Deal Details

The WHO recommends no more than 2 ultrasounds during the course of a pregnancy and “entertainment ultrasounds” such as these serve NO diagnostic purpose.

3D ultrasounds use a much heavier acoustic load to create a dataset that is then converted to a 3D image. Ever wonder why hospitals DON’T do this type of imaging on your baby?  It is because it is UNETHICAL to submit them to such a high load of energy when it only serves the vanity of the parents.

As ultrasound is an unregulated health profession there is no responsibility for clinics such as these to hire people qualified to recognize fetal abnormalities. 

Won’t you feel great after you’ve sent out your congenitally abnormal fetus’ pic on all of your Christmas cards?

There have been no studies to show that ultrasound is harmful, 3D/4D ultrasound is a wonderful way to bond with baby and provides fetal reassurance. 

4D ultrasound is less acoustic intensive than 2D because the probe is oscillating serving to diffuse the sound waves, further, 3D/4D ultrasound records 20 seconds of playback so the probe is not in contact with the maternal abdomen at all times. 

A study performed by Dr. Campbell in the UK observed that children who had ultrasound exposure showed improved dexterity than the control group.  I’d kindly ask that you provide one scientific study proving the harm exists, I’ve yet to find one - it’s also ironic that Radiologists throughout the lower mainland would be performing these scans if they were indeed harmful.

We had a 4-D ultrasound done at 25 weeks (after consulting with our midwife). It was an amazing experience and I would do it again if I were to have another baby.

I agree with AmandaA.  It was a great experience and comforting to see baby in pseudo 3-D.  And because the normal ultrasound labs do not want to let you know the sex of your baby, you can find out through this place.  I priced out many 3D/4D labs in the Greater Vancouver Area, but this “spa” (and it really is a spa) was the cheapest.

My baby didn’t stop glowing until pre-school after the so-called Spa Treatment.  We made up the expensive ‘sale’ price of the procedure by saving on our lighting bill over the years.  Glow babies can be good for the environment in the long run.  Of course, if they survive…

There have been no studies to show that ultrasound is harmful.

- very true...however most, if not all, sonography organizations, associations or advocacy groups caution against the increased and repeated exposure to ultrasound for NON DIAGNOSTIC purposes.

3D/4D ultrasound is a wonderful way to bond with baby and provides fetal reassurance.

-"fetal reassurance”? of what.... that their parents think a good way to bond with them is to subject them to an unnecessary medical test? that’s like bonding with your dad by giving him an unneeded prostate biopsy

4D ultrasound is less acoustic intensive than 2D because the probe is oscillating serving to diffuse the sound waves, further, 3D/4D ultrasound records 20 seconds of playback so the probe is not in contact with the maternal abdomen at all times.

-Incorrect.  The duty factor is increased with 3D/4D...that’s what gives you those crisp frame rates. The time a probe spends sending out sound pulses(duty factor) is increased because you need more of those echoes back to generate a 3D/4D image. Whether you use an array or curvilinear transducer is immaterial to the duty factor which has nothing to do with the length of time you are scanning for.  The bottom line is that its all unneeded acoustic exposure if it doesn’t serve a diagnostic purpose.

A study performed by Dr. Campbell in the UK observed that children who had ultrasound exposure showed improved dexterity than the control group. 

-Please cite...I would find this interesting. Also of note...the studies linking increased exposure of ultrasound with recurrent ear infections in infants.

I’d kindly ask that you provide one scientific study proving the harm exists, I’ve yet to find one -

-there isn’t one to my knowledge HOWEVER..refer above

it’s also ironic that Radiologists throughout the lower mainland would be performing these scans if they were indeed harmful.

-3D ultrasound is a diagnostic tool.  If a fetus shows a thicken NT then 3D is a great way to diagnose a cleft palette. What would be UNETHICAL, not harmful would be for radiologists perform a medical test for the sole purpose of entertainment such is done at clinics like these(and I’m assuming yours).

Since we have such a snappy dialogue going now I have a question I would earnestly like to have an answer for:

What happens when a tech at one of these clinics is scanning and recognizes a fetal abnormality?  do the clients go home without pictures and video and are told to see their doctor, or do the techs stay quiet and send them home lovingly clutching the photos of a fetus that won’t survive outside the womb.

I guess that question is immaterial because anyone who could only get a job scanning at one of these clinics would not have the skill or credentials to recognize if anything is wrong with a clients baby.

Same the cameras for after birth.  For the baby, not the actual after birth.  And wait a while cuz they’re kinda icky when they first appear.

If you earnestly want ‘fetal reassurance,’ have two shots of tequila and wait for s/he to kick you.

If you get this very selfish procedure done, you deserve a few kicks to the belly.

Baby first!

What happens when a tech at one of these clinics is scanning and recognizes a fetal abnormality?

The scan is stopped immediately, the patient is referred to their GP, the session is not performed.  All clients require that a diagnostic scan be completed prior to the 3D.4D ultrasound, this is a safeguard and clients understand the difference between their diagnostic scan and non-diagnostic scan.

-"fetal reassurance”? of what.... that their parents think a good way to bond with them is to subject them to an unnecessary medical test? that’s like bonding with your dad by giving him an unneeded prostate biopsy

Comparing an invasive medical procedure requiring anesthesia to a painless, harmless, meaningful experience is a fairly crude analogy, however, “fetal reassurance” implies the following - this is supported by an article in the Journal of Ultrasound & Medicine entitled: Effects of ultrasound on maternal-fetal bonding:a comparison of two- and three-dimensional imaging” performed jointly by the Departments of Radiology and Family Medicine in San Diego.

Conculsion: “3DUS appears to more positively influence the perceptions of mothers to their babies postbirth compared to 2DUS. Specifically, mothers who had 3DUS showed their ultrasound images to a greater number of people compared to mothers who had 2DUS alone and this may represent mother’s social support system. 3DUS may have a greater impact on the maternal-fetal bonding process.”

I think you’d have a difficult time receiving ethics approval if you were to apply this study model to measure the correlation between bonding during prostate exam procedures.

Further studies have shown the following benefits to 3D/4D ultrasound, you can site these in the Journal of Ultrasound and Medicine.

1. Documented cases of patients who underwent 3D/4D ultrasound changed harmful maternal practices such as smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy.  Patients reported this was because they had an increased bond with their baby and recognized the harm they were causing.

2. Allows the father a more direct means of experiencing the pregnancy.

3. Increases social networking and maternal support support systems (see above).

4. Decreases maternal anxiety

You make a good point about increased NT thickness and cleft lip - additional benefits to this are noticing the appearance of the nasal bone and the the presence of a ventral septal defect (VSD), the scan you’re referring to is the first trimester screening (FTS) test for trisomy 21.  The limitation is that the scan is suited for 11-13 weeks, long before the B scan and even longer before a 3D/4D ultrasound (if the patient desires).  This scan is not offered by MSP so the argument doesn’t apply to Radiology centres that offer 3D/4D ultrasound in the lower mainland since NT can’t be performed this late in the pregnancy - also a patient by this time would be past the threshold for CVS or Amnio so the FTS scan would provide no benefit.

I guess that question is immaterial because anyone who could only get a job scanning at one of these clinics would not have the skill or credentials to recognize if anything is wrong with a clients baby.

Technicians at Som Visao are ARMDS qualified Sonographers with extensive experience.  Some balance FT diagnostic work with non-diagnostic call shifts. 

Another article in the Journal of Ultrasound and Medicine surveyed medical professionals and asked whether they’d perform it on their own children - approximately 70% answered they would have no reservations.  I’ve spoken with Radiologists, GPs, and OBGYNs who have scanned their own children and have nothing but positive things to say about their experience.