Just scheduled my 3-D ultrasound!! Have some Questions!

[mj_mommy_manda]

I know this isn't a question but I was looking online at a place that does 3-D ultrasounds because the hospital I go to doesn't do them.  And its about an hour drive from my house which is the same amount of time it takes me to get to my doctors appointments.. Its 139.95 for a half hour session with 30-36 pictures of the baby on a cd, 1 picture of the face printed at the studio and 1 "gender" picture printed at the studio.  My mom thinks this is REALLY expensive, but I REALLY want to get it done because this is pretty much my only shot at a baby until Im much older, because I have genetic issues and most of my pregnancies will result in miscarriage which is why I will be getting IVF or IUI once I'm more "financially stable" in the future.  Do you think this will be a waste of money? or do you think it is worth it? I see all the little 3D pictures of babys on here and I want one SO BAD and I feel like if I dont get one I would miss out on a cool part of being pregnant.  What do you ladies think?

[jesslee83]

i dont think it is...not to be gloomy, but if this is your only child, i'd want whatever i could get! i've seen some places charge nearly $500 for those things, just cos you get a video and cd with like 20 pics.....
i say it's a good deal, esp if you can afford it! i'm not getting one, unless i get a job, but then that money could go towards the glider i want ;)...or other stuff...but if you can afford it, do it.....trust me, from what my mom and g-ma say, u/s's and stuff were extras, so not everyone could do it....and i know if my mom knew i could afford it, or if she was able to pay for it(she's spent over $100 just in stuff for shower, plus another $100+ on baby stuff!), she'd so make me do it lol....this is her 1st grand baby.....and since chris has 2 kids we really aren't considering having another, so this will likely be my only child(well, bioligically at least!!!)

[whitlack]

I personally would not pay that much to see a 3d pic of the baby because you will be seeing the baby for yourself soon enough.  My husband and I are conservative with our money and both agreed that we would see the baby when she got here.  Also I have a friend who works in xray and she said not to have the 3d u/s done because researchers are linking inner ear problems with small children who had the u/s while in utero.  I would do some more research on that issue if I were you before you spend all that money which might be harmful to the baby.  If it is def. not any harm to the baby and you want it that bad, go ahead and do it.....you will only have a few opportunities in your life to be pregnant so go ahead and enjoy it!!   Let me know if you find out any info regarding the inner ear problems associated with 3d u/s.

[aabarnett]

That's tough, will your insurance cover any of it?  If it's important to you then you should do it.   You will only be pregnant with this baby once and if that is an important momento then you should do it if you can afford to.  But if you can't really afford it, wouldn't it be wiser to spend that money on something you need for the baby???  I hate to be the party pooper but sometimes (although it's no fun) we have to sacrifice what we want for what we need.  But hey if you can afford it then go for it, just make sure you won't regret spending the money later.

[jesslee83]

ok, i just looked around, and on *2* different companies sites who offer that service, state they WILL NOT assume any liability for:
Since the ultrasound scans provided *So n So* are solely for non-medical and non-diagnostic purposes, therefore *So n So*, its officers and employees assume no liability whatsoever for the consequences of any suspected fetal complications and conditions or the failure to diagnose, treat or advise about such suspected fetal complications and conditions.  By purchasing services from *So n So*, you agree to release, indemnify and hold harmless *So n So*, its officers and employees from all liability arising from the purchased services.

maybe it isnt such a good idea....i don't think several companies would have this clause if a "possible" complication "wouldn't" arise.....then again, maybe it means from a 3D u/s catching something a "normal" u/s wouldnt? and that they refuse to be held liable from something a "OB/GYN" didn't find, but was noticed during a "3D/Memory" sonogram?

[aabarnett]

Ummm when we started having all our problems my doctor sent me to the specialist and if it wasn't for their machine, I may not know what is going on today.  I don't know about everyone but the 3 or 4 D ultrasounds have been great for us.  They have picked up on things that a regular ultrasound didn't find.  But my insurance does cover it (good thing because I get one done every week) because of the high risk and complications.  As long as my doctor orders it, the insurance covers it.  So, maybe you could ask your doctor to order you one for your next scan???  I don't know if that would work but you could probably call your insurance company and they could tell you if they would cover it if ordered by your doctor.  I don't think they would cover the cost if it wasn't ordered by the doctor though.  But I do know that without these scans, they wouldn't be able to know as much about what is going on with us.  I for one thank God for the technology because without it, I might have already lost her.  These ultrasounds have been a true blessing for us.  But I don't think that I would have ever had one if we didn't have these complications because it would just be too expensive if we didn't need them.

[stillwaiting52]

Save the money and use towards a nice package once your baby is born! Imagine the great pictures you will be able to get then! Much better than the 3d us pictires.

[Marcus's Mommy]

As you can see I have one, and this is the only picture I have.  I got it done for free b/c I lucked out.  I never did it for my other children.  I just had a routine u/s done and the machine there did both.  He told me not to tell anyone and if anyone saw the picture to say it was done at their other office that does it for fun.  This place only has the technology but doesn't use it for recreational purposes.  He told me that the other location charges $99 for a 15 minute scan and you get 6 pictures.  And $199 for a 30 minute scan which comes with a DVD of the entire scan, more pictures and music in the back ground.

I love my picture but as some have said, it is very expensive and I wouldn't personally pay for it.  But I still love having it especially when it was free.  :)

[mj_mommy_manda]

stillwaiting you make a really good point.. It would be nice to save the money and spend it on a picture package for once he is here...

The main reason I want to get the ultrasound done is because Im doing a detailed baby book.  I have pictures of me from every week of pregnancy.

Ultrasounds at 13 weeks, 21 weeks, 28 weeks, 30 weeks, 32 weeks, 34 weeks, 36 weeks and so on until he is born will be in the baby book.  I thought it would be cool to add that little 3-D picture of my son in the womb.  

My boyfriend and I are also getting professional "pregnancy" pictures taken by his cousin who is a professional photographer or by a friend who is also a professional photographer in about a month.  I will also have my best friend there who is a month behind me and we will be taking some pictures together.  Those will all go in the baby book too.  

Being pregnant has been the biggest miracle for me and I just want to be able to look back at his baby book and remember everything because like I said above I wont be pregnant again until probably about 8-10 years from now.  IF I ever do have another child.  But thank you for the input I think we are going to go ahead and do it.  We already have his dresser full, diapers, bassinette, stroller, carseat, bouncy, and bathtub.  My boyfriends mom is buying the crib, my mom is buying the swing and I still have my baby shower in September.  Thanks for your input and advice ladies!