Posted on 01/21/2010 6:33:40 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
Rebecca Parker knew her sisters wouldn't be around for the birth of her first child.
"One of them (lives in) Israel, the other one is in Los Angeles, and they weren't going to be here when the baby was born," Mrs. Parker said. "So we wanted to have something they could be a part of since they weren't going to be around for the birth."
To give her siblings a preview of their still prenatal niece (Lilah is due on Feb. 22), Mrs. Parker had a 3-dimensional ultrasound performed.
Unlike the 2D ultrasound, which is generally used as a diagnostic tool, 3D ultrasounds provide a more lifelike image of a fetus.
Parents-to-be can see facial features and gestures. With the exception of high risk pregnancy, 3D ultrasound is done for the purpose of creating a "keepsake," according to Dr. Kathleen Mitchell, an obstetrician at Beacon Health Alliance in Chattanooga.
"(Two dimensional ultrasound is) the standard that's used for medical diagnostic ultrasound in obstetrics," Dr. Mitchell said.
Referred to as diagnostic ultrasound, 2D ultrasound is used to look at the position of the placenta, check for any anomalies, look at the organs and determine the baby's sex. Unlike 3D ultrasound, it is generally covered by insurance as part of a standard prenatal screening.
Because 3D ultrasound is not a standard part of typical prenatal care, not all obstetric offices offer it.
When Renee Caylor was pregnant with her children, now ages 2 and 5, she said she had to travel to Atlanta to have a 3D ultrasound. Wanting to make the option more available to women in the Chattanooga area, Ms. Caylor opened a franchise business, Cloud Nine Imaging, through United Imaging Partners. Ms. Caylor said packages range from $99 to $229. (At North Park OBGYN in Hixson a 3D ultrasound costs $200.)
"We are not here to replace prenatal care," said Ms. Caylor, who has a background in business administration. When she decided to open Cloud Nine, she was trained to perform fetal ultrasounds through UIP, studying sonography, grayscale and ultrasound principles, female reproduction and fetal anatomy. A mother-to-be, she said, must be under the care of an obstetrician to get an appointment at Cloud Nine.
Ashley Teasley, of Dalton, Ga., had a 3D ultrasound of her twins, Owen and Ellie, at Cloud Nine after having a standard ultrasound at her OBGYN's.
"It was really neat getting to see their faces," she said. Ms. Teasley has two other children, ages 6 and 8. She did not have a 3D ultrasound with them.
For Mrs. Parker, having a 3D ultrasound made impending motherhood a little more real.
"It was a neat way of getting a sneak peak," she said. "As a first time parent, I think it's really ambiguous anyway, so anything you can do to make (the prospect of parenthood) more real will help."
Ultrasound is performed using low frequency sound waves, which create heat. "There possibly could be some effect on the fetus," Dr. Mitchell said, "though to date there's been none reported."
3D ultrasound, she said, uses more waves. "Theoretically, if (a sonographer) doesn't know what it appropriate, they may use a higher level of ultrasound than approved by the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)." ____________________________________________________
Would it have made any difference to the Justices on the Supreme Court, if they could have seen these images of the unborn babies ???
Just a blob of protoplasm.....
Just a blob of protoplasm.....
______________________________________
There’s a photo of a baby in the womb at the link...
My daughter is pregnant and scheduled for a 2-D ultrasound next month. She is going to inquire about the availability and cost of a 3-D.
Is this your first grandchild ???
PING
I saw my beautiful granddaughter at 32 weeks with the use of 3D sonographic images.
I can’t help but think the SCOTUS justices would’ve ruled differently had they seen images such as these.
Yes, M’am, our very first. Baby is due in late June. It seems so far off.
Congratulations...
I have 1 grandson, and 6 grandaughters ...
Grandchildren, one of God’s greatest gifts.
Breathtaking, beautiful!
When my daughter was in the womb in 1986, the ultrasounds looked like Rorschach Inkblots............
Grandchildren, your chance for revenge on your kids.................
Thanks, we’ll know soon whether it’s a boy or girl. Can’t wait!
That’s funny. My last visit (my daughter) “Mom, what am I going to do. I can’t believe she is so mouthy”. I smiled understandingly and replied with a smile, “pay back is a bitch”.
Spoil them rotten, fill them with sugar and send them home...........;^)
In our local prolife group, we are working to to put one of these machines in the crisis pregnancy center. Our Chik-fil-let owner has pledged 10% of sales (not sure how long they will do this, a day or a week each month maybe) and is recruiting other local business owners to participate in the fundraiser).
We are making a lot of progress in that regard. The machines are very expensive, but there would be no cost for the mother. I can’t see how any mother can look a baby in their face and then kill them.
Chik-fil-let is an awesome Christian-owned business greatly blessed by God. Google them and check out their story, and support them all you can.
***Spoil them rotten, fill them with sugar and send them home...........;^)***
Good one.
How about giving them an expresso and a puppy, and THEN send them home.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.