One Spark project makes unborn baby a star

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There's one project at One Spark this year that's sure to get the attention of moms-to-be.

It's exciting to get the first peeks at your new baby. But there's only so often you can go to the doctor. What if you could check in with your little one with all your closest friends?

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Baby's Close-Up 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds offers a special theater-style ultrasound that can be used as a unique gender-reveal gathering.

The project is unique because it features your unborn baby as the star of the show. They project the ultrasound image of your baby onto a movie-like projector screen framed by movie curtains.

They also have real movie theater seats, which were salvaged from a 1950s Italian Oceanliner. Baby's Close-Up is unlike most ultrasound studios because they have a movie theater like set up and promotes large groups of friends and family to attend the ultrasound.

"We would like to offer social events and meetups for our pregnant clients and their spouses as well as offering classes, such as belly casting and placenta encapsulation. We feel there is a need and want for pregnant women connecting socially with other expecting couples," said Safia Shirley, owner of Baby's Close-Up.

Shirley also records the heartbeat of the unborn baby and puts the recording inside a stuffed animal called "heartbeat-animals" as a souvenir for the parents-to-be or their friends and family. The stuffed animals will be able to replay the baby's heartbeat.

"I have been doing ultrasound for 13 years, and I wanted to be able to provide a service that pregnant women were looking for," Shirley said. "I love showing people their unborn baby and making them smile, which was not allowed in the hospital setting. I will do everything to succeed because I gave up a lot to start my own business, and I have two small boys that I want to succeed for and to show them that you can accomplish anything in life.

"I lost most of my friends when I became pregnant, and I felt that I did not have a big support system," she said. "I know this would be a great thing for women who are in similar situations and want to bond with other expecting couples."

Shirley's business also caters to military families that may not be able to be at the ultrasound appointment together.

"Because we're such a big military town, we offer free livestreaming online for ultrasounds so mom and dad can communicate and be a part of the ultrasound together," Shirley said. "This is great for deployed husbands or for grandparents in different countries or different states and it's all free, complimentary."

Shirley said during the ultrasounds she tries to get everyone involved to make it a memorable experience.

Baby's Close-Up is located on Beach Boulevard and Kernan Boulevard in Jacksonville.

The business' One Spark project number is #22019, and you can vote for this project at One Spark or you can contribute to the project at the website. https://www.onespark.com/festival/2015/projects/baby-s-close-up-3d-4d-ultrasound-theater.

For more information, go to http://www.babyscloseup.com