3D Maternity Imaging offers high-def, family friendly ultrasounds

Gabrielle Deonath

When Iris Rodgers, and her husband, Carlos, went through their first pregnancy, they were rushed out of doctors’ offices, and Rodgers often had to choose between taking her husband or her mother to ultrasound appointments. 

“I was the first one in my family to have a baby in a while, so everyone was very excited and I wished that I could bring them all with me to see the ultrasound,” she said. 

Working as an ultrasound sonographer at major hospitals, Rodgers said, she witnessed other pregnant couples going through similar experiences, feeling rushed and not being able to share the journey of the pregnancy with their families. 

“If you’re not in the field, you don’t really understand what’s happening,” Rodgers said. “Ultrasounds usually last for one to two minutes, and it can be a cold atmosphere.”

Wanting to provide a relaxing, family-style setting for elective ultrasounds, in 2014 she and her husband started 3D Maternity Imaging, located at 1300 Union Turnpike in New Hyde Park. 

Women 15 weeks into their pregnancy or more are offered 2D, 3D, 4D, and HD ultrasounds. 

An ultrasound appointment at this imaging center takes around 20 minutes, instead of the few minutes expectant mothers are usually allowed at other facilities. 

One family is seen at a time, and the expectant mother can bring up to 10 guests. 

The viewing room has an ultrasound chair, which is sectioned off with a curtain to give the mother privacy, a large couch for the family in front of a 60-inch screen on which the ultrasound can be viewed, as well as a children’s play area. 

“It’s much more spacious and convenient. You can bring more than one person, and you can bring your kids as well,” Rodgers said.  

At the end, families are allowed to take home six color pictures and a DVD of the entire session, as well as a stuffed animal with the heartbeat of the baby recorded on the modulator inside for a fee of $150. 

While this is the most popular choice by families, according to Rodgers, 3D Maternity Imaging has an array of packages ranging in lengths of appointment, number of pictures and pricing.

In addition, the imaging office also offers gender reveals. 

“Hospitals won’t tell you the gender until 20 weeks, but we can tell you at 15 weeks,” Rodgers said. “Also, clients can come in multiples times.”

Ultrasound frames, announcement cards and customized keepsakes that can be used as baby shower favors are also available for purchase. 

The office serves around 30 to 40 clients weekly.  The longer appointment times, spacious office, color ultrasound pictures, as well as the HD live video, are what Rodgers said sets 3D Maternity Imaging apart from other imaging centers. 

“The most rewarding part of this job is having couples come back for their second or third pregnancies,” Rodgers said. “That means they remembered their experience here and they had a pleasant enough time to want to come back.”

3D Maternity Imaging holds information tables at Babie“R”Us locations in Massapequa, College Point, Bronx and Westbury, explaining what ultrasounds are and the various packages available for expecting couples. 

“I’ve mostly worked in high-risk facilities, and the news isn’t always good,” Rodgers said. “My husband told me I needed something of my own that was lighter and could bring happiness, and that is exactly what this business has become.”

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