July 19, 2023

A new women’s wellness and pregnancy studio is coming to Sioux Falls.

The Sonography Studio is expanding from Sioux City to open a location in a retail center at Lake Lorraine.

Owner Lily Frank is an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse-midwife who also has a postgraduate certification through Sonosession, an ultrasound course for midwives.

Shortly after opening the studio last year, Frank said she quickly found that providing “peace of mind” to pregnant people was a bigger need than she anticipated. She discovered women frequently came from the tristate area to receive wellness services, and she often saw Sioux Falls patients.

“I saw a big need for people wanting to find out the gender of their baby as soon as they could,” Frank said. “Doctors offer genetic/gender-reveal testing around 10 to 12 weeks. But with the sneak peeks I offer at the studio, as long as you’re six weeks’ along, I can just draw your blood and get the results the next day.”

As the business expanded, Frank added more wellness services for “pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.”

The studio offers sonograms, IV hydration/therapy, hormonal and vitamin/mineral testing, “sneak peek” early gender-reveal DNA testing, Morpheus8 microneedling, lactation services and “flower-face lift,” which is a vaginal/pelvic floor treatment. The Sioux Falls location plans to offer these same services in addition to some baby-related retail items.

Frank said she anticipates needing more staff for the Sioux Falls location because the area has roughly three times the number of pregnancies than Sioux City. She plans to start with four full-time staff and hire additional staff as needed.

Ultrasounds are so popular at her studio because “people love being able to come show their babies off to their kids, parents, grandparents, etc. (as) generally only their significant other is allowed in the room at the doctor’s office,” she said.

Frank said insurance typically covers only two ultrasounds during a pregnancy.

“The general population knows ultrasound is not harmful at all; it’s just that insurance companies aren’t gonna pay for extra ultrasounds. So there’s just a need for people to see their babies more and get that peace of mind,” she said.

The Sonography Studio aims to provide cost-effective and welcoming services, Frank said

For example, IV hydration services include a heated blanket, massage chair and Netflix.

“It’s nice to be able to fix their headaches or whatever they’re experiencing with their pregnancy. That’s huge for people,” she said.

The space also includes a maternity and baby boutique: Keith and Lux Maternity and Baby.

The Sonography Studio hopes to open around Nov. 1. Frank said she has received questions about franchising her studio because of its success and that it’s likely part of her five- or 10-year plan.