Ultrasound. It is a routine part of pregnancy these days. Usually, moms to be look forward to the ultrasounds, giving them a little bit of a chance to “see” their baby before it is born. In low risk pregnancies, there are usually two ultrasounds that are done. In high risk pregnancies, the number of ultrasounds can be even higher. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
This doesn’t count “elective” 3D and 4D ultrasounds that pregnant women can pay extra for and have done at “boutique” style ultrasound centers. Up until now, ultrasounds have been considered a routine part of pregnancy, but now, they are coming under fire, and some people think that they might be doing more harm than good.
Most experts agree that while the risk that ultrasounds may pose are nothing like the risks of other kinds or radiation, they are not completely without risks. There are even studies that indicate that ultrasounds have been shown to significantly increase the risk of miscarriage and preterm labor.
There are also studies that indicate that children whose mothers were exposed to ultrasound in the womb were at a greater risk of developing dyslexia and other learning problems as opposed to mothers who did not have ultrasounds done.
The other real problem with ultrasound is that women can be misdiagnosed with problems via ultrasound when those problems really don’t exist. For example, a study was done in which 4000 women who had ultrasounds were monitored.
Of those 4000 women, 250 were diagnosed with placenta previa (a potentially life threatening condition) during pregnancy. Upon delivery, only 4 of those women ACTUALLY had placenta previa when they delivered. This indicates that many pregnant women are misdiagnosed via ultrasounds, causing undue stress and worry to the mother.
Many women look forward to the chance to get a prenatal ultrasound to “peek in” on their baby and see how they are doing in the womb. Ultrasound is also the way that many moms to be learn their baby’s gender. While for the most part, ultrasounds are considered safe, it is recommended that you limit them during pregnancy.
The fewer ultrasounds, the better. Many anti-ultrasound advocates think that we do not hear the negative side of ultrasounds, due to the huge amount of revenue that they bring in for the medical industry. If you are concerned about the safety of ultrasound technology, take the time to do your own research and determine what is best for you and your baby.
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