Yes, you need to make an appointment. Please note that weekends and evenings are in very high demand and fill up quickly! Schedule your appointment as soon as possible in order to get the date/time that you want. Back to Top Who will be performing my ultrasound? Bond with me is owned and operated by two board certified sonographers with over 30 years of obstetrical ultrasound experience between them. They both graduated from Thomas Jefferson University’s world renowned ultrasound program, receiving Bachelor Degrees in Diagnostic Imaging. Both have trained/worked at local hospitals, OB/GYN offices and with perinatologists (high risk obstetricians) in the Philadelphia area. Back to Top  What is an ARDMS sonographer and why should this be the ONLY person,
besides by prenatal healthcare provider, performing my ultrasound
exams?We require first and foremost that every Bond with Me sonographer have completed an accredited ultrasonography program as well as possess the RDMS credential. The only means of obtaining an ARDMS® credential is through examination. Strict required prerequisites must be met before an applicant can take an ARDMS® exam. We believe that standardized accreditation and training ensures consistent safety and quality. Other centers or companies that employ technicians that have not completed an accredited ultrasonography program, may not have enough knowledge to operate the ultrasound machine safely. This is your pregnancy and your baby, you deserve the best. Back to Top What is a “Certified Provider?” We employ only trained Medical Professionals that are recognized by organizations such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), the Association for Women Radiologists (AAWR), and the American College of Radiology® (ACR®). Our accreditation standards far exceed those in individual State and Federal compliance regulations. Many other companies do not employ Medical Professionals in their Prenatal Imaging Centers and use what many in the medical community consider to be misleading marketing slogans such as “Certified Provider” or “Trusted Seal.” They even create emblems or group accreditation symbols that could mislead the general public into thinking they are recognized by a medical organization when in fact they are not. Back to Top How far along should I be when I get my 3D/4D ultrasound? The best time is between 24-32 weeks gestation. Earlier Ultrasounds allow the expectant mother to see more complete images of her baby. Later Ultrasounds reveal improved facial features since the developing fat layer enhances these images. It is important to remember that all images are dependent on the baby’s position, movement, size, maternal weight and the amount of surrounding amniotic fluid. As a result, we cannot always guarantee image clarity or quality. Back to Top Will my 3D/4D ultrasound replace the ultrasound that my prenatal healthcare provider orders/performs? Absolutely not! As medical professional ourselves, we cannot stress enough the importance of your medical ultrasound. The 3D/4D ultrasound is elective and does not in any way replace any ultrasound that your healthcare provider has ordered. This is why we require that you have already had your medical ultrasound before you come in for your 3D/4D ultrasound. Back to Top What if I don’t want to know the gender of my baby? No problem! We can very easily avoid that area. We understand that some couples want to leave that surprise for delivery day! Some people mistakenly think that if they have a 3D/4D ultrasound they have to find out the gender. This isn’t true! We don’t even look at that area unless you ask us to. Just let us know that you don’t want to know the gender and we will respect your wishes! Back to Top Is 3D/4D ultrasound covered by insurance? What type of payments do you accept? At this time 3D/4D ultrasound is NOT covered by insurance and is considered an elective procedure. We accept payment in the form of cash, Debit, Discover, Visa and MasterCard. We do NOT accept personal checks. Back to Top What will determine the quality/clarity of my baby’s images? Many factors are involved in obtaining clear images. We use state-of-the-art equipment and highly qualified ARDMS® Sonographers. However, there are several factors outside of our control which will determine the clarity and quality of the Images. • Fetal positioning: Some babies are in the perfect position and seem to love to pose for us. Others simply turn their back on us. Still others cuddle up to the placenta or uterine wall, or hide behind their hands. We know you how much you want to see your baby’s face and we do all we can to encourage your baby to turn your way. We urge you to relax and enjoy this bonding ultrasound experience while viewing your unborn baby. • Maternal tissue: The more tissue the sound waves need to travel through, the less contrast the resulting images have. For this reason, we often find we get better results with our full-figured expectant mothers later in their pregnancy. Around 30-32 weeks is a good time for the 3D/4D ultrasound. Again, you will get the best images possible with the equipment we use and the sonographers we employ. • Fetal activity: It is amazing to see your little baby in action on the ultrasound. A little food or juice before your visit can assist in increasing your baby’s activity (Orange juice is always good). On the other hand, the best still 3D photo images occur when your baby is still or asleep. As always, we encourage you to enjoy your baby’s activity and we’ll do our part to capture the best images possible. • Gestational development: Each pregnancy is unique. Some babies are best seen at 24 weeks and others at 32, regardless of maternal tissue or other factors. Again, we use state-of-the-art equipment and ARDMS® Sonographers to provide you with the best results possible. Back to Top Can I bring other people to see the ultrasound? Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. This is the reason we started Bond with Me. As medical professionals, we recognize the need for parents and their families to bond with the baby. In the medical setting, we usually don’t have time to let the expectant mother see the baby move and wait until the baby turns so that we can see the face. Also, most hospitals and doctor offices have policies limiting the amount of people who can come with you to see the ultrasound. They also often don’t let other children in the room. We realize that most couples want to share this experience with others. Whether it is the grandparents, siblings or a neighbor….everyone is welcome! Your 3D/4D ultrasound session is the time to relax with your loved ones and enjoy the little miracle growing inside of you. Back to Top What happens during a 3D/4D ultrasound? The sonographer will position you on our comfortable massage table. Your comfort is our priority! We have a special pillow for under your knees and spa like sheets and towels for your comfort. We will put warm ultrasound gel on your abdomen and slide the transducer back and forth to obtain the images. All the while we have relaxing music playing while you watch you and your family watch your precious baby on one of our 2 flat screen monitors. For mom’s who don’t want all of their family/friend’s to see their belly, we have an adjoining room where everyone can see the ultrasound and hear what we are saying without seeing mom’s exposed belly. Back to Top What can I do to achieve the best possible pictures? DRINK!! We have found that if you increase your fluid intake (non-caffeinated beverages) for about 3 days prior to your appointment, it can improve the quality of the images. You do NOT need to have a full bladder when you come in for your appointment. We just want you to be well hydrated in order to optimize your images.
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