Frequently Asked Questions

Know Before You Go

2D (2-Dimensional) ultrasound is standard black and white ultrasound that most people are familiar with and the kind they generally use at your Doctors office. With 2D ultrasound you will see the baby’s organs and skeletal system. This is very useful for measurements, seeing and hearing the heartbeat, and to detect abnormalities.

3D (3-Dimensional) ultrasound redirects the sound waves to the surface of an object, in our case the surface of your baby! Therefore, you will be able to see the baby from the outside instead of its bones. Using 3D ultrasound, you will get a still or static image of the outside of your baby.

4D (4-Dimensional) ultrasound is 3D in Real Time, therefore during a 4D ultrasound you are viewing the baby live!  You will be able to visualize facial expressions, yawns, crying, sucking the thumb or toe, hiccups and much more.

-HDLive is High Definition 4d!!!! HDLive is unlike anything you have seen in the prenatal imaging industry, and Sneak Peek is proud to be the first to make this amazing technology available to you at no additional cost! HDLive uses a virtual light source to manipulate the 4D image and make it look even more realistic than standard 4D imaging.

At Sneak Peek we use 2D and 4D & HD ultrasound. Our gender determinations will be done primarily in 2D with a Quick Peek of 4D/HD; and our 4D/HD ultrasound will only use 2D briefly to position the 4D/HD and measure your baby, therefore your Sneak Peek will be primarily in 4D/HD Real Time. We do not use 3D ultrasound as it has become outdated and we are able to acquire much better image quality with 4D and HDLive Ultrasound.

Sneak Peek Ultrasound was the very first 4D imaging facility in Lafayette, La and has been around since 2007! We have seen countless babies over the years and truly perfected 4D ultrasound as well as early gender determination!

Sneak Peek is constantly striving to make our customer’s experience the best it can be, over our many years of service we have implemented changes and upgrades as often as necessary to always be one step ahead of the curve…and we promise to continue to do so. Our senior technician researched and performed a clinical trial for 2 years to develop the method used all over the country to determine gender at 13 weeks gestation. Our staff will laugh and cry with you and be a part of your family by the end of your Sneak Peek. We treat every customer like we would like to be treated, and we truly understand what a special and precious experience a 4D ultrasound is to parents.

The cost of your Sneak Peek will include your Sneak Peek ultrasound session. You will choose either a Gender or 4D Sneak Peek. You are also welcomed to add on some al a carte items including Thermal printed pictures, an App of your images, a Video of your session and Stuffed Animal with your baby’s heartbeat.

Digital images are just that, all of the photos from your scan sent to you in a link so you can download them to your camera roll.

The Video is a live recording of your entire Sneak Peek, similar to watching a DVD without the disk….your Sneak Peek video will be sent directly to your email address to be viewed on any device and shared via email or social media with friends and family at no additional charge! The video will include all the footage from your scan, so if your baby yawns or gets the hiccups you’ll have that footage captured. The video of your session is $20, and must be recorded live, so our staff will have to be informed that you want a video prior to the start of your ultrasound

You may wear whatever you like; however, Sneak Peek prefers that you NOT wear your regular jeans that button and zip. Jeans make it harder to visualize the pelvic area, also the button and zipper on regular jeans may pose a threat to the special 4D probe. Maternity Pants with a belly band are preferred. You are welcome to wear a dress or skirt and we will be happy to provide you with a sheet to cover your bottom. Most of all we want you to be relaxed and comfortable so come as you like!

Sneak Peek has a strict belly ring policy. If you have a belly ring, you will have to remove it prior to your Sneak Peek; 4D/HD ultrasound probes are specially designed with crystals and should never encounter metal. If you have dermal piercings that cannot be removed Sneak Peek will NOT be able to perform your ultrasound.

You should arrive to Sneak Peek five to ten minutes before your scheduled appointment. The appointment time we give you is the start time of your Sneak Peek; therefore, all paperwork and payments should take place a few minutes before this time. We strive to begin at the time your scheduled appointment time, so please arrive on time to ensure maximum viewing time allotted.

If you are late this will most likely result in shorter viewing time, and if you miss the entire appointment time we have allotted for your Sneak Peek we will do our best to squeeze you in but there is a chance you’ll have to reschedule. Sneak Peek schedules all appointments back to back, and we promise each mom that her appointment will begin on time. Sneak Peek always schedules extra time for your appointment so please make every attempt to not be late so we can get you the best possible scan.

Yes, we do require that all moms have a least a semi full bladder for their Sneak Peek. This helps hold the baby outside your pelvis and makes it easier to visualize.  It is best to empty your bladder NO LESS THAN 15 minutes prior to your Sneak Peek appointment time. (IE, if your Sneak Peek is at 2:00pm use the restroom at 1:45pm) You are welcomed to arrive 15 minutes early so you can empty your bladder or stop somewhere on your way to empty. It’s always best to begin your ultrasound with a full bladder and the technician will let you empty it if she sees it’s necessary.

If you are unable to attend your Sneak Peek for any reason, please call 48 hours in advance to either cancel or reschedule prior to your appointment. We also have a 24-hour last-minute cancellation policy. If you fail to cancel 24 hours or more before your appointment your card on file will be charged a $50 NO SHOW FEE.

Deposits are non-refundable. Therefore, if you miss or reschedule your appointment you will not receive any money back and it will not count toward another appointment. The deposit will be for that appointment only.

No. Currently insurance does not cover the cost of 3D or 4D ultrasound. Having a 4D ultrasound is a completely elective service and should not take the place of your physician’s diagnostic ultrasound.  Payment will be required at the time of service. We accept Cash and Credit.

No! Absolutely not. Please remember that your Sneak Peek Ultrasound will be a completely elective, non-diagnostic exam, and should in no way be used in place of your physician’s diagnostic exam. A 4D ultrasound should be considered an entertainment experience.  Our technicians’ goal is NOT to look for anything other than getting you great images of your baby, however during your Sneak Peek if anything abnormal is observed your OB/GYN will be informed.

Extensive studies over the past 30 years have found that ultrasound has not shown any harmful effects to mother or baby. 4D/HDLive ultrasound uses the exact same intensity as a normal 2D ultrasound. Ultrasound does not use radiation or harmful agents; the images are simply created with the use of sound waves.

Sneak Peek is open Monday-Saturday as well as select Sundays, we also offer late night appointments one night per week. We do work by appointment only, so you will need to schedule your Sneak Peek.

4D ultrasound can be performed at any point in pregnancy and as many times as you like. You are welcome to have your Sneak Peek as early as 10 weeks however the baby’s appearance is skeletal until about 24 weeks. By 27 weeks babies have more body fat and you will be able to clearly make out any facial features. We have observed the best time between 27-34 weeks gestation; with 30 weeks being the most optimal.

We recommend that you call to schedule your Sneak Peek as soon as you decide this is something you are interested in doing. Our schedule for Saturdays, Sundays and evenings fills up several weeks in advance, so you will need to schedule very early. If you want an appointment Monday through Friday during the day, you should schedule about one to two weeks early. Our Staff will always try to get you in at a time convenient for you and your family.

Unfortunately, not… sometimes babies are not in the mood to be photographed, and we can have a difficult time getting clear images of their face. If this does happen, our techs have a few tricks to assist. Image quality also depends on the amount of amniotic fluid you have, mom’s size, baby’s position, and where the placenta is located. We cannot promise that your baby’s pictures will look the same as ones you have previously seen; however, we will always do our best to ensure the highest quality images possible. Luckily Sneak Peek has the best 4D equipment available as well as highly trained technicians, so if great images are possible, we will get them!

The most important thing you can do to ensure good pictures is to drink plenty of water (minimum of one gallon per day) in the days and weeks leading up to your scan! The more hydrated you are, the clearer the pictures will be! By drinking plenty of water you can increase the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. 4D/HDLive ultrasound requires a significant amount of Amniotic Fluid in order to see the baby with great clarity. Without an ample amount of fluid, you WILL NOT get good pictures of your baby. We understand this seems like a lot of water, but it is the best thing you can do, and a sacrifice most moms are willing to make in order to obtain beautiful images. Other things that will affect the clarity of your images is the baby’s position, position of the placenta, and size of the mommy.

If you are overweight you should not be afraid to have a 4D ultrasound; however, we strongly urge that you wait until after 32 weeks gestation to give the baby time to grow. If you are overweight, you will need to have a VERY high level of amniotic fluid to obtain clear images of the baby. If you drink the recommended amount of water in the weeks leading up to your appointment there is no reason you should not be able to obtain great images!

Breech position simply means that the baby’s head is positioned at the top of your uterus. If you know that your baby is breech prior to your Sneak Peek, we do advise you reschedule your appointment a few weeks to allow more time for the baby to turn into the vertex or head down position. Good pictures can be obtained with breech babies but are much more likely if the baby is head down. However, some babies remain breech until very late in the pregnancy or never turn, if this is the case you can still have a Sneak Peek and we should be able to get good images if you have plenty of amniotic fluid.

Absolutely not, and highly unlikely. Remember most unborn babies sleep between 20 and 22 hours a day, so it is unlikely that your baby will be awake during your Sneak Peek. Even though he/she is sleeping, the baby may still yawn, stretch, suck its thumb or toe, and even stick its tongue out! So please do not worry if your baby is sleeping, we will still take plenty of sweet images.

Sneak Peek Ultrasound is known for Gender Determination. We are truly experts at determining the gender of your baby, so if that is what you are looking for, then look no more. Sneak Peek has been preforming gender scans since 2007; however, in 2009 we developed a method to accurately determine the gender of your baby at 13 weeks gestation!

If you do not wish to know the sex of your baby, please do not be afraid to have a 4D ultrasound. If you inform the technician that you wish to keep the baby’s gender a surprise, they will not scan near the baby’s genitals. We have NEVER accidentally revealed a baby’s gender during a Sneak Peek since 2007!
Gender Reveal Parties are becoming more and more popular! When you schedule your appointment please let the receptionist know what your reveal plans are. When you have your ultrasound, our technician will discreetly determine the gender and seal the verdict in an envelope. If you are over 16 weeks you might be asked not to watch your scan.

Absolutely. We encourage you to share this amazing experience with family and friends. Sneak Peek has made every effort to provide a very comfortable atmosphere. You can have 12 guests comfortably in the room with you, and if you have more than 12, they are also welcomed to join the fun! We don’t have a limit, but please be aware that you may all get crowded if you invite too many. Our only request is that all your guests arrive at or before your appointment time, we will not wait for guests to arrive to begin your Sneak Peek. We do not offer separate viewing so please be aware that all guests will be in the same room as you during your Sneak Peek.

We have no problem with kids! After all, isn’t that what pregnancy is all about?! From time to time children are afraid of the dark ultrasound room or seeing mommy on the bed. If this is the case with your child and he or she is crying please don’t feel they have to leave the room, our technicians have children too, and are used to hearing them cry.

With our new streamlined process once your Sneak Peek is complete you are good to go! Both your App and Video will be sent to your email address within an hour after your appointment.

At Sneak Peek Ultrasound we only use state of the art technology – We are currently using a GE Voluson E8. GE Voluson E8 is the best machine for performing obstetric ultrasounds and considered the gold standard in our industry! Every few years we update and upgrade our equipment to ensure our customers always receive the best possible images of their baby.

Yes!!!! Technology has advanced so much in the past few years that we can now show you hair during your Sneak Peek. Only significant amounts of hair will appear on 4D/HD ultrasounds; however, any amount of hair can be visualized in 2D ultrasound.

In order to keep our facility in superb condition for our guests, we ask that you refrain from eating & drinking while visiting our facility. Furthermore, Sneak Peek is a smoke-free facility, so please do not smoke within 25 feet of our entrance or enter immediately after smoking.

Sneak Peek is conveniently located in Lafayette, LA on Ambassador Caffery in Cordoba. Cordoba is a large group of Professional Office Buildings directly across from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Costco Shopping Center, and just past Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Get directions.

When you arrive, you will be greeted by our friendly staff and asked to fill out some brief paperwork and pay for your appointment. You will then be shown to a comfy, kid-friendly waiting room until it is time for your Sneak Peek. The technician will call you into a Theater Viewing Sneak Peek room at your scheduled appointment time. You and your guests will enjoy seeing your bundle of joy in a panoramic view on THREE separate flat-screen TVs!! Your entire experience at Sneak Peek will always be comfortable and professional.

Unfortunately, YES! The traffic in Lafayette has gotten worse and worse in recent years…. especially on FRIDAYS. If you schedule an appointment on Friday, please allow yourself an extra 30 minutes of drive time. Also, our facility is not located near the interstate, so please factor in the distance from the interstate to our facility when planning your trip.

We will provide you with detailed directions when you schedule your appointment.

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sneak peek 4d ultrasound lafayette la

Welcome to Lafayette’s original premier 4D Ultrasound Facility, we have been serving all of Louisiana, and beyond since 2007. At Sneak Peek Ultrasound we use state of the art technology, so you can rest assured you will be able to see not only what he or she is doing, but also exactly what your baby looks like. Your Sneak Peek will be an amazing experience you and your loved ones will remember for a lifetime.