FDA: "Stay Away from "Keepsake" Ultrasounds"

mkrupar · December 2014

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fda-warning-stay-away-keepsake-ultrasounds-195732017--politics.html

CN: FDA warns against commercial ultrasound places because they are not regulated or run by medical professionals.

Does anyone have plans to visit one? My H had a coworker who went to one to find out the sex of her baby and brought a bunch of family members. I guess the anatomy scan wasn't conclusive, so they decided to pay for an additional one through one of these centers.

I won't be going to one, but was curious to hear people's thoughts. I'm not a medical professional, so I can't say if the warning is legit or if it's the FDA being overly cautious. Although other medical associations are also warning against the use of unregulated ultrasound machines, so I imagine there's just cause for the warning.

Beachy730 · December 2014

Yahoo doesn't want to load the link for me so I haven't actually read it. I have no problem with these places though, and almost went with DS. I think it's just important for people to know that it's not a medical one, and they need to pay more attention to the one with their OB. Way too many people think the sole purpose of the a/s is to find out the sex. Not that I think you would opt out of the a/s because you went to a boutique place, but whatever. People also warn about dopplers and exposing babies to those too.

Jennym2b · December 2014

My best friend is getting me a gift card for one of the elective places for Christmas.(she's dropped enough hints) she used one, and I know several other people who went to one. I would never go for an hour long ultrasound but I don't know that one ultrasound extra is going to do any damage. But I am going to ask my Dr tomorrow when I go to see her take on it.

Sep5Bride · December 2014

I would never get an ultrasound that was not performed by a healthcare professional. We are only doing the anatomy u/s at 20 weeks this time around, which I realize is more conservative than most, but I would definitely not get extras that are not medically necessary and not performed at our doctor's office. The risk is just not worth it.

There are a lot of things that we once thought were okay, and years later found out how devastating the effects really can be (eg. smoking, tons of medications, plastics). Technology is great, but still needs to be used in the appropriate way and by people who know what they are doing.

Sep5Bride · December 2014

Yeah, I don't think leaching mercury is the concern... the concern is the thermal effect on the fetus and amniotic fluid. It's the same reason you shouldn't spend time in a hot tub while pregnant.

But again, I'm not saying no ultrasounds, just be smart about it, and leave it to those who know what they are doing.

ELauren88 · December 2014

Eh, I have no dog in the is it safe or not fight, but I won't be getting one, because I don't see the point. I get one at 20 weeks, and one at 32 with my ob, and that's plenty for me!

Marinewife81 · December 2014

I got one last time around so we could find out the gender before the big clearance sale at Once Upon a Child (if it was a boy we would need a whole new set of clothes). I was 19 weeks. We brought the ILs and dd. Gender was VERY obvious. It was neat but I probably wouldn't do it again.

lizb7 · December 2014

I don't see the harm in getting one and if I wasn't having twins and get an ultrasound once a month , I would definitely do it.

abcdefghijk12345678 · December 2014

I can see the appeal of these places, but I'm not planning on paying extra money to get an unnecessary ultrasound done.

chelsea13elyse · December 2014

I don't see anything wrong with them. I wouldn't get a ton of elective ultrasounds but I see absolutely nothing wrong with one. In fact I had one with DS. It was such a nice experience. I was having a miserable pregnancy and because I wasn't married before I got pregnant (a huge no no to my incredibly conservative Christian family) was made to feel guilty and horrible because of it. Anyhow my 20 week scan fell on the week of our honeymoon and the earliest scan I could schedule was about 25 weeks because they were booked solid. I decided I would pay the extra 100 dollars to have an elective and find out the sex because it was the one thing that I wanted and that would let me enjoy my pregnancy a little bit. I probably won't with this one just because I'm not feeling incredibly impatient about finding out the sex and we may decide to not find out with this one.

360blessings · December 2014

I don't particularly see anything wrong with them, at least not necessarily being harmful. I get a lot of ultrasounds due to my history. With my first son we went to get a 3D/4D video from a elective "fun" place at between 31-32 weeks. It was great and I'm glad we have the video and pictures to hold on too, however, my son passed away about a week later and was stillborn. My placenta was twice the size that it should have been and weighed as much as my son. If my OB's office or a true medical professional would have done the scan, they likely would have seen this and our outcome would have been very different. Now, the person doing the scan said that they were obligated if they saw anything unusual to contact the primary OB, but...
Like I said, I'm glad to have the keepsakes, but it would likely be better to ask your doctors' offices if they offer something similar. My OB's office will do elective 3d/4d gender testing etc. for additional fees not covered by insurance if you want them, and at least you would have a real professional looking just in case.

lauralou2210 · December 2014

Some are operated by trained medical staff. I went to one where all of the techs had a copy of their licenses hanging there. All also are parts of practices in town.

READY4TWO · December 2014

We went to one at 16 weeks to find out the sex of my son. I will most definitely do it again this time. The A/S is very impersonal. That tech is there to do a job and that is to get pictures of that baby. She kind of told us in passing oh, it's a boy! But had to keep going to get the pics done. The place we went to was run by trained medical professionals and licensed techs. It was a great atmosphere and the fact that you can bring family along is pretty awesome. Do I really think that having one more U/S is going to cause harm to my baby? No. Look at all the people on here that have already commented that they're having more than one U/S.

TeresaWE · December 2014

The article wouldn't link for me so I haven't read it. I would always recommend going for the 20 week anatomy scan. For some, one scan just isn't enough and I can sympathize. I have family who have paid for additional scans, either to find out the sex hopefully finally or to get a 3d/4d shot of baby at the end.

sschwege · December 2014

I would never go to one of these places. I'm just too suspicious of well, everything. Do I think u/s are safe? Almost without a doubt, yes! Would I have one at every appointment if my MWs thought it was necessary? Yup. Can we guarantee, with 100% certainty that there are no risks associated to repeated exposure? We really can't say for absolute certainty. So no, I just don't feel comfortable with it, not for entertainment! Oh and I'm too cheap, haha!

Jennym2b · December 2014

where I amlocated the first one is only $40

butterfly061583 · December 2014

There is a actual OB/GYN group in my area that also offers elective 2d/3D scan packages. I would be skeptical about having one performed outside of an actual medical setting. I might have an elective one through this medical office if I am unable to find out the sex at my anatomy scan.

jr0310 · December 2014

My dr offers a free 3d/4d us at 30 weeks
My sil did the keepsake/find out the sex ones with both her kids. The techs were certified and everything and its one extra us. I've already had an extra us today when I wasn't originally supposed to and I don't think it will harm my baby at all.

I mean clearly they're there to make money but sitting in a room with the whole family finding out I was going to have a niece and seeing her projected on the wall was pretty effin cool.

Mamamads · December 2014

JustinsLovo said:
***I just cut and pasted this from the thread about the doppler. I know I should re word some of it, but regardless. I will not be having any elective ultrasounds.***

This is not a scientific answer at all... But this is what I think it
would be like. You know how your ears ring for a while after you were at
a loud concert? I imagine the sound waves may have some type of similar
effect on baby. Or how the waves beat up against the sand on the beach?
Although there is no evidence that ultrasound is damaging, it is a
sound wave and I can't help but think it has some sort of similar
effect.

Go ahead and call me crazy, I won't mind! Haha!

Omg this makes me sad!! So pissed you said this now I will be thinking about this with each ultrasound, Damn you!!!
I haven't given these places much thought I think people like to go with family and get lots of pictures and have it not feel so much like a doctors office.. To each their own.

UTMissy · December 2014

JustinsLovo said:

***I just cut and pasted this from the thread about the doppler. I know I should re word some of it, but regardless. I will not be having any elective ultrasounds.***

This is not a scientific answer at all... But this is what I think it would be like. You know how your ears ring for a while after you were at a loud concert? I imagine the sound waves may have some type of similar effect on baby. Or how the waves beat up against the sand on the beach? Although there is no evidence that ultrasound is damaging, it is a sound wave and I can't help but think it has some sort of similar effect.

Go ahead and call me crazy, I won't mind! Haha!

My dr mentioned something along these lines when she did my U/S at 7 weeks. She said she didn't want to measure the heart rate because the sound can put unecessary stress on the baby. I personally will not be having elective u/s because I'm too cheap. I will be having the genetic testing done as well so frankly, all the elective would be doing is giving me more pictures.
On a side note, the a/s being inpersonal depends on the tech. Both of mine were very personal. They did what they needed to but it was ultimately no different than what occurred when I went with my SIL to her elective u/s.

firsttimemommy0715 · December 2014

I will be going in to find out the gender of our LO on my birthday in a couple weeks. I am too cheap to pay for it myself but my mother is dying to know if we're having a girl or boy, considering this will be the first grandbaby so she is paying for it as a birthday gift

I have already asked my OB and he said as long as they are licensed u/s techs there should be nothing to worry about (which they are). Also, when I called to ask about how long it would take they said it should take less than 10 minutes unless baby is in a weird position and in that case we would just go back a couple days later. Can't wait to post on the new "Announce the Sex of Your Human/Unicorn/Velociraptor here" thread!!

mrstutus · December 2014

My take is that these U/S places aren't supposed to be doing anything more than telling you the sex. That was my only expectation going into it. The 20 week U/S is a medical U/S to check the development of the baby.

mrssnyder83 · December 2014

There is a place where I'm from that does 3d ultrasounds. We plan on doing that in our 8-9 month but all my friends & family have done it with no problems.

Want a personalized experience?

FDA: "Stay Away from "Keepsake" Ultrasounds"

Re: FDA: "Stay Away from "Keepsake" Ultrasounds"

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

FDA: "Stay Away from "Keepsake" Ultrasounds"

Re: FDA: &quot;Stay Away from &quot;Keepsake&quot; Ultrasounds&quot;

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Re: FDA: "Stay Away from "Keepsake" Ultrasounds"