Are ultrasounds dangerous?

[squishmich]

So because of my previous loss, my fertility specialist wants to schedule a scan next week, which would put me at 5.5 weeks. This is to ensure viability (check the sack) and check out the lining of the uterus, also for dating/checking for multiples as I was on Femara.

My mother is utterly convinced that extra ultrasounds were the sole cause of my sister's learning disability. She had dyslexia and for those who have it or know of it, it can be a struggle. She was trying to turn me off getting an ultrasound done this early - but it's not like it's entirely my choice...my doctor is recommending it. I'm hoping I won't need anymore than this extra one.

He is also recommending the traditional 8-9 week scan.

I'm not seeing too many case studies that show that ultrasounds have negative consequences - there are plenty of people who are satisfied without ultrasounds or any invasive technology, while others claim that they'd be happier being able to see their baby and knowing if there were any potential problems.

I'm curious as to your opinion on ultrasounds. Would you get more of them? Would you limit yourself on the number of them?

 

[Julesillini8]

I think the correlation of extra ultrasounds and dyslexia is pretty far fetched, but I haven't read anything ( research) on that, I just think it sounds kinda ridiculous. Ultrasounds are just sound waves... It's not like radiation from x days....
It's not like you are having weekly ultrasounds.. And for the record, I don't believe they are dangerous, when used and performed correctly. but like I said its not as if you are having them frequently. I've had them at 6 wks 12 wks 20 wks, then a bunch at the end of my pregnancies,with no harm noted. People with multiples, or that are high risk, get them more frequently. Drs wouldn't do them if they were dangerous.
That's just my thoughts, you asked for opinions, and in my opinion they are not dangerous. I would def do them in your scenario, I do not think those are frequent at all!

 

[hobbnob]

I am glad you brought this up because no one really discusses this and they just accept them and in fact most people want to see their baby a lot without thinking that perhaps this technology is not exactly something you want your developing baby to be exposed to frequently.

I know that ultrasound can alter cells. That is a known fact. Usually it is due to the heat that is generated. The technicians are suppose to limit the length of time of your ultrasound.

Personally, there is not enough known about what type of changes ultrasounds could cause in a developing fetus and it is hard to study this. I would error on the safe side and limit the ultrasounds. My opinion...

 

[THart]

I see no harm in them.

 

[Julesillini8]

Hobnob is correct, they can generate heat. But my ultrasounds have been pretty quick, aside from the 20 wks one where they measure everything.
To me, the length and frequency of just an extra ultrasound here or there does not have a high risk potential. Again if you were getting the, every week for longer than 10-15 minutes, I might consider the effects. It is true that they can generate heat after a longer period of time, but this is why physicians and tech don't do hour long ultrasounds throughout an entire pregnancy.
It's good to get knowledge about it though so you can decide and do what you are comfortable with!

 

[StillPraying]

I've had to have several ultrasounds this pregnancy. At 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks and one today. Although there may be something to the studies, I don't think the possibility of that is worth forgoing the ultrasound. There isn't enough research to prove this, but then there are risks with everything. They are very helpful for drs to be able to make sure everything is okay and that baby is growing properly. But you should do what you are comfortable with and ask your dr about any issues with them you might have.

 

[caringo]

There have actually been studies that possibly link mild brain damage and speech delay in children to increased ultrasounds during the mother's pregnancy. Here is a good article to check out: https://www.modernalternativemama.c...regnancy-series-ultrasounds.html#.VCy-oMIo6MY

The thing about ultrasounds is...there really is not much BENEFIT to them...at least not to the baby. If a problem is found, what can you really do about it? And how many times have ultrasounds been inaccurate and caused needless worry? Perfectly healthy babies have been aborted due to supposed "abnormalities" found in ultrasounds. Often times mothers worry because their babies are not growing "properly" when really they are just fine - and vice versa. Everything can look fine and not be. It really is tricky.

Although I don't think a few short ultrasounds, done by an experienced professional, are probably that harmful to a baby, I definitely think it is something to think about and I commend you for wanting to be sure it's safe! And, just because doctors do it, does NOT mean it is safe. There are many "standard practices" that over the years, with more research, have proven to be more harmful than originally thought, and it's possible that one day ultrasounds will fall under that category.

 

[amaryllis]

https://www.birth.com.au/ultrasounds/physical-effects-and-research#.VC0OdrJBCPk

https://sogc.org/publications/ultrasound-in-pregnancy/

Ultrasounds are perfectly safe when used by a professional. There is absolutely nothing to worry about. Whenever reading anything about whether something is safe or not, look for the source. Look for peer-reviewed articles. Do NOT trust hippy-dippy websites that don't link to firm evidence.

Ultrasounds can be of huge benefit in monitoring the health of the unborn baby. Sure, there is a tiny risk, but you have more risk to your child driving it home from the hospital or co-sleeping with it.

Read as many sources as you can before making your decision. And make sure it's your decision. Good luck and I hope it all goes well.

 

[Natnee]

Well I will have no issues with extra ultrasounds. I don't know how far along you were with your loss, so sorry about that by the way but I was promised extras with my next pregnancy after I lost Poppy. With Poppy I had the standard 3 that my local hospital give; 12, 20 and 32 weeks. My consultant has said that next time (or this time) I can have an early one. Then the normal 12, 20 and 32 weeks, plus extras at 28 and 36 weeks to check growth and placental function. Although I was full term, 40+ weeks when I had Poppy, pm tests indicated gestation age was 38 weeks, so although there were no indications of what went wrong or what caused her to die, something had started to go wrong at 38 weeks. So they will induced me at 37 weeks this time. So yes I will be welcoming anything at all to check this baby and to make sure he/she is ok, so I don't have to come home with no baby this time. I need every reassurance I can get.

 

[BabyLuv88]

I've had many 10 or more ultrasounds with my second daughter and i've also had 2 courses of antibiotics... and she's a very happy, healthy baby thank god... I dont think ultrasound are dangerous... plus they only last for couple of minutes.

 

[mayacat]

There's no more risk from an ultrasound than listening to music. It's just sound waves, there's no radiation or chemicals that come from it (the goop is inert). X-rays are a whole other story since the radiation could disrupt baby's DNA and their growth, but ultrasounds don't have the power to do anything harmful.

 

[Button#]

I think the benefits outweigh any risks and as long as they are conducted by a health proffessional then you're fine. Too many people get confused between causation and coincidence.

 

[Scout]

I think if they are performed by a professional and as indicated, they are safe. I've tried to find reputable, medical studies regarding them being unsafe and couldn't. With my last pregnancy, I had had 3 losses and I was high risk due to age. My OB scanned me weekly 6 to 13 and wanted to continue weekly scans, but I told him I no longer wanted to be scanned that much. (not bc I thought they were dangerous, but bc I was tired of going to his office every week and was satisfied baby was doing okay). He agreed and I had monthly scans. But, even tho I think they are safe and was fine having them, that doesn't really matter. In my opinion, it really doesn't matter if 100 women think they are safe and only 3 don't....if you don't, then don't do them. And remember that you are always in charge of your medical care, so I'd suggest discussing your concerns with your doctor and then doing what YOU feel is best for you and your baby. GL

Edited to add: FWIW, all those early scans were only for reassurance, so basically completely unnecessary bc there isn't anything a doctor can do that early anyway if something is wrong. A later scan showed a cyst on the umbilical cord, but again there wasn't anything the doctor could do but wait and see if it cleared on its own. The only scan I feel provided any information was the 20 week scan.

 

[caringo]

There's no more risk from an ultrasound than listening to music. It's just sound waves, there's no radiation or chemicals that come from it (the goop is inert). X-rays are a whole other story since the radiation could disrupt baby's DNA and their growth, but ultrasounds don't have the power to do anything harmful.

This is inaccurate. Yes, an ultrasound uses sound waves, but they are at a far higher frequency than what humans can hear (hence why you cannot hear anything during an ultrasound). From what I remember, humans can hear up to 20,000 Hz, whereas an ultrasound machine uses sound waves from 1-3 MHz (or 1,000,000-3,000,000 Hz). It is well known that sound waves can cause damage at EXTREMELY high rates, so obviously not all sound waves have equal effects. Also, with many ultrasound machines it is hard to determine exactly how high frequency the waves are, and there really aren't any guidelines that I know of concerning machine settings and what not - so some machines may have much higher frequencies than others. In all of this there is a possibility, however unlikely, of exposing your baby to potential harm (not necessarily by the waves but by the heat the waves generate in the tissue and amniotic fluid, as previously discussed).

Also, a statement by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and endorsed by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on the use of nonmedical ultrasounds -
"The AIUM advocates the responsible use of diagnostic ultrasound. The AIUM strongly discourages the non-medical use of ultrasound for psychosocial or entertainment purposes. The use of either two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound to only view the fetus, obtain a picture of the fetus or determine the fetal gender without a medical indication is inappropriate and contrary to responsible medical practice. Although there are no confirmed biological effects on patients caused by exposures from present diagnostic ultrasound instruments, the possibility exists that such biological effects may be identified in the future. Thus ultrasound should be used in a prudent manner to provide medical benefit to the patient."
(https://www.acog.org/Resources-And-...s/Nonmedical-use-of-Obstetric-Ultrasonography)

If it's perfectly safe, why would using it recreationally be considered inappropriate or irresponsible? Obviously the medical community is still a bit unsure on all that goes on during an ultrasound.

OP, I hope you are able to make a well-educated decision that you feel comfortable with - after all, that's all we can do. But I do think it's worth considering that although there are not many studies out there that prove ultrasounds are dangerous, there also aren't many that definitively prove they are completely safe. It's just one of those things where only time and research will tell.

 

[summer2011]

I've had about 6 already and I'm only 13 weeks. Since I'm a high risk patient I'll likely have many more. My maternal fetal medicine specialist who specializes in high risk preg told me just today that ultrasounds will cause no harm. And I totally trust my drs.

 

[hobbnob]

You can always ask you practitioner if there are other ways he/she can obtain the same information without using ultrasound. I think that doctors rely a lot on ultrasound but there are ways they can get the same information that midwives and others have been using for years and years before ultrasound. Anyway, might be nice to know what exactly they need to gain from it, and if they could get the info in a different way.

 

[.hopeful.one.]

I'm an ultrasound tech and yes they COULD cause damage although it's extremely unlikely. I think if the doctor recommends it you should do it. I'd say no more than 4 or 5 scans for the pregnancy and only when medically necessary. We were told never to scan more than once every two weeks.

 

[StillPraying]

Well the AIUM themselves said "Although there are no confirmed biological effects on patients caused by exposures from present diagnostic ultrasound instruments, the possibility exists that such biological effects may be identified in the future."

I think it is wisest to trust your Dr, and ask him/her about your concerns. There are no proven effects, but that doesn't mean there aren't effects.

 

[Mrs Mc]

I was scanned every 2 weeks from 16 weeks pregnant with the twins (standard practice with ID twins). Had 12 scans in total.

My twins are now happy, healthy and on track developmentally.

Ive been moaning this pregnancy as (fingers crossed) it'll be a normal, low risk single baby which means I'll only be scanned twice, 12 wks and 20wks. I'll miss seeing my bubba

 

[sharnw]

This has never crossed my mind. I wouldn't google for info. Trust your doctor x