3D and 4D ultrasound exams allow you to see your unborn baby in even more depth and detail than a standard 2D ultrasound. In 3D ultrasound exams, multiple two-dimensional images are taken at various angles and then pieced together to form a volume rendering. For instance, instead of just seeing a profile view of your baby’s face, you can see the whole surface. A 4D ultrasound exam is similar, but the image shows movement - which means like a video.

The more-detailed 3D and 4D ultrasounds are performed during pregnancy to closely examine suspected fetal anomalies the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that there is no reliable scientific evidence showing that ultrasound is harmful to a developing fetus.