37 week ultrasound pic looked deformed!!!

kerby1013

Has anyone had an ultrasound around 37 weeks and the baby's pic looked deformed?  Is that common for ultrasound pics?  It says 4D Real Time on the pic, but was done at the local hospital just to be checked for fetal growth, not a 4D ultrasound I paid for.  HELP, I am freaking out!!!!!

AnaKat405

I'm only 17 weeks and am having a 2D / 4D ultrasound at week 20... which I'm a little hesistant to do precisely for this reason.

I've looked at comparison images and the 2D ones are grainy, while the 4D ones the baby looks... melty?  Without having seen your pics, I'm pretty sure what you're seeing isn't uncommon.

kjg5445

the baby is all squished in there it wont look "normal"

Davesgrl2011

I'm only at 31 weeks, but I had that 4D/3D u/s and yes, baby looked totally deformed.  Sounds like you have a very active baby!  The way 4D/3D works is it sends sound waves into the uterus.  Your baby has to hold VERY still so that the high frequency sound waves have time to form around your baby's features.  If your baby moves, even just a little, even just a smile or grimace, it will blur the results, creating blobs, bumps, multiple noses, you name it.  It looks like the back of my baby's head is made of cauliflower and that his ear is an elephant ear.  He was moving a lot, so the only part of his picture that has any clarity is one hand and a bit of his face. 

I think when they get those awesome shots of babies smiling or sucking their thumb they were lucky enough to catch baby while it was asleep. 

Also- I am sure the u/s tech didn't run screaming for a doctor, so I wouldnt worry too much!  If you are still concerned, call your OB.  But I really think you don't need to worry!

mrs+harlow

At 37 weeks your baby is pretty squished in there. However, if the tech didn't adjust the settings in the 4D mode to clear up the image,  yes it can look strange.

AnaKat405

Davesgrl2011:

Your baby has to hold VERY still so that the high frequency sound waves have time to form around your baby's features.  If your baby moves, even just a little, even just a smile or grimace, it will blur the results, creating blobs, bumps, multiple noses, you name it.

Ha! Thanks for the explanation.  Makes complete sense.

thatoneredhead

Ok, I can totally relate. When I was 26 weeks my baby's jaw looked MASSIVE and weird!

It freaked me out and of course I googled it (stupid stupid stupid) and was convinced -to tears, mind you- my baby had fragile x.

I know this sounds horrible, but I found a picture of my hubby's grandmother when she was very sick and very skinny. It looked just like my baby's jaw (which wouldnt have much fat on his face at the point) Its just what that strong family jaw looks like without much padding.

Its just that they arent fully formed yet, squished, and in water. Not to mention, u/s arent photographs. So try not to worry 

 

MaggieF516

I had an ultrasound at 29 weeks and I noticed when I was home that the back of his head looks all pointy (not 3D, normal ultrasound), which was not the case on other ultrasounds. Now I'm worried and plan to bring pic to next doctor's visit on Monday to ask if it looks ok. I would think that the doctor's office would be notified right away if there was an issue and they would get in touch with you.  I know I will be happy when he is outside and I don't have to be so paranoid about things all of the time!

mrs+harlow

AnaKat405:

I'm only 17 weeks and am having a 2D / 4D ultrasound at week 20... which I'm a little hesistant to do precisely for this reason.

I've looked at comparison images and the 2D ones are grainy, while the 4D ones the baby looks... melty?  Without having seen your pics, I'm pretty sure what you're seeing isn't uncommon.

 

Are you doing an elective at 20 weeks or is this at your anatomy scan? if so you might want to wait until your baby has a bit more fat on him/her....at 20 weeks they do look a bit strange.  The 3D/4D  image at my a/s looks much different from my 34 week elective.

laurakaz13

Oh FFS!  Relax.

mcdmaw

I just had an ultrasound at 36 weeks and 5 days.  My poor baby's face looks really squished.

cari12

I had a growth ultrasound earlier this week and they got several face shots for me in 3D - a few of them are really funny looking because she was moving. There's one that makes her look like her lips are in an M shape Other pictures we got prove she has a perfectly normal mouth though!

AnaKat405

mrs+harlow:

Are you doing an elective at 20 weeks or is this at your anatomy scan? if so you might want to wait until your baby has a bit more fat on him/her....at 20 weeks they do look a bit strange.  The 3D/4D  image at my a/s looks much different from my 34 week elective.

This is will be my first (and only) ultrasound because it's what my MW requires per contract.  DH and I debated doing the 4D (this center doesn't even offer 3D, just 2 and 4).  I know I would get better pictures if we waited longer based on Dr. Google lol.  But it's cheaper to just bundle in the fun one now, DH won't have to miss more work to go back again later and I'd like to limit exposure to unneccesary ultrasound (which was my main reason for vetoing 4D at the start).

I'd be happy just getting the measurements, having the grainy pics clarified for me and knowing that all is well.  But I know having the option to get clearer images is something DH has his heart set on.  We've heard the heartbeat twice so far and he's teared up each time, he put his hand on my tummy when LO was moving around one night and started crying after feeling the flutters and saying how big of a miracle it is that we're shaping and molding a brand new person.  He tells me how during his day at work he'll think about the fact that he's going to be a dad and start grinning ear to ear about it.  I know he wants a DVD and some pics to show off and at this point that outweighs any perceived risks of a 30 minute exposure to a 4D ultrasound.