What Not to Do Before a Baby Ultrasound

You've booked your ultrasound. You've probably already started counting down the days.

But then the questions start: Do I need to drink a ton of water? Should I eat beforehand? What should I wear? What if my baby won't cooperate?

Don't worry! Preparing for a keepsake ultrasound doesn't have to be complicated. Here are a few things we'd recommend keeping in mind before your appointment.

Don't forget to drink water

Staying hydrated is a good place to start. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water before your appointment and follow any preparation instructions you've been given by your ultrasound provider.

If you're having a medical ultrasound through your doctor or another healthcare provider, always follow their instructions first. Preparation can vary depending on the type of ultrasound you're having.

Don't show up absolutely starving

Pregnancy hunger is real. We don't need to add a rumbling stomach to the excitement of your appointment.

Baby Smiles recommends having a small snack around 15 minutes before your session.

You don't need anything elaborate … just something you know agrees with you and will keep you comfortable.

Don't wear something that's difficult to work around

This isn't the time for an outfit that requires seventeen buttons, three layers and a small engineering degree to remove.

Choose something comfortable that gives easy access to your belly. A loose or two-piece outfit can make things much easier during your appointment.

Comfort wins.

Don't worry if your baby decides to hide

This is probably the most important thing to remember.

Your baby has absolutely no idea that you booked an appointment specifically to see their face.

They might be wide awake and moving around. They might be sleeping. They might turn their back on you. They might put their hands over their face and stay there like a tiny celebrity avoiding the paparazzi.

Baby's position can make a big difference in what we can see during an ultrasound, so don't panic if you don't immediately get the perfect image you had pictured.

Every baby is different, and sometimes the unexpected pictures are the ones parents end up loving the most.

Don't compare your ultrasound to someone else's

It's so easy to see someone else's beautiful 3D ultrasound photo online and think, Why doesn't mine look like that?

Try not to worry.

Ultrasound images can look very different from one pregnancy to another. Baby's position, movement and gestational age can all affect what we can see. Your baby doesn't need to look like anyone else's ultrasound photo.

We're there to capture your baby.

Don't forget to invite someone special

One of the best parts of a keepsake ultrasound is getting to share it. If you'd love your partner, parents, grandparents, siblings or another special person to be there, invite them along and make a little occasion out of it.

For families with older children, an ultrasound can also be a really fun way to help them feel involved in welcoming their new brother or sister.

Our Demorest location can hold about ten people, but Dawsonville can only support about three!

Most importantly, don't put pressure on yourself

There's no such thing as a "perfect" ultrasound appointment. Maybe your baby gives you the most amazing profile. Maybe they spend the entire session hiding. Maybe you get a picture that makes you laugh because you can't quite figure out what position they've managed to get themselves into.

That's all part of it.

The point of a keepsake ultrasound is to enjoy the experience, spend some time with your baby and make memories that you can look back on later. So come comfortable, stay hydrated, have a snack if you need one, and come ready for whatever your little one decides to do.

We can't promise your baby will pose for us, but we can promise we'll be excited to meet them.