Ultrasounds for Fun: Yes or No
Tuesday December 2, 2008
We've been discussing the ultrasounds that you pay for that are not ordered by your doctor, known as keepsake ultrasounds. There is obviously not one opinion, but a lot of good points, including: who does them, what happens if they see something, what about guests at an ultrasound. Our readers are a well educated bunch and bring up several issues that were very interesting, including the cultural perspective. But what it comes down to is should ultrasounds purely for fun be allowed? What are your thoughts?
Related:
Comments
I think that is a personal choice, not something that should be allowed or disallowed. However, my husband and I have chosen not to have any ultrasounds without medical necessity. With my last pregnancy, we had one ultrasound at the end because my midwife wasn’t positive he wasn’t breech, and since he had been for quite a few weeks she wasn’t comfortable not knowing for sure he was head down.
Ultrasounds are a relatively new technology, and I know several women who were given mistaken diagnoses based on ultrasounds. I am not convinced of their safety or benefit when done routinely and often during pregnancy.
We are completely opposed to ultrasounds for non-medical reasons. After the Yale study came out indicating there may be long term damage to the child’s brain, risking it for your own curiosity seems unconscionable.