February 10, 2010

First-time parents Kim and Matt Smyth are getting a first glimpse of their son before he's even born, all thanks to a 3D sonogram.

The machine at the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, affiliated with Martha Jefferson Hospital, is just one of two in Albemarle County.

The machine strings together a series of images in real time to generate a 3D image that shows just what the baby looks like inside and out.

"It's really detailed for such a small thing," Kim Smyth said. "I mean, he's still only very small and his heart is only three centimeters, and yet you can see every aspect of the heart and the valves and the chambers. It's amazing."

All that detail right down to a view of the spine and beating heart means the trained eyes of a doctor can catch any health problems a child may have before he or she is born.

Doctors said being able to see challenges early makes it real for parents and helps them cope.

"It helps them to better understand what's going on with the baby, which then allows them to participate more fully in the planning process in terms of planning how we're going to manage this at birth, how is it going to be managed in the early new born period," obstetrician Dr. Gary Helmbrecht said.

The best part of a 3D sonogram for doctors is being able to see any potential health problems that might affect a child before it's even born. Of course, the best part for parents is the baby pictures they leave with.

"Seeing him in there moving his arms and legs and hands, opening his mouth -- you know it's a person, it's related to us," Matt Smyth said. "It's really cool."

As for the debate about whether he looks like mom or dad, "I think we're going with me," Kim Smyth said. "He's a good looking baby, so it must be from mom."

We'll know for sure in four months. But for now, it's safe to say this baby is picture perfect.