Hello Pregnant Mamas! We are  looking forward to seeing you and your beautiful babies!

Here are some tips for the best ultrasound experience, whether you are getting a Free Gummy Bear Ultrasound, Gender Determination Ultrasound, or a 3D 4D HD Ultrasound.

1. Book your ultrasound session online, and fill out the registration form that we send. You must have this filled out before you arrive.

2. Please try to arrive 5-10 minutes before your appointment time. You may need time to find a parking spot. We will have very limited ability to accommodate lateness. If you arrive late, your appointment time may be cut short to allow for proper sanitizing in between clients.

3. Drink plenty of water- you need about 64-84 ounces each day (more if you are very active, or have been sick recently). A bottle of unflavored Smart Water or Essentia daily is often helpful.

However, you do not need to have a full bladder- only fill your bladder if you are less than 10 weeks pregnant. A good pocket of fluid in front of the baby’s face makes all the difference in getting awesome 3d and 4d ultrasound pictures.  I find myself giving my clients a lot of advice for how to have a great session, with the best picture. So much of picture quality hinges on amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is the “water” around the baby. Babies with more fluid are able to move around a bit more. Optimal levels of amniotic fluid are reached when you are well-hydrated, drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day. Amniotic fluid allows a cushion between baby’s face and other surfaces, such as the placenta and the wall of the uterus. All of the pics you see on our Facebook and Instagram are examples of adequate to optimal fluid levels.

4. Don’t come to your appointment hungry. Try to eat a light meal or snack before you arrive. Eat a piece of fruit, if you feel like something sweet, bananas, grapes, cherries and figs are best.
5. Bring your loved ones! We have room for 10 to sit comfortably. Bring the kids if you want, just remember to bring a favorite toy to keep them happy. We also have some toys and board books for your use in the room. In my experience, anyone from toddler to age 9, gets tired of the ultrasound after a few minutes. You, however, will be glued to the screen, seeing for the first time the little nose, lips, chubby cheeks, and recognizable features of your precious little baby.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions before, during, or after your visit! Any questions or concerns, please let us know! You can text or call us at  (856) 553-5138
7. Please try to arrive 5-10 minutes before your appointment time. You may need time to find a parking spot. We will have very limited ability to accommodate lateness. If you arrive late, your appointment time may be cut short to allow for proper sanitizing in between clients.

8. And finally, this should go without saying, but if you are ill, or running a fever, please call us to reschedule. If I am ill or running a fever- I will be calling you.

Want recommendations based on your session type?  Glad you asked!

Free Gummy Bear

This scan is a 3-5 minute scan designed to let you see your baby’s heartbeat, get a basic measurement, and give you some video and pictures. If you are between 6 and 10 weeks, a full bladder is going to be helpful. A full bladder helps to push your intestines up and away from your uterus, and it will position your uterus for optimal images of the baby. Drink approximately 20 ounces of water 30-45 minutes before your appointment.  If you are nauseous, only do what you are able to do.

We will see the baby’s heartbeat, and be able to tell you the heart rate. We will not be hearing the baby’s heartbeat at this time. Why is that? Our office follows the AIUM guidelines as much as possible. Here’s what they have to say on the subject:

“Although Doppler instruments without imaging capability are permissible to be used, spectral Doppler imaging should not be used to document the fetal heart rate unless clinically indicated. When attempting to document the fetal cardiac activity or obtain the heart rate with a diagnostic ultrasound system, the AIUM recommends using either an M-mode or a B-mode scan, keeping the TI as low as possible, preferably less than or equal to 0.7, and not prolonging the procedure beyond what is necessary to obtain the measurement.¹ Use the TI for soft tissues for the TI if pregnancy is less than 10 weeks; use the TI for bone if 10 or more weeks.

If an M-mode scan cannot be obtained at an embryonic size (crown-rump length) of 2 mm to 1 cm (approximately 5+ to 7 weeks), the heartbeat may be visualized by B-mode imaging and retained for documentation. Pulsed Doppler (spectral, power, and color flow imaging) ultrasound should not be used routinely due to increased acoustic output.”      

         Credit: https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/79

English Translation: Doppler with an ultrasound machine is powerful stuff. More powerful than a handheld Doppler. No one knows how long of a “listen” at this early stage might cause an issue, or be believed to have caused an issue with the baby’s health.

We always strive to keep our elective ultrasounds as safe, or safer than the ones performed at the doctor’s office.

Quick Peek  (5 minute Reassurance scan)

Can be performed at any time after 6 weeks. The perfect session to put your mind at ease. Our favorite for mamas who want to just have a quick check in, multiple times throughout pregnancy. Bring up to 10 guests. A 2D session, looking at heart beat, heart rate, estimated measurements and baby’s position. If you are looking for the best face pics, consider our Peek a Boo or Sweet Baby Face sessions instead.  More than 10 weeks? Let us know in the beginning of your visit if you would like to add a heartbeat bear/animal for an extra $40 plus tax.

Please fill your bladder if you are 6-10 Weeks pregnant.

Quick Peek ( 10 Minute Scan)

For moms that are 15 weeks or more, The perfect session to put your mind at ease. Our favorite for mamas who want to just have a quick check in, multiple times throughout pregnancy. Bring up to 10 guests.  Mostly 2D, with possible 3D and 4D if we are lucky. If you are looking for the best face pics, consider our  Lucky Baby, Peek a Boo or Sweet Baby Face sessions instead.  Let us know in the beginning of your visit if you would like to add a heartbeat bear/animal for an extra $40 plus tax.

No need for a full bladder, empty bladder is best.

Sneak Peek Clinical

A precious little peek with ultrasound, and a quick blood draw by our phlebotomist and you will find out your baby’s gender in 1-3 days! Must be 6 weeks pregnant or more.  This session starts with a 2D ultrasound first, to check the size of the baby, get the heartrate, and get you a few pics and a short video. After that, you will have one small vial of blood drawn. Your last stop is the front desk, where our receptionist will confirm all of your information and the email that you choose to have your results sent to.

Drink 64 – 84 ounces of water the day before your appointment, and try to drink a big glass of water in the morning before you come in. The more hydrated you are, the easier your blood draw will be. A full bladder is also helpful for the quick ultrasound that we do, if you are under 10 weeks. Once again, at this time in pregnancy it can be hard to drink water and keep it down. Please only do what you can, try not to make yourself sick. We will also have juice, water, coffee and donuts at the event.

Early Pink or Blue/ Pink or Blue

Our most accurate gender determination. Glenda personally performs all 13-14 week Early Pink or Blue Sessions. Her accuracy has held strong for 5 years- Every baby she has scanned that measures 13 weeks or more has been 100% correct. That’s a lot of happy, confident gender reveals!! Great time to add a heartbeat bear/ animal for an additional $40. We record your baby’s heartbeat onto a module, which goes inside the stuffed animal of your choice. Have a specific stuffed animal in mind? Let us know a week ahead of your appointment and we can order that for you! Visit our heartbeat bear supplier to see your options. https://www.mybabysheartbeatbear.com/  Need gender reveal supplies? We can help with that! Keep the gender a surprise for everyone, and let us select the correct (but secret) color for you! (Let us know at least 2 weeks prior to your appointment for large orders)

No need for a full bladder for these sessions, but please drink at least 64-84 ounces of water daily for three days prior to your appointment. The more hydrated you are, the better the images will be.

Gender Confirmation Ultrasound

For this session, you must be 13 weeks or more. Have you done a blood test for baby’s gender? These tests are usually 98-99% accurate. While that is highly reliable, that is still one or two mamas out of every 100 who will prepare and plan and dream and then find out the test was incorrect. I am now recommending gender confirmation by ultrasound for all of my clients who have had DNA blood tests. Bring in your email, letter, etc as proof of the blood test and I will confirm the results by ultrasound. No blood test? Just book one of our gender determination by ultrasound packages and have 100% confidence, the first time…EVERY TIME.

Lucky Baby, Peek a Boo, Sweet Baby Face

Drink at least 64-84 ounces of water each day for the three days before your appointment. The day of, drink water, stay hydrated, eat as you normally would. If your baby is normally not very active during the time of day of your appointment, have some fruit 30 minutes prior to your session. No need for a full bladder, empty is best!

Even after our best efforts, getting a good image can still be difficult. An anterior placenta, positioned near baby’s face limits good 3D and 4D images. Above average pre pregnancy hip to waist ratio can possibly affect our image clarity. The umbilical cord can be pushed up inf ront of the face, distorting the image. How to solve these? More amniotic fluid, more time, and perhaps a redo session. At Wonder Time, our Peek a Boo and Sweet Baby Face packages come with a 75% face policy. We recognize 75% as being both eyes, nose and mouth in any one image. If we are unable to achieve this, we offer you a chance to come back for a redo session.

You can feel confident that we are always trying to provide you with the best service, and best pictures and video of your baby. After all, every person that you share your baby’s pics with is a potential referral! We look forward to introducing you to the newest member of your family!

I find myself giving my clients a lot of advice for how to have a great session, with the best picture. So much of picture quality hinges on amniotic fluid.