WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2D, DOPPLER, 3D AND 4D ULTRASOUNDS?

A 2 dimensional ultrasound is when a transducer is placed on your belly or into your vagina that sends sound waves through your body. The waves bounce off internal organs and fluids, and a computer converts these echoes into a two-dimensional image (or a cross-sectional view) of the fetus on a screen.

3D ultrasound are multiple two-dimensional images taken at various angles and then pieced together to form a three-dimensional rendering. For instance, instead of just seeing a profile view of your cutie’s face, you can see the whole surface (it looks more like a regular photo). A 4D ultrasound exam is similar, but the image shows movement — which means like a video, you see your baby doing things in real time (like opening and closing his eyes and sucking his thumb).

WHY THEY’RE PERFORMED

Medical practitioners use 2D and Doppler ultrasounds regularly throughout uncomplicated pregnancies to examine the fetus, assess amniotic fluid and look for birth defects, among other things. However 3D and 4D ultrasounds are performed only to closely examine suspected fetal anomalies, such as cleft lip and spinal cord issues, or to monitor something specific.