Pregnancy scans · 26–32 weeks
3D/4D Scan
See your baby's face before you meet them. Three-dimensional images and live 4D video of features and expressions, with printed pictures to take home, in a session run by the same accredited team that performs our diagnostic work.
Performed and reported by accredited clinicians.
- When
- 26–32 weeks
- Duration
- 30 minutes
- Price
- €140, report included
About this scan
What this scan involves
A standard ultrasound shows a flat, grey cross-section. 3D ultrasound gathers many of those sections and builds them into a lifelike surface image of the baby, so you can see the shape of the face, the hands and the feet. 4D is the same in real time: a moving picture, so you may catch a yawn, a stretch or a thumb finding its way to the mouth.
Why the timing matters
Between twenty-six and thirty-two weeks the baby has filled out enough to have recognisable features, but there is still enough fluid around the face for a clear picture. Earlier, the face is thin and hard to make out; later, the baby is squeezed in and often facing the spine.
What affects the pictures
Good 3D images need the baby facing outward with fluid in front of the face. The position of the placenta, the amount of fluid, the baby's position and your own build all play a part, and none of them is within anyone's control. Drinking plenty of water in the two days beforehand helps. If we cannot get good pictures on the day, we will offer a repeat appointment at no additional charge.
What makes ours different
Plenty of places will take a 3D picture. Ours is run by the accredited sonographers and consultants who perform the clinic's diagnostic scans. The session is about the pictures, but the person holding the probe is trained to notice if something needs a clinical eye, and a consultant radiologist is available to report on it. If you would like a full wellbeing assessment in the same appointment, book the 3D/4D Scan with Wellbeing Check.
When to have it
The best time for this scan
Ideal timing: Twenty-seven to thirty weeks.
-
Before 26 weeks
The face has not yet filled out, so the pictures tend to be thin and less recognisable. We suggest waiting.
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26 to 32 weeks
The window for the clearest images. Twenty-seven to thirty weeks is the sweet spot.
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After 32 weeks
Possible, but the baby has less room and often turns towards the spine, so clear views of the face are harder to get.
What we check
Looked at during the scan
- The heartbeat
- The baby's position, to find the best angle for imaging
- Surface images of the face, hands and feet in 3D
- Live 4D video of movement and expressions
What's included
€140, nothing added at reception
- A thirty-minute session with an accredited sonographer or consultant
- Live 4D video on screen during the session
- Printed 3D images to take home
- A written report by a consultant radiologist
- A repeat appointment at no additional charge if the baby will not cooperate
The price you are quoted is the price you pay. No separate reporting fee, no consultation surcharge.
Why people book it
You might choose this scan if
- To see your baby's face before the birth
- A keepsake for you and your family
- To share the experience with a partner, grandparents or older children
- A relaxed, unhurried session with time to watch and ask questions
What to expect
Before, during and after
Before your scan
No preparation is needed, but drink plenty of water in the two days before the scan; well-hydrated fluid gives clearer pictures. Eat normally. A sweet drink or snack shortly beforehand sometimes encourages the baby to move.
During the scan
The scan is done through the abdomen with warm gel, exactly like a standard scan; there is nothing different about the probe or the experience. The sonographer finds the baby's face and switches to 3D, then to live 4D. If the baby is facing away, you may be asked to walk around, change position or come back later in the appointment. The session lasts about thirty minutes.
After your scan
You leave with printed images. The written consultant report follows, typically within three working days, and if anything was noticed that needs attention we contact your maternity unit with your consent.
How to prepare
No preparation required, but drinking plenty of water in the two days beforehand improves image quality. The clearest pictures are usually obtained between 26 and 32 weeks. If the baby is facing away or lying low, we will offer a repeat appointment at no additional charge.
Book your 3D/4D Scan
€140 including the consultant report, 30 minutes. Choose a time online, or send an enquiry and we will call you back, usually within one working day. If you need to reschedule, please let us know as early as you can.
Questions
Frequently asked
Is 3D/4D ultrasound safe for the baby?
It uses the same ultrasound as a standard scan, at the same settings; the difference is in how the computer processes the picture. Sessions are kept to the time needed for the images.
What if the baby will not show their face?
It happens often, and it is nobody's fault. We will try a walk, a change of position and a little patience. If we still cannot get good pictures, we will offer a repeat appointment at no additional charge.
Is this a medical scan?
The session is about the pictures rather than a full examination, but it is run by clinicians who would notice if something needed a closer look. For a proper wellbeing assessment in the same visit, choose the 3D/4D Scan with Wellbeing Check.
Can I bring the family?
Yes. This is the scan people most want to share. Let us know when you book how many are coming so we can make room.
Do I get digital copies?
Printed images are included with every session. Ask when you book about digital copies.
Also consider
Other pregnancy scans
From 16 weeks
Gender Scan
A short scan to determine the baby's sex, with a wellbeing check and heartbeat confirmation included.
€110 · 15 minutes
From 24 weeks
Wellbeing Scan
Checks the heartbeat, movement, fluid volume around the baby, placental position and blood flow through the cord.
€130 · 30 minutes
26–32 weeks
3D/4D Scan with Wellbeing Check
The 3D/4D imaging session combined with a full wellbeing assessment: heartbeat, movement, fluid volume, placental position and cord blood flow.
€180 · 45 minutes