I think that the reality is that there hasn't been enough research done to determine how harmful the new, fun 3D ultrasound "parties" people are having might be on the developing foetus. What we do know is that they are not recommended by the SOGC according to the Guidelines dated June 2005.
Their concern is that while "there have been no proven adverse biological effects associated with obstetric diagnostic ultrasound, one must be cognizant of the potential for an unidentified risk." They go on to write that "[e]pidemiologic research on ultrasound safety is limited." With this in mind, why would anyone choose to play with the possibility that it might harm their baby?
In some cases it is an effective tool to be used to indicate that further testing needs. The reality though is that very few women have anything beyond a general ultrasound (a Level 2 scan) in pregnancy until a potential health concern possibility presents and a care-provider determines that a Level 3 scan (which "uses a very expensive machine that is capable of picking up very slight changes and abnormalities in the fetus that cannot be detected on lesser machines") is required in order to be able to better prepare for the birth of the baby.
So, if many causes for concern are missed or not seen adequately with a general Level 2 scan, why have them? What do they tell us, other than placental location, that we NEED to know? Perhaps if there are multiples? Okay. Is it just that it is our brief moment in time where the skin over the belly doesn't feel quite so opaque? That, for a few minutes, we get to breathe a sigh of relief that it really is a baby in there and not the alien that it feels like? Okay again. I think it is important that we acknowledge exactly WHY we are consenting to having procedures done TO us.
"WHO [World Health Organization] strongly endorses the principle of informed choice with regard to technology use. The health-care providers have the moral responsibility: fully to inform the public about what is known and not known about ultrasound scanning during pregnancy; and fully to inform each woman prior to an ultrasound examination as to the clinical indication for ultrasound, its hoped-for benefit, its potential risk, and alternative available, if any."
Unfortunately there have been very few studies done to determine the potential long-term ramifications of the use of ultrasound technology during pregnancy on either the mother or the baby. There is hope that more research is coming and with the current shift in thinking in the US, away from allowing parents to participate in 3D scans just so they can see their baby, it wouldn't be a surprise if more information ended up available to Obstetric decision makers in the near future.
I don't want to suggest that all ultrasounds are bad and that no pregnant mom should experience one. I am surprised by those who have had three or four (plus the one they paid for) and who are asking me, in my classes, how many they should expect. Most moms should have no more than two; and only one if they are in a low-risk category.
These are just a couple of my thoughts and some links for those of you who are pregnant and are wondering about how safe these tools are!
BTW, the SOGC also says that "[o]bstetric ultrasound should NOT be used for non-medical reasons, such as sex determination, nonmedical photos or videos, or for commercial purposes." (emphasis mine)
Posted by Sam
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VERY interesting..thanks!
Thanks @SuSuseriffic! My pleasure!
People are nuts. Seriously. I love my kid, but the rabid consumerism surrounding babies has gotten out of control. I was reading a local parenting blog and one of the writers was trying to find an affordable doppler so she can listen to her baby's heartbeat all the time. All of this stuff is just insane to me. 3D ultrasounds of the baby you will get to see in a few months in person? Really? It's just creepy to me that people become obsessed with their unborn child in a way that seems unhealthy. These are also the same people, BTW, who think breastfeeding is gross, use cry-it-out, get planned c-sections and wouldn't dream of laboring without an epidural.
Elita, once again I agree with every word you have written. You are brilliant my friend and quite well spoken too!
Thanks for the comment
I'm dismayed at how routine ultrasounds seem to be these days - multiple ultrasounds seem to be the norm, rather than the exception. The frustrating part for me is that for most parents even one ultrasound doesn't provide any useful information - though it may provide for lots of worry. How often do mothers worry about a low-lying placenta at 18 weeks (when it will almost always move up)? Or undergo invasive testing for a relatively unspecific ultrasound finding (that often won't change a thing about prenatal care or delivery)? I've felt the anticipation too - and the 3D images are pretty amazing. But some things are meant to be a surprise and I wish we'd have the sense to leave them like that.
I was shocked when I learned that a childhood friend of mine, who is a nurse, used to go and use the ultrasound machine at the hospital on her breaks when she was pregnant just to look at her baby. She did this regularly, just for fun.
I'm thankful for ultrasound technology. I was very thankful when we suspected my first pregnancy might be ectopic. The ultrasound was able to provide me with peace of mind (and alternatively if it had been ectopic, it would have given us the opportunity to deal with the situation sooner rather than later).
But I don't think it is a toy or something to be played with.
Great post as usual.
Thanks Michelle. I am with you. It astounds me when I hear of the sheer volume of U/Ss moms have with pregnancies. I have had more than one mom become angry (when I worked as admin in a m/w office) that we couldn't just "book her another u/s." She just wanted to check the baby, to be sure everything was okay. Yikes!
Thank you Annie! You're right, they can be used effectively to detect ectopic or molar pregnancies. Unfortunately beyond that though they don't see most baby body parts adequately enough to be more than a suggestion that a more in-depth study needs to be done.
I am by no means obsessed with my unborn child in any way that is unhealthy and I did have a 3D ultrasound of my own child. I take great offense to being categorized into the same group by Elita as someone who thinks "breastfeeding is gross, uses cry-it-out, gets a planned c-section and wouldn't dream of laboring without an epidural." As to the contrary, I breastfed my first child until he was 18 months, never once let him cry-it-out to fall asleep, did not have a 'planned' c-section and laboured completely without an epidural, thank you very much!!!
Yes, I agree that there are people who go to the extreme and excessively request or pay for ultrasounds, buy dopplers, etc. but really, watch the overclassifications!
Anonymous, I must ask, were you ever told, when you went for your 3D Ultrasound, that the research regarding the safety of the procedure on the unborn foetus had never been done and that, in fact there was research to suggest a potential for it being damaging to him? Were you told there were risks? Did you know this information so that you could make an informed decision about it?
I am curious. I have never met anyone who has been told that ultrasound safety has not been thoroughly studied and that preliminary research suggests that there is the potential for risk to the unborn baby. I would love to talk to someone who was given the risks, especially someone who has been for a commercial ultrasound. In Canada the operators of the machines are "certified" to use that machine but not to read or even remotely interpret the results. That, in and of itself is a risk in my opinion.
Anon, I am just basing this on the people I know in "real life" who asked for the 3D US, had multiple US, got US done at the mall, etc. All of them were obsessed with seeing/hearing baby before birth, got those expensive pregnancy pics taken, had a cast made of the belly, etc. I mean, doing any one of those things is not that weird I guess, but doing them ALL and then being a very hands-off parent is very strange to me and it seems to be the norm based on the couples I know who've been very baby obsessed like this.
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