Are 3D Ultrasounds Worth It?
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Recently, my wife and I have been discussing 3D ultrasounds. We never got one with our daughter, but we have been giving it more serious consideration this time around, partly because this may be our last child, so we really want to capture the moments.
We have already had three regular ultrasounds (and if her pregnancy with our daughter is any indication, several more before all is said and done) and have images from each. The thing is, we have a few images from my daughter’s ultrasounds, and we rarely look at them anymore.
Our friends who have gotten the 3D ultasounds swear by them, and say that they are totally worth the investment. (In Canada, a 3D ultrasound can run upwards of $500, depending on duration, number of DVDs, prints, etc.) However, I wonder how many of them watch the DVD or look at the images now that they have the child.
Logically, some people would argue that they are akin to baby pictures, and while parents of a one year old are unlikely to look at baby pictures, they will definitely look at them when that baby is a ten year old. However, I would suspect that part of our attachment to the baby photos comes from our experiences that are captured in the images. We look back and remember that time, whereas when we see a 3D ultrasound, we don’t have memories of seeing the baby like that regularly.
For those readers with children: did you get a 3D ultrasound done? Was it worth the investment? Do you watch it often? And for those expecting: are you considering a 3D ultrasound? What factors will impact your decision?
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trinidad says...
A 3D ultrasound is the only good image you get of your child before she is born. I understand it might not be a big deal anymore once the baby is there growing before your eyes, but when you are eager to see as much as you can of your unborn baby, whatever you can get is a blessing. Then, the cost can be a problem, it really depends on one’s budget, I just think that if you still have to wait 2-4 months before you can actually see the baby, this can be something that can really ease the time.
laural says...
We went. I loved it. Personally, I was having some anxiety issues, and it really helped to ease my mind. I also got to ask a TON of questions. The difference between a 3D and a regular u/s is that this is all about customer service. It’s not for medical purposes, so you can see the face a long time and triple check the gender.
We got the full package. I went twice - once for the gender id.
Honestly, if you’re up for a drive I’d REALLY recommended where we went. I’ve heard good and bad stories about different places, but our experience there was unbelievable. I’m guessing the munchkin would like the dvd - Matt did. it’s cool though the music is super cheesy.
laurals last blog post..Noooooooobody!
Lisa Smith says...
When I was pregnant with my son last year, I had to have an ultrasound every week for the last half of my pregnancy due to some complications. During that time, I got to know our ultrasound tech very well at my OB’s office. My doctor’s office actually had a 3D U/S machine (however they charged extra for it). The tech gave us a free 3D session during a very slow session since all she had to do was flip a switch and change the attachment. We couldn’t get any good shots of my son even though I was close to delivery.
She explained that a lot of times the images you see on websites and advertisements are a small percentage of what you actually get. The babies have to be in an ideal position in order for them to get those beautiful face shots and over half the time, they aren’t where they need to be. Soooo….most times you’ll wind up spending several hundred dollars (maybe more) and may not see anything.
Aerodoq says...
We didn’t get one with pregnancy #1, and now in the midst of #2 it seems pretty unlikely. For me at least, the image from the 2D ultrasound is sufficient. Let’s face it — anyone other than the parents who look at the 3D ultrasounds will be interested for a few moments at most (if that). Even 10 yrs down the road, they’ll be a momentary interest. So, I guess I see them just as novelties.
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Aerodoqs last blog post..Father’s Day Weekend in Pictures
AndreAnna says...
We had one done with both kids and I am glad I did. That being said, it’s only around 175$ here, and that gets you a full DVD of the ultrasound set to music (which we’ve watched once), a CD of all the images taken, and a few printouts. I feel it’s worth the price for what you get.
And in my case, it helps me bond with my baby. I saw Charlotte suck her thumb and a few months ago, saw that her little brother shares her one-sided dimple before he was even born.
I don’t know if it’s worth $500, but for our price and what we got, and what we got FROM it, it was way worth it.
AndreAnnas last blog post..It finally happened (no, not labor)