By the time you reach the third trimester, you have probably seen your baby on a screen more than once — a grainy shape at the dating scan, a profile at the morphology scan. A 3D ultrasound is a different kind of appointment altogether. It is not there to check anything. It is there so you can look at your baby’s face.
Here is what to know before you book one in Sydney.
Book between 26 and 32 weeks
This is the single thing that most affects how your images turn out. Before about 26 weeks there is not yet enough fat under your baby’s skin, so the features look drawn and skeletal. After 32 weeks the space gets tight, and a baby who has dropped low or turned to face your spine can be difficult to capture well.
Between those two points is the window where 3D imaging does what parents hope it will do — rounded cheeks, a recognisable nose, sometimes a yawn or a hand held up beside the face.
You do not need a referral
A keepsake 3D scan is not a medical appointment, so you do not need anything from your GP or obstetrician. You can ring us directly and book.
The flip side of that is worth being clear about: because it is not a medical scan, Medicare and private health insurance cannot be used for it, and it does not replace the diagnostic scans your doctor has arranged. A 3D session is an experience, not an examination. If something needs looking at clinically, that is a separate appointment on a referral — we offer that too, and Medicare rebates do apply there.
Four things that genuinely improve your images
- Drink plenty of water in the days beforehand. Not just on the morning of — clearer amniotic fluid gives a cleaner picture, and that builds up over several days.
- Have a light snack about thirty minutes before. A baby who is moving gives us far more to work with than a baby who is settled and face-down.
- Pick a time when your baby is usually awake. You already know their pattern better than we do. Many parents find mid-morning or early afternoon works well.
- Wear a two-piece outfit. A loose top and separate bottoms make the whole thing easier and more comfortable than a dress.
What the appointment is actually like
Your scan is done by a senior medical sonographer with more than fifteen years’ experience. You are not rushed through, and you are welcome to bring family — this is one of the few moments in a pregnancy where grandparents and older siblings can see the baby too, and most parents make the most of that.
If your baby is not cooperating, that happens, and it is usually fixable. A short walk, a change of position, sometimes something cold to drink — we will give it time rather than hurry you along.
Where and when
Our main clinic is at 10 Anzac Rd, Menai, open Monday to Thursday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:30pm and Saturday mornings from 8:00am to 12:00pm. The evening hours exist for a reason — most expectant parents are working, and taking an afternoon off for a keepsake scan is a lot to ask. We also scan on Saturdays at Macarthur Square, Campbelltown, by appointment.
Packages covering the 23 to 34 week range start at $180, and every one of them includes time with your baby and keepsakes to take home. You can see the full list on our packages and pricing page. A $50 surcharge applies for a multiple pregnancy, as those scans take considerably longer.
Ready to book?
Appointments are necessary — we do not take walk-ins, because the whole point is that your time is yours and nobody is waiting on it. Call us on 0423 550 063 or send an enquiry through our 3D ultrasound page and we will confirm a time that suits you.