Fetal Imaging

September 9, 2003 10:30 AM

Can't wait to see your new baby? Now you don't have to. Umm, but maybe it's better to be patient.
posted by alms (12 comments total)

More here and here.
posted by alms at 10:31 AM on September 9, 2003

Sweet, I want to give my fetus an '80s hairstyle, and maybe some cool anklets or a toe-ring or something.
posted by zekinskia at 10:33 AM on September 9, 2003

We got one of these done, didn't take them any longer than a traditional ultrasound and while it was cool it didn't really compare to the thrill of seeing the first ultrasound where you can see the heart muscles pumping and paled into insignificance when compared to the final product :)
posted by zeoslap at 11:19 AM on September 9, 2003

You can see some good examples at the GE site (they make the machine)
posted by zeoslap at 11:21 AM on September 9, 2003

Staff:

Jeanette Burlbaw received her B.S. from Central Missouri State University.

Debbie Mallin, LMT, received her BA in Fine Arts from the University of Kansas.

No thanks.
posted by the fire you left me at 11:23 AM on September 9, 2003

I saw one of these that my friend had done. It's very odd. You could tell the child was Asian. I don't know...I really like the traditional ultrasounds we are getting now-with the heart pulsing and the arms wiggling around and the mouth opening and shutting. They seem to me to be enough. It's just personal preference, but I like the fuzzy ones we are getting. I wouldn't want one of these.
posted by aacheson at 1:46 PM on September 9, 2003

I just can't see spending the money on this. And despite the FDA's finger-wagging, my OB had pamplets for a similar outfit, Fetal Fotos, in her waiting room. I also don't understand the big hoo-hah over "the forth dimension--TIME!" Regular ol' ultrasounds have always had motion.
posted by Shoeburyness at 2:04 PM on September 9, 2003

Gross. You people are gross. GROSS.
posted by xmutex at 3:03 PM on September 9, 2003

errr why would that be mutey ?
posted by zeoslap at 5:34 PM on September 9, 2003

Shoeburyness, I find it odd that your doctor had the pamphlets in her waiting room, and that "Family practitioner Audrey Tracy of Fitchburg routinely recommends patients to 'That's My Baby' keepsake videos in Fitchburg" (from alms' fourth link). It leads me to suspect that the doctors are getting some sort of kickback or "advertising" fee - and wouldn't that be illegal, or at least highly unethical?

By the way, Dr. Tracy had this to say: "It's modern technology. We all use cellphones. Does that cause brain cancer? It doesn't seem to be, but we all thought that for a while."

So cellphones don't 'seem' to cause brain cancer, and superfluous ultrascanning doesn't 'seem' to cause ill effects, so why not "routinely recommend" it? Strange.
posted by taz at 8:05 PM on September 9, 2003

Do they offer special rates if you're going to abort?
posted by HTuttle at 8:55 PM on September 9, 2003

I know in Japan they get ultrasounds pretty much every couple of weeks during most of the pregnancy, so getting one extra for a grand total of three doesn't exactly seem excessive. A big part of the argument that doctors have against these is that it's taking qualified people away from the profession as they are setting up shop and making bank knocking out these momentos.

<blech>HTuttle: if you're going to abort anyway you could always save yourself the $400 and take a peek in the bucket now couldn't you....</blech>
posted by zeoslap at 12:44 AM on September 10, 2003