 What is the difference between 3D ultrasound and 4D ultrasound? Is 4D Ultrasound safe? Do you accept insurance? What is a Basic Medical Fetal Study? What is a Level 1 Limited Medical Diagnostic? How good are you at determining the sex of the baby? How can I be sure I get the best images possible? What qualifications do your technicians have? What should I do before the ultrasound appointment? How long does an appointment last? Can I bring family and friends to the ultrasound appointment? What payment options do you accept? What should I expect with a video or DVD? When do I get my pictures? When is the best time to have an ultrasound done? How much do you charge? Do you offer any discounts? What days are you open for appointments? What if I happen to be late? Do I need to make an appointment? How do I find you? Will you contact my doctor/provider? Do I need a note from my doctor? Do you have relationships with other ultrasound companies? Do you have a referral program? What if I have other questions? What is the difference between 3D ultrasound and 4D ultrasound?3D ultrasound is a still picture while 4D adds the dimension of movement like a video camera.Back to top Is 4D Ultrasound safe? 4D ultrasound is the same soundwave technology as your doctor's 2D ultrasound! Ultrasound has been used for over 35 years and has been proven through countless studies to be a non-invasive tool with many benefits. We strictly adhere to the standard set by the FDA which restricts ultrasound exposure to levels that produce few, if any, effects on the fetus. Our 3D/4D sonogram imaging uses ultrasound energy subject to these same limits and is not a product of increased frequency or "power" levels, but a combination of increased data gathering (listening) by the transducer and software used to compile a more detailed image. The widely accepted medical website WebMD.com had this to say about "Multiple Pregnancy Ultrasounds Safe for Child" in December 2004. Back to top Do you accept insurance? Insurance considers this an elective procedure so they don't normally reimburse you for it. As an out-of-pocket expense, we accept Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and most Debit Cards. Back to top What is a Basic Medical Fetal Study? A Basic Medical Fetal Study includes basic information about the baby, including the verification of heartbeat, assessment of the baby's position and, if desired, gender determination. If there is more than one baby present, we verify the number and determine the above information for each baby. Back to top What is a Level 1 Limited Medical Diagnostic? The optional Level 1 Limited Medical Diagnostic that we provide includes due date and weight estimation based on the baby's measurements and the report is sent to the provider. We don't know of anyone in Los Angeles County, with the exception of a doctor's office, that provides this service. Other offices say they do a medical exam or a limited dignostic, but this is nothing more than our Basic Medical Fetal Study (see question above). The Level 1 LMD is included free with the Option 1 package. However, this is never intended to replace the medical services of your provider, only to add to it. Back to top How good are you at determining the sex of the baby? At 16 weeks we can determine the gender with a very high accuracy. If you are over 16 weeks and the gender can't be seen on the day of the appointment, we will invite you for a Courtesy Weekday Return and we will rescan you for free within the next 30 days. The need for a return visit is usually due to the baby's position. Back to top How can I be sure I get the best images possible? Mothercare employs the most experienced 3D/4D sonographers in the country and we use the best imaging equipment available. We are confident that we will be able to obtain the best images of your baby given the conditions present. Our sonographers are medically trained and certified. However there are many things out of their control like the baby's position, the mother's skin type, amount of amniotic fluid, etc. Most doctors recommend maintaining a healthy fluid intake, particularly while you are pregnant. This will also help to ensure your amniotic fluid is full and clear. Please consult your doctor for any additional requirements or restrictions. Back to top What qualifications do your technicians have? All of our Sonographers are medically trained and ARDMS registered or elegible. They do 3D and 4D ultrasounds every day at work and become very good at their job. For your comfort, we have only female sonographers. Back to top What should I do before the ultrasound appointment? The days before, drink lots of water so you remain hydrated. On the day of the appointment eat and drink normally since you don't need a full bladder. About 30 minutes before the appointment, you can drink a glass of fruit juice (unless your physician says otherwise) and this will often get the baby to wake up for your ultrasound. Back to top How long does an appointment last? A typical 3D/4D scan lasts about 15-20 minutes and a 2D scan about 10-15 minutes. We ask that you arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment so that you can fill out the forms. Back to top Can I bring family and friends to the ultrasound appointment? Absolutely. We encourage you to bring your family and support group to share in the experience together. We have a spacious, comfortable viewing room that can accommodate about 10-12 guests. Back to top What payment options do you accept? Cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover are the only forms of payment we accept. Back to top What should I expect with a video or DVD? The video is set to some beautiful music and varies in length depending on the options and how well your baby performs. With the 2D ultrasound (Option 3) the average time is 10-15 minutes and shows only black and white. The 3D and 4D ultrasounds (Options 1 or 2) usually lasts around 20 minutes and displays in sepia color. At the end of the session, you get to take your videos home with you. Back to top When do I get my pictures? In about 5-10 minutes after your appointment, you will receive all the items that are included in the option you chose. Back to top When is the best time to have an ultrasound done? The answer to this depends on what you want to see. Many expecting mothers come in twice - earlier on for gender (between 16-25 weeks), and later (between 25-33 weeks) for more detailed facial features. Between 12 to 25 weeks, the baby is less developed, but has more room to move. You can also see more of the baby on the screen at one time. We can determine the gender beginning at week 16. Between 26 and 33 weeks, your baby is developing fat and the facial features become more clear. Please be aware when the baby is older than 33 weeks, 3D/4D imaging sometimes becomes more difficult. During this later developmental stage, if the baby is positioned poorly for imaging, there is less room for the baby to move out of that position and face outward. However, every baby is different and we have obtained great images all the way up to full term. Please feel free to call us and we can tell you at what stage your baby is in and you can tell us what you want to see. Back to top How much do you charge? Please see our Prices and Options page. Back to top Do you offer any discounts? We provide a 20% discount to active military personnel and their spouses, a discount for a revisit during the same pregnancy, and a 25% group discount for two or more appointments made among several expecting mothers on the same day. Discount are applied to our regular prices. See our pricing page for more potential discounts. Back to top What days are you open? Currently, we are open on Monday through Saturday. On the weekdays that we scan, we have our last appointment at 6:30 so we can better serve the working families. Back to top What if I happen to be late? In order to ensure all our customers receive the best service, we have a 10 minute late policy. If you arrive 10 minutes or more after your scheduled appointment time, we will most likely need to reschedule you in order to provide you and all our customers with the best service. Back to top Do I need to make an appointment? Yes, however we will accommodate same day appointments whenever possible. Saturdays and evenings typically book first. Back to top How do I find you? In Los Angeles county, Mothercare is located in Pasadena between the 110 and 210 freeways on the corner of Del Mar Boulevard and Marengo. For a map and directions click here. Parking on Marengo is usually available and free up to two hours, but parking in our parking structure is $2.00 /hour and we unfortunately don't validate. Back to top Will you contact my doctor? We don't contact your provider for permission, but do send a report of your results so the doctor is aware of your baby's progress. We do require that you are receiving prenatal medical care by a qualified provider and encourage you to speak with your doctor about any of your concerns. Ultrasound technicians in general can not make diagnoses. We will contact your doctor if any follow-up is needed. Back to top Do I need a note from my doctor? No. It is not necessary to ask permission from your doctor to have an elective ultrasound, however, your doctor is an expert and he would appreciate being involved in your decision. In fact, every provider in our records has been sent a $25 coupon for their customers which you can simply ask for a copy. If your provider doesn't have one, we would be happy to send some out. Back to top Do you have relationships with other ultrasound companies? Yes, some of us have joined together to make it easier for you to find the right company for you. Please see our Links page. Back to top Do you have a referral program? Yes! We are confident that you will enjoy your experience and refer our services to friends and family. As our thanks, you will receive a $10 Target Gift Card for each friend referred. Please see our referral form for details. Back to top What if I have other questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach us by phone at (626) 585-3558 or by e-mail at info@mothercareultrasound.com Back to top |