy or more. See the answer above for more info.

 

Is there a test to find out gender?

Yes! You may get a NIPT blood test at your doctor, or you can come to Wonder Time, where we offer Sneak Peek Clinical Testing. Sneak Peek can be done as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy, requires a quick blood draw by our phlebotomist, and has results available as soon as the next day. We also perform a quick ultrasound to check on baby, and confirm that you are 6 weeks pregnant or more. The Sneak Peak website has more info about gender blood tests.

 

How can I check my baby gender at home?

Sneak Peek does offer a home testing option. We find our in-office Sneak Peek Clinical testing to be more accurate. We measure the baby to check size and dates, and there is no risk of cross contamination with our blood draw method.

 

Are these tests for gender accurate?

Yes, our Sneak Peek Clinical tests have been proven to be over 99% accurate in the three years that we have been offering them. Our gender ultrasound is the most reliable, with Glenda at 100% accuracy for babies that are 13 weeks or more.

 

How early can you have a gender scan?

The earliest is 13 weeks, if you want the most accurate result.

 

What week is best for 3D ultrasound?

3D ultrasound images can be done at any week. The general guideline that we use is 28-34 weeks is the best range for high quality images of baby’s face. The smaller the baby is, the more lack of detail there will be. Before 28 weeks, baby doesn’t really have any body fat. This can result in certain details of the baby’s face looking strange- such as the nose appearing big, bags under the eyes. This is all normal, and it is related to the prematurity of the baby at the time of the scan. This does not detract from most parent’s enjoyment of seeing that precious face.

 

Do babies look like their 3D ultrasounds?

Yes! We have lots of side by side “before and after” images provided to us by moms and dads sending us a newborn picture. The closer to delivery that the 3D image is taken, the more accurate the picture will be- however waiting past 34 weeks can sometimes result in not enough room to get a good face image.

Wonder Time 3D Ultrasound Before and After

 

What is the difference between 3D and 4D ultrasound pictures?

3D is a still image, taken like a photograph-point and shoot. A 4D ultrasound is a video clip, showing the 3D image of the baby in real time. As the baby moves, yawns, and smiles- all of that can be seen and saved in 4D imaging.  The downside to 4D is that it is not possible to get a smooth video and high resolution image all at the same time. Of the two, 3D will be a higher definition and better quality.

 

Is 20 weeks too early for 3D ultrasound?

Not really, we can still get some nice images if baby is in a good position, and if there is ample amniotic fluid. Is it the best time to see the baby’s face? No, not really. But it can be a good time to see baby’s whole body in one image.

 

What week is best for 4D ultrasound?

Much like 3D ultrasound, 4D ultrasound is best around 28-34 weeks.

 

What a 4D ultrasound looks like?

4D ultrasound looks like 3D ultrasound, except it is real time, in motion. You can see the baby in 3 dimensions, moving, yawning, and smiling.

 

What can I expect from a 4D ultrasound? 

Your sonographer will have you lay down in a comfortable position, usually lying on one side or the other. Warm ultrasound gel will be applied to your belly, usually below your belly button, as that is the most likely place for baby’s face to be. The ultrasound probe will be placed on your belly, with gel in between it and your skin. The sonographer will apply gentle pressure in the area near baby’s face, and you should be able to see your baby moving in 3D up on the screen.

 

What week is best for 4D ultrasound?

The same week that is best for 3D is also good for 4D. I always say that my favorite is 30 weeks, with the wider range being 28-34 weeks.

 

Is HD better than 4D ultrasound?

HD is better than standard 4D, giving a more realistic image. HD Ultrasound is a software option available on certain upper level ultrasound machines. Our GE ultrasound unit has HD Live, which renders the baby’s skin in a more lifelike appearance, and allows for a 360 degree lighting adjustment. I have seen this lighting feature turn a good picture into a great one. I mainly scan in HD Live mode, while I am doing 3D still images, and 4D videos. Here are some examples of Wonder Time’s 4D video:

 

What can you see on a 4D ultrasound?

You can see your baby’s features in 3 dimensions, and see their movements. You may be able to see a yawn, a smile, even a boo-boo lip! Some babies like to put on a show, while others are content to lie back and let us see them from different angles.

 

Can I take a video of my ultrasound?

At the doctor’s office, it is usually forbidden to take a video of your ultrasound. At Wonder Time- we encourage it! You can FaceTime, record video, whatever you prefer. Or, just sit back and relax, because every ultrasound session at Wonder Time includes a Livestream video which is saved to your BabyFlix account.

 

What a 7 week ultrasound looks like?

At 7 weeks, baby will look a little like a small peanut, or a string bean, or a grain of rice. Baby will measure approximately 0.5 inches, though on the ultrasound, baby will be measured in centimeters. A heartbeat should be clearly seen as a flicker near the middle of the baby.

 

Is ultrasound an elective?

An elective ultrasound is done to satisfy the emotional needs of expectant parents to see their baby, usually including the use of 3D and 4D ultrasound. You can have an elective ultrasound done, if you want to. I always recommend a little research…does the person who is performing the ultrasound have their RDMS? A degree in ultrasound? Multiple years of obstetrical experience? Do they have modern equipment and an understanding of ultrasound physics and safety?  If the answer is yes to all of these, that person is qualified to perform an elective ultrasound. Also high on my list is the personality of the person doing the scan, because at the elective ultrasound, you want someone who will talk to you & be excited to show you your baby.

 

Are elective ultrasounds safe?

Simple answer, yes. Ultrasound has never been known to have caused any harm to a mother or baby. However, an ultrasound is only as good or as “safe” as the person performing it. People with limited elective ultrasound training may not be as well versed in ultrasound physics or best practices as those registered sonographers with a degree in ultrasound. There are currently no regulatory organizations for the field of elective ultrasound. It is up to you, the prospective client, to research and determine whether the person performing your elective ultrasound should be operating that piece of equipment. Terms to look for:  A degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, ARDMS certification, ARDMS OB/GYN specialty. You can even look up a sonographer by name to see if they are ARDMS registered.

If a person is listed there, with an OB/GYN specialty, they are qualified to perform diagnostic obstetrical ultrasounds, and therefore, IMO qualified to perform an elective ultrasound as well. Here is my registry listing:

Glenda Barachko ARDMS Registration

 

How many ultrasounds do you have during your pregnancy?

This answer varies from person to person.  A high risk pregnancy may have more than 20 ultrasounds. A low risk pregnancy may only be 2 ultrasounds.

 

Can too many ultrasounds harm baby?

It is theoretically possible to cause harm, but the amount of scanning time and acoustic power necessary to do so is not likely to happen. The settings on our machine are kept at the point where unlimited scan time should be possible, but we scan at 30 minutes or less, just to be extra safe. The time to be most careful with ultrasound is early in pregnancy- up to 10 weeks or so. At that point, scan time of the baby is best kept to a few minutes, and should not include the use of pulsed wave Doppler (listening to baby’s heartbeat using the ultrasound machine).  At 67-10 weeks I can usually show baby’s heartbeat, heart rate, and take 2 measurements in under 2 minutes.

More about early gender determination

I know, you have been told to wait until 16, 18 or 20 weeks to find out if it’s a boy or a girl. I know that your sister found out at 14 weeks and it was wrong. 

Ultrasound is very operator dependent.  No two sonographers will get the exact same image. Most sonographers have never utilized nub theory at 13 weeks.  Some will correctly guess all boys ( boys can be easier) but guess wrong on girls. Some rely on the between the legs shot:

This can be somewhat unreliable, especially at 13 weeks.

Here’s what I did:  I read a pretty informative article about “nub theory” which explained how the angle of the genital tubercule could be used to determine a boy or girl. It made logical sense to me.  The genital tubercule of the female is aligned parallel to the body, and is receding inward ( known as the clitoris) and the genital tubercule of the male is angled at 30 degrees or more from the spine ( known as the penis in that case).  I then offered my patients at 13 weeks an educated guess of what the gender was…and I WAS NEVER WRONG.  200 correct consecutive “GUESSES”. I knew then that I had developed my skill. Upon further research, I found that other countries in the world use the “nub theory” routinely!

Check out this clinical study from 1999 ( when ultrasound was still unrefined and blurry, compared to today)

First-trimester determination of fetal gender by ultrasound.

Efrat Z1, Akinfenwa OO, Nicolaides KH.

 

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the accuracy of fetal sex determination at 11-14 weeks of gestation.

METHODS:

Fetal gender assessment by ultrasound was prospectively carried out in 172 singleton pregnancies at 11-14 weeks of gestation immediately before chorionic villus sampling for karyotyping. The genital region was examined in a midsagittal plane and the fetal gender was assigned as male if the angle of the genital tubercle to a horizontal line through the lumbosacral skin surface was greater than 30 degrees and female when the genital tubercle was parallel or convergent (less than 30 degrees) to the horizontal line.

RESULTS:

The accuracy of sex determination increased with gestation from 70.3% at 11 weeks, to 98.7% at 12 weeks and 100% at 13 weeks. In the male fetuses, there was a significant increase in the angle of the genital tubercle from the horizontal with crown-rump length. Male fetuses were wrongly assigned as female in 56% of cases at 11 weeks, 3% at 12 weeks and 0% at 13 weeks. In contrast, only 5% of the female fetuses at 11 weeks were incorrectly assigned as male and this false-positive rate was 0% at 12 and 13 weeks.

CONCLUSION:

The clinical value of determination of fetal sex by ultrasound is in deciding whether to carry out prenatal invasive testing in pregnancies at risk of sex-linked genetic abnormalities, because invasive testing would be necessary only in pregnancies with male fetuses. Our results suggest that a final decision on invasive testing for sex-linked conditions should be undertaken only after 12 weeks of gestation.

 
Wow, even in 1999 they were still getting great results at early ultrasounds!  Why doesn’t your ultrasound tech know about this? Because these studies were done in London. Another reason that you won’t get a lot of cooperation out of a sonographer in a hospital or outpatient setting is that we don’t care about the gender.  We have bigger fish to fry, and the gender is a distraction.  Our main concern in that setting is making sure your baby is healthy, and not missing anything.  Here at Wonder Time, I am happy to do only “the fun stuff” and I am confident in my gender determination!
Read more here.

Questions about early gender determination

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all safe & warm today! It’s a snow day for all of us here.

One of our clients recently asked how can we determine gender @ 13 weeks.  Well, a couple of factors need to be in place… You need to have a machine with really good resolution. Check.  You need to have experience in scanning babies at that time of pregnancy, (which is the time where you have the Nuchal Translucency scan). Check. And you need to know the method of determining relative angles. Check.  Most importantly, you need to get the exact middle view of the baby. Check.

I personally have used this method to determine gender, without fail, for over 150 babies (my determination was confirmed at 20 weeks).  As long as the baby cooperates (very rare that they don’t for this view) I can tell you what the sex of the baby is, anytime after the 13 week mark.  If you or someone you know “just can’t wait” give us a call or make an appointment online.