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Prenatal Ultrasounds: Are They Really Safe?

 


Are Pregnancy Ultrasounds Safe?
Even though ultrasounds have been around since the 1950's, questions regarding their safety still remain. Improvement in technology and the advancement of "social" ultrasounds for personal viewing pleasure have many critics wondering how safe are prenatal ultrasounds?
Prenatal ultrasounds are extremely useful in routine prenatal care. They can be used to calculate due dates, monitor high risk pregnancies,  and locate fetal abnormalities.  In early pregnancy, transvaginal scans are often used to diagnose ectopic or molar pregnancies. In the second trimester, routine ultrasounds often alert doctors to fetal malformations such as gastroschesis, Down's Syndrome, and structural anomalies. In the third trimester, ultrasounds are useful to monitor amniotic fluid levels, placental location and even the position of the baby prior to delivery.
When correctly administered by medical professionals, ultrasounds during pregnancy can be safe. But according to the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine, ultrasounds aren't completely safe. Increase in the levels of ultrasound technology are exposing fetuses to ultrasounds at higher energy levels than before.  According to the FDA, " Ultrasonic fetal scanning, from a medical standpoint, generally is considered safe if properly used when information is needed about a pregnancy. Still, ultrasound is a form of energy, and even at low levels, laboratory studies have shown it can produce physical effects in tissue, such as jarring vibrations and a rise in temperature. Although there is no evidence that these physical effects can harm a fetus, the FDA says the fact that these effects exist means that prenatal ultrasounds can't be considered completely innocuous."
Doctors, FDA, and consumer advocates alike are cautioning the use of personal use ultrasound technology. 4-D ultrasound booths have been popping up across America promising excited expectant parents the opportunity at a sneak peak at their new baby. Problems arise when this technology exposes the babies to much higher energy levels. "Since ultrasound examinations in these studies took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s," says Marinac-Dabic, "and the fact that modern ultrasound equipment is capable of producing approximately eight times higher intensities than equipment used a decade ago, we continue to study the possible long-term effects of prenatal ultrasound in both animal and human epidemiologic studies."
For now, the safe bet would be to let your OBGYN decide for you how many ultrasounds you need during your pregnancy. Resist the urge to take another peak at your baby and you may be grateful in the long run. Until more research is done, err on the side of caution.

Sources:
Rados, Carol, "Fda Cautions Against Keepsake Images", www.fda.gov,2004
www.aium.org

Prenatal Ultrasounds are not as safe for pregnant women as we thought. Pregnant women should be advised to talk with their doctor before making any decisions regarding prenatal ultrasound use. Prenatal Ultrasounds are only safe when routinely given under supervision of a doctor. Prenatal Ultrasounds for entertainment purposes should be avoided.


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