Does this danger lurk in your doctors office?
Credit: Frank Schollenberger | ©Frank Schollenberger
Is Your Doctor Lying When They Say Their is No Risk?
Are you being lied too? How would you feel if you found out that you were putting your unborn child at unnecessary risk for such neurodevelopmental problems as dyslexia, schizophrenia, epilepsy, retardation and autism? Would you be furious if you found out that it was your own health care provider that was endorsing your exposure to these unnecessary risks? Well, this just might be the case.The American College of Obstetriciansand Gynecologists, The American Academy of Family Physicians and The American Medical Association have all cautioned against routine ultrasounds on pregnant women. Yet, it seems that the number of frivolous ultrasound exams has been increasing. Most pregnant women take every possible precaution to ensure that they birth a healthy child. They avoid alcohol, cigarette smoke, soft cheeses and various herbs. They drink approximately a gallon of water a day, exercise, avoid stress and take prenatal vitamins. They take the advice of their doctors and health care professionals to heart. They call hospitals and check themselves into emergency rooms at the slightest twinges. Some women go so far as to record everything that they eat daily, create meal plans long in advance, and quit jobs to avoid stressful situations. Many women will read, play music and talk to their unborn child in order to help give them the best start possible. And, for all of this work and worry many woman still are not aware of a potentially very dangerous hazard being administered by the very person that they are trusting to guide them through this time . . . ultrasounds. Why are people not being informed about the dangers of ultrasound use? Maybe all these people bemoaning why take a risk with just one drink should consider the risk of just one ultrasound.
Comments
Shauna Ann Walker
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/14/2010
I do know that in my article many "theirs" should be "there," but because the article has already been published by Associated Content I can no longer edit it. Unless I'm missing something. Thanks you all!
Guest
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/12/2010
Interesting article. Couldn't help but notice, in the title of the article and elsewhere, it should be "there" not "their."
joan
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/08/2009
as a qualified and long time sonographer I read with interest the post and comments. Some of Shauna's info is at best conjecture BUT she raises some profoundly astute points. I have become increasingly concerned about the effects of high frequency vibration on fetuses myself and while I do not believe fetuses hear the sound (frequencies used are well above the range of human hearing) and I don't believe the sound causes physical pain (fetal movement is normal and happens also when we are not observing with ultrasound), my concern is about the heat produced as a bio effect. We do so many un-necessary tests! Although the recommended standard of practice is one ultasound scan for routine low risk pregnancy at 20 weeks to screen for developmental abnormalities, physicians here in Canada tend to order tests when pressed. And people do demand these tests for emotional reasons! 4D entertainment scans and extra 2D scans for gender identification or to 'check on the baby's well being' (aka the
megan
(Guest)
(Guest)
06/12/2009
You claim all these organizations have all cautioned against routine ultrasounds, yet you don't offer any references or citations. You also leave out that, although many people do choose to find out sex at about 20 weeks, the real purpose of that ultrasound is to check on the development of the baby's organs, which cannot be done in another way. If you are going to make claims that are going to cause pregnant women fear, you should at least back it up with your sources.
By the way, it is THERE not THEIR as in THERE is no risk.
me
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/01/2009
look we just had two children over the past few years who were both subjected to ultrasounds and they are more than healthy- they're thriving. humans are way more resilient than this article gives credit. sure prolonged exposure to a number of irritants can be negative. so can reading a critical article that drips of irrational fear and cynicism. this is the same sort of fear mongering talk that has everyone afraid of immunizing children. sure anomalies occur and kids are affected, but those are the exceptions not the rule. if ur child is going to be hurt by routine ultrasounds that a medically qualified individual is administering than i'm willing to bet your child has bigger or more deeply rooted issues.
give me a break!
Mom carolyn
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/12/2008
Babies DO feel it, and it does hurt, and you must be conscious about choices. Untrasound for a photograph is wrong. It is amedical tool and must be used minimally.
Thank you for this post!
Mom carolyn
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/12/2008
You know I waited until I was six months pregnant before seeing a MD. I did not want that nasty test they do by injecting a needle in to the womb to take some fluids, that they do for ladies like me ..I was 41 years old. They do that test to see if there are birth defects, and then you have to deside if you want to kill the unborn. Many children have been damaged due to that test. So I opted for the Ultrasound.
But my son hated it. He moved away from the sound shifting as much he cold to the opposite side of the womb. The technision was so frustrated for she could not get a read on him. So I got scedualed for a second one, when a better tech came over.
So I walked out and then patted my son in my belly and told him that if he would just be still, that all they want to do is see his organs and if they are developing well. That if he was still it would take manybe two minutes.
The next time he layed still with arms aside and legs open, and yes we were don so fast, he was perfect.
Great article! Very informative!
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