2D ultrasound scan: For this exam, a wand 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.
With Doppler fetal ultrasound, your practitioner uses a hand-held ultrasound device to amplify the sound of the fetal heartbeat with the help of a special jelly on your belly. Both are an exciting and magical moments, for sure.
3D ultrasound scan: With the newer 3D ultrasound exams, multiple two-dimensional images are 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).
4D ultrasound scan: 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).
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