What should I expect from my 4D scan?

[ItsMyLastOne]

I'm having a 4D scan tomorrow but have no idea what to expect.

What happens?
How long does it usually take?
Do you speak to anyone about your pregnancy or just have the scan?
Do I need to take my notes?

Thanks!

Is it a private scan? How many weeks are you and which company are you using?

I had a 4D scan at 28 weeks. The sonographer started off by checking that the baby was ok, then did size measurements and recorded the heartbeat, then did some 4D shots of the baby's face and finished by checking the sex. Baby was in a funny position so we had a 15 minute break at the 4D part where I drank lots of water and did a few star jumps. Excluding the break we were in there for about 20 minutes.

There's no need to take your notes if it's a private fun scan.

Yes it's a private scan. I can't remember what the company's called but I think it's a small local company. I'm 23+4.

Thanks for the info. I'm quite looking forward to it, is it strange seeing your unborn baby's face? I can't imagine what she'll look like at this stage.

I had a private 4D scan at 30 weeks - I went with Baby Premier and they wouldn't let me have one before 28 weeks because I think that's when the baby starts to flesh out a bit.

I was in there for about 40 minutes. It was lovely seeing our baby's face - she has my frown for sure! - if a little bit surreal. She was camera shy at first but she turned round and they did about 20 mins DVD footage and then went into 3D to check her growth and measurements, amniotic fluids etc. They also confirmed the gender we'd been given at our 20w NHS scan.

I took my notes but they didn't look at them.

Enjoy!

I found it slightly odd and a bit like I was invading the baby's privacy In the photos we have it looks liek she's got a black eye and a wonky squashed nose so let's hope they aren't too representative!

I think they can be different depending on where you go and which package you pay for. With my DS is had it at 28 weeks and was about 20 mins, did all the normal measurements and then we got to see him in 3d, it was amazing! I got photos on a cd and one print to take away. With my DD again I had it at 28 and again was brilliant. This time I had a better package and was scanned for 20-25 mins but got a DVD too and all the photos on cd to take away.
I've just had one with baby number 3 at 22weeks, I was so amazed, even more so this time, she was yawning, sucking her thumb, stretching and sticking out her tongue. She was wriggling a fair bit so even though I only paid for a 15 minute appointment we were in there for about 40 mins as the sonographer wanted to get some good pictures for us. I was amazed at how much she was doing at just 22 weeks!! See didn't look as 'plump' as my other too did as obviously I was a lot earlier, but still got a great view of all her facial features and she looks just like DD already have a great time, enjoy it!

I'm prepared for the bag to look strange especially as it's so early so she won't look like a newborn.

Beans this company recommend doing it between 22 and 28 weeks. That's strange. I did wonder why and I assumed it was because later on they're more squashed and it'd make it hard to see them properly.

I went at 28 weeks with DS, and it was lovely. They confirmed his gender, we got colour and black and white prints, and a DVD. We also chose to have some keyrings made up with one of the pics. He looked exactly like he did when he was born, and was smiling, frowning, sucking, and cuddling into the placenta!

We had a quick 4d preview with this pregnancy (DD) at 16 weeks as part of the gender scan, and even then, it was amazing what they do. She was already cuddling in, just like her big brother used to, and thumb sucking.

Going again at 27 weeks, and I can't wait!

I paid for a gender scan at 21 weeks with Babybond since the NHS couldn't tell me the sex. It was amazing, and so clear! They just look like real babies (If you know what i mean lol). I then booked a full 4D package for 30 weeks, i had to go back 3 different times because baby felt cheeky and hid from the camera a lot - Each time i was in about 45 minutes. But eventually we got enough footage for the DVD and loads of pictures. You see them doing things that you totally wouldn't expect like sucking there thumb, smiling, waving and blowing raspberries. They did all the bone checks and even told me what weight she was and how big her hands and feet were (SHE IS HUGE) haha. I would definitely recommend them! I'm now 34+2 and can't wait till my little one arrives, now i know what she looks like i think it's even more exciting!!! Good luck for you're scan, you'll love it!

Thanks for all your replies.

Well I had the scan yesterday and I must say I was pretty disappointed. The machine didn't seem as good as the NHS ones. When it was in 2D it was definitely not as clear as my anomaly scan 3 weeks ago. Then when it was in 4D it was quite difficult to work out what was going on most of the time.
The woman kept trying to get good pictures of the baby's face and didn't look at the rest of the body at all when in 4D.
Then a "trainee doctor" (who I'm very dubious was a trainee doctor at all but it doesn't matter) had a go for a few minutes. He got up an image of the whole body but they didn't take a shot of that which was a bit disappointing. After that the baby turned around so all we could see was her back.
She was also very low down and in most of the pictures you can see more of my pelvis than her. I know that's not their fault but I wish I'd known it wouldn't be very good this early.
It was nice to see her face and she looks weirdly like DD even at this early stage!

I think if I was to do it again with another pregnancy, I'd go later in the pregnancy and go with a big company which would hopefully have much better machines and sonographers.

That's a real shame that you didn't get a good scan! You should have mentioned though if you weren't happy, as most companies will offer a free rescan if you can't get good pictures. My scan at 22 +4 was great and the pictures were just as clear as the ones I had done at 28+3 so I'm guessing maybe it was down to the quality of their equipment, or maybe lack of experience from the person doing the scan.

I treated dd to a 4D scan last week. She is 26 weeks. It was lovely to see my first grandchild so clearly.

Babies sex was confirmed and all her measurements taken. DGD was being a minx so we were there for about 90 minutes while DD jumped around and even did a few cartwheels to try and make baby move. The nurse suggested we come back and try again so we made another appointment to return next week (no charge).

They still gave dd 60 pictures, a 5 minute dvd showing DGD yawning and blowing raspberries, and all the pictures copied onto a disc. I have put one of the pictures on my profile (with DDs permission) to show the standard we got but the clinic thought were not good enough.

Maybe if you call and explain you were not entirely happy they would try again. It's a lot of money to pay if you're not satisfied.

It was on offer and was very cheap so I think that's why they didn't try too hard to get better photos or offer a return visit. That's also why I didn't say anything. We got the whole 20 minutes footage on DVD, 25 photos on a CD and 6 printed photos. We struggled to choose 6 that were suitable for printing though because they weren't great IMO.

I keep reading people saying about measurements being taken and things being checked. For us they briefly listened to the heartbeat, did the abdominal circ and femur length, but didn't record any of them anywhere. It was also not at all clear enough to tell whether she would have been blowing raspberries so I assume other companies have better equipment which can see that.

It wasn't terrible, just not as good as I expected from what I've read and seen of 4D scans. But what can I expect when it was so cheap!