FAQs

2D 3D 4D HD Live Ultrasound & SneakPeek Clinical FAQs

The questions listed below are the most common regarding our 2D 3D 4D HD Live Ultrasound and SneakPeek Clinical DNA Gender tests. Should you have any questions that are not answered below, please call us at (614) 895-BABY (2229) or email us at info@firstexpressions4d.com.

 

 

 

Do you offer refunds?

For ultrasounds no. When performing an ultrasound there is no guarantee as to what we will be able to see during your scan. Neither we or you have control over the little one in your womb. Our technician has over 17 years experience and has many tricks to try to get baby to cooperate. She will try her best to reposition you to get baby in a more favorable position. However, we are dealing with little people with their own minds and sometimes they just don’t want to cooperate with us. If this should happen we do allow you to come back within one to two weeks, between 9am-5pm, to try again free of charge. Please keep this in mind if you drive a long distance to get an ultrasound done at our facility, a second trip may be necessary.

For DNA Gender blood tests in certain circumstances yes. If the lab gets an inconclusive  result you have the option of a refund or a free retest a week later. If the free retest is still inconclusive the lab does not test again, a refund will be issued. If the lab gives you a wrong result, tells you it’s a boy and you have a girl or vice versa, once the baby is born provide us a copy of the birth certificate and a refund will be issued.

Where can I learn more about SneakPeek Clinical?

If you have additional questions regarding the SneakPeek Clinical DNA Gender blood tests please visit their website by clicking learn more:

 

How does SneakPeek Clinical protect my privacy?

We know your DNA information is personal. To protect your privacy:

1. SneakPeek tests only for baby’s gender. No data is gathered about disease states or other               health-related information.

2. After the test is run, your DNA sample is disposed of by a professional chemical management company in compliance with federal standards.

3. SneakPeek never shares your results with anyone other than the email address you provide.

Are my SneakPeek Clinical results guaranteed?

SneakPeek Clinical is the most accurate early gender test on the market.

If your test result does not match the gender of your newborn, you’ll receive a full refund.

How quickly can I get my SneakPeek results?

Your sample is mailed to SneakPeek Labs via Priority Mail Express (aka “overnight mail”).

FastTrack customers: Expect your result email between 6-9pm Pacific Time the day your sample is received by SneakPeek.

Standard customers: Expect your result email between 1-5pm Pacific Time the day after your sample is received by SneakPeek.

Is the SneakPeek Clinical DNA gender test safe?

SneakPeek Clinical is a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), and it’s safe for both mom and baby.

Do hormone disorders such as PCOS affect my SneakPeek Clinical results?

SneakPeek is a DNA-based test, so hormones do not impact results.

I’m having twins. Can SneakPeek determine fetal sex for each one?

In the case of identical twins, if male DNA is found, then both babies are boys. If no male DNA is found, then both babies are girls.

For fraternal twins (or more!), finding male DNA will confirm at least one baby is a boy, but cannot distinguish if the second is a boy or girl.
I’ve previously had a boy. Will that skew my SneakPeek results?

Clinical studies have shown that fetal DNA clears from mom’s bloodstream between a few hours to 2 days after birth.

What is the cost of SneakPeek Clinical DNA Gender Test?

$129 for results in 2 days.

Want to know the very next day? Upgrade for $20 and get your gender results between 6-9pm Pacific Time the next day!
Do blood thinners affect my SneakPeek Clinical results?

SneakPeek looks only for the presence of Y chromosomes and is extremely sensitive and accurate.

No blood thinners or other drugs are known to impact SneakPeek gender results.

What is an elective prenatal Ultrasound?

We offer elective 2D, 3D/4D & 5D/HD 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/4D/5D/HD, 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.

What is the difference between 2D, 3D & 4D imaging?

2D is the traditional black and white skeletal images captured in your doctor’s office. 3D is the still surface images of the baby’s features that allow you to see what your baby looks like and are printed in your package or saved to a picture CD. 4D is the live motion you are watching on the screen and what is recorded for a video. All our packages, except the 2D gender quick peek, include all three forms of imaging.

What is HD Live?

HD Live 2

5D/HD Live is an extraordinary way to capture amazingly realistic images of your baby while he or she is still in the womb. The images are saved in high definition to provide you with superior clarity and image quality unsurpassed in the industry. Any of our affordable 3D/4D/5D/HD ultrasound packages $100 and up include HD Live. Please refer to the “Packages” section of the website for pricing.

How much does an ultrasound cost?

We have packages to fit just about anyone’s budget. Please refer to the “Packages” section of the website for pricing.

Do you offer discounts for return visits?

Yes, your return visit discount is determined by the package you purchase at your initial visit during the same pregnancy. Return visit discounts are not valid for subsequent pregnancies. We do however try to keep our packages priced to fit just about anyone’s budget. Please refer to the “Packages” section of the website for pricing and return visit discounts during the same pregnancy.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, and debit cards. We do not accept checks.

Does this take the place of an Ultrasound at my doctor’s office?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Women seeking an elective prenatal Ultrasound with First Expressions must already be receiving treatment with a healthcare provider for prenatal care and have already undergone a medical, diagnostic Ultrasound ordered by their provider to confirm their due date, screen for fetal anomalies, and to look for any other pregnancy related issues. The issues that we are evaluating in the elective prenatal Ultrasound session include a limited diagnostic scan to confirm heartbeat, the number of babies in the pregnancy, the position of the baby, and the placental location. Please note, at no time is this exam to be used in place of a complete diagnostic Ultrasound.

Is it safe? Are there any risks to me, or my baby?

Extensive studies over 60 years have found that Ultrasound has not been shown to cause any harm to mother or baby.

Routine scanning of all pregnancies is now normal throughout the United States. In 3D/4D/5D/HD scanning exactly the same type and intensity of Ultrasound is used as with conventional 2D scanning. 3D/4D/5D/HD Ultrasound both utilize sound waves to look inside the body. The technology is similar to radar. A probe placed on the body emits sound waves into the body, listens for the return echo and generates an image. 3D/4D/5D/HD Ultrasound will be similar to a conventional scan in terms of exposure.

Do I need an appointment?

Yes, appointments are necessary for all of our services.

How long does the 4D Ultrasound take?

Depending on the package you choose, you should plan to spend up to 30 minutes with us for your appointment.

If you have purchased the Gold or Platinum package, plan on spending 45 minutes to an hour with us.

How far along should I be before I have a 4D Ultrasound?

If you plan on having only one 4D Ultrasound, we would recommend having the ultrasound performed between the 26th and 32nd week of the pregnancy. The optimal time is generally 28-30 weeks. The farther past 30 weeks you get the more smashed the baby gets in the womb and can make it extremely difficult to capture facial images. If you have an anterior placenta, in the front, we recommend having your ultrasound at 27-28 weeks. If you do not know where your placenta is located your doctor will be able to tell you. Your doctor needs to know this for delivery and checks this at the 18-20 week ultrasound.  Many mothers obtain more than one 4D/HD ultrasound and have images to enjoy from their second and third trimesters.

How far along should I be before I have a 4D Ultrasound with multiples? (i.e. twins, triplets, etc.)

When having multiples we recommend having your ultrasound performed between the 14th and 26th week of the pregnancy. The optimal time is 22 to 24 weeks. With multiples babies tend to run out of room sooner than a single baby, so to ensure we can obtain the best possible images we recommend no later than 26 weeks.

Are there additional fees for multiples? (i.e. twins, triplets, etc.)

Yes, if the package you choose is less than 20 minutes in length we charge $25 extra for the additional time it will take to scan more than one baby. If the package is 20 minutes or longer there is no additional fee.

Will I always get a beautiful picture of my baby?

Most of the time, we are able to get a picture of your baby; 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. If this happens, a free repeat scan in one to two weeks (Monday – Friday from 9AM to 5PM) will usually succeed because the baby has turned to a favorable position. We make no promises that the images will be similar to those you might have seen elsewhere or even from our clinic, 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.

Can I bring my family and friends?

Yes.

In fact, we encourage our clients to invite family and friends to attend the elective 4D Ultrasound sessions. This joyous and wonderful experience is one that can be shared with your family and loved ones. We can comfortably seat 15 to 16 people in our ultrasound room. Our seating is specifically arranged so that everyone in your party will have an excellent view of our three viewing screens including our 65” TV.

Can I bring children to my ultrasound session?

Children and siblings are always welcome at First Expressions.

This is a fun and exciting time for kids and the realistic images of “their” baby help make the pregnancy more real to them.

Are you able to tell the sex of the baby?

Yes, in most cases we can provide an indication of the sex of the baby any time after 13 weeks.

We can’t however guarantee that the baby will cooperate during your initial session. Certain factors such as body tissue content, developmental stage and fetal position all affect the ability to determine sex. If your baby will not let us see gender, a free repeat scan within one to two weeks (Monday – Friday from 9AM to 5PM) will usually succeed because the baby has turned to a favorable position.

Is the 4D Ultrasound covered by Insurance?

At this point, traditional insurance does not cover the costs of our 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. Some HSA flexible spending accounts that provide you with a VISA or MasterCard to use for medical expenses will cover our ultrasounds. You should call your insurance provider prior to your appointment to verify 4D ultrasounds are covered under your HSA plan. We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, and debit cards. We do not accept checks.

What kind of Ultrasound equipment do you use to perform the 4D Ultrasounds?

We use GE Voluson E8 ultrasound systems to complete all Ultrasound examinations.

The GE Voluson E8 has been seen in GE television commercials and many printed articles from around the world. This machine is the best 2D, 3D/4D & HD/5D Ultrasound machine available. The GE Voluson E8 generates images with amazing clarity and gives you the same clarity with 4D/HD Live imagery of your baby in motion.