Comparison of HD-live 3D and 2D imaging of the fetal face and its social-psychological impact on maternal/paternal-fetal relationship building

Purpose: Medical research has a long tradition in analyzing the value of HD-live/3D-imaging of the fetal face (FF) that provides fundamental information allowing the diagnosis of several fetal diseases. Although ultrasound images are not only used in medical examinations, but become an integral part of the expectant parents' social life, few researchers have focused on their social-psychological dimensions. We therefore conducted a comparative study analyzing the expecting parents' perception, understanding and utilization of HD-live/3D versus 2D-imaging. Methods: A randomized longitudinal study of 29 nulliparou…