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Frequently Asked Questions

No. Please note that we value your prenatal care and want to
ensure you have the best experience possible, so all patients must have
established care with their Obstetrician and have had their first
viability ultrasound PRIOR to coming into their elective ultrasound.
Failure to do this will result in an inability to provide adequate
services.

In most cases, we can provide an indication of the sex of the baby as early as 15 weeks. We can’t, however, guarantee that the baby will cooperate during your session. Certain factors such as body tissue content, developmental stage and fetal position all affect the ability to determine sex. We highly recommend our Gold and Platinum packages that include repeat session guarantees in the event baby is in an uncooperative position for gender determination during your first visit with us.

Yes, we encourage you to make an appointment. This will ensure your reservation for our services. We do however welcome walk-ins. You may be at risk of waiting but we will try to accommodate you as soon as possible

No, but we recommend that you drink at least 100 ounces of water and non-caffeinated fluids per day in the days and weeks leading up to your ultrasound appointment. Well hydrated moms experience the best quality 3D/4D images.

Depending on the package you choose, the 3D/4D ultrasound session will last between 10 and 20 minutes. However, it may take a few minutes longer if baby is uncooperative or we are processing or printing your photos from the session.

Over the past 25 years, extensive studies have found that ultrasound has not been shown to cause any harm to mother or baby. Routine ultrasound scanning of all pregnancies is now normal throughout the United States. 3D/4D scanning is exactly the same type and intensity of ultrasound that is used as with conventional 2D scanning. There has been no conclusive evidence for harmful effects of 3D ultrasounds on a developing fetus, as well as the expectant mother.

Usually, but not always. Sometimes if the baby is persistently looking face down, i.e. towards your spine it may be difficult to see the baby’s face. We make no promises that the images will be similar to those you might have seen elsewhere, or that we can always meet everyone’s expectations. Every baby scans differently, depending on its gestational age, position, amount of fluid, and mother’s condition. We promise to make every effort to obtain the best possible images of whatever parts of the baby that can be seen.

At this point, insurance does not cover the costs of 3D/4D ultrasounds. Since this is an elective procedure and is not intended to be a replacement for your doctor ordered ultrasound, you will need to pay the cost of this ultrasound as an out of pocket expense. We accept cash, Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover Card and debit cards. We charge $.45 cents for credit card processing.

We offer elective 3D & 4D prenatal ultrasounds to provide a positive bonding experience for the mother, father and family members with the unborn baby. We feel that realistic surface images provide a connection between the parents and baby that can be beneficial to the whole family. We make no claims that 3D, as used in this examination, is performed to better assess the baby for abnormalities. A routine ultrasound examination should have already been performed to assess the gestational age of the fetus and to evaluate for fetal anomalies as well as the basic components of fetal anatomy recommended for screening.
If your baby is uncooperative, Sacramento Imaging will repeat your session at no cost. You need to book your appointment the same day of your session. We recommend to book no later than one or two weeks from your original appointment.
Yes, in most cases we can provide an indication of the sex of the baby. We can’t, however, guarantee that the baby will cooperate during your session. Certain factors such as body tissue content, developmental stage and fetal position all affect the ability to determine sex.
3D is a still image while 4D adds the dimension of motion so it looks like a video.

Yes. In fact, we encourage our clients to invite family and friends to attend the elective 3D/4D ultrasound session. This is a joyous and wonderful experience, one that can be shared with your family and loved ones. We can comfortably accommodate up to 5 guests. No food or drink allowed.

3D and 4D ultrasound use the same frequency as your doctor uses in the normal 2D ultrasound. Ultrasounds have been used for over 35 years and there have been no proven side effects from its proper use. We strictly adhere to the FDA’s standards.
If you plan on having only one 3D/4D ultrasound, we would recommend scheduling your appointment to take place between the 26th and 34th week of the pregnancy. However, excellent images of your baby can be obtained anytime after about 22 weeks of pregnancy and up until your baby’s birth. Many mothers choose to have more than one 3D/4D ultrasound and have images to enjoy from their second and third trimesters. 15-22 weeks: This is a good time for gender determination. 23-26 weeks: Baby’s facial features are starting to be defined and you can see more of the baby at once. 27-32 weeks: This is a good time for your second 3D ultrasound or if you are only going to come in for one session during your pregnancy. Baby’s facial features are more defined and the baby still has room to move around. However, because the baby is getting larger, you won’t see quite as much of him/her at once as you would earlier. 33-36 weeks: A great time for beautiful facial shots if the baby cooperates. Please be aware that increased crowding in the womb does make it more challenging to get specific pictures.

Please be advised that in order to get good images, we recommend our customers to drink adequate amounts of water (100 ounces/day) one to two weeks prior to their appointment. This is in order to ensure there is an adequate amount of amniotic fluid around the fetus and that the fluid is clear. Drinking large amounts of water immediately before the 3D ultrasound appointment does not help to have clearer 3D ultrasound images.

Refund Policy

At Sacramento Imaging, customer satisfaction is our number one priority. We do offer Return and Refund Policies and want to make them as generous and transparent as possible. If you have questions about any of the below, please feel free to ask us and we will be happy to explain them to you before you pay for your service.

Gender Check

If you are 14 weeks or more and we cannot determine the gender, you can come back for another gender check for free. The sonographer will determine if there is a need to reschedule another appointment while you are at Sacramento Imaging.

3D/4D Session Only

Sometimes your baby does not cooperate (facing backward, hands/feet covering face). Even though this is not anything we have control of, we offer to have you come back an additional time at no charge. If another appointment is necessary it will be only $35 the 2nd time and each time thereafter till we can take pictures of your baby face.

If you are not satisfied with the quality of the images, you must inform the sonographer before you leave the facility in order to make another appointment.

General Refund Policy

NO refund is offered once service is rendered unless specified by the technician during your visit.

If you book your come back session and don’t show up or call to reschedule/cancel at least 4 hours in advance, you forfeit your right for free come back.