Excessive ultrasounds dangerous?

gemclark84 · May 2015

hi all,
Somebody has mentioned to me that too many ultrasounds may be a risk to the baby. When I googled this I discovered a possible link to autism. I don't want to alarm you but has anybody happened to hear this too and perhaps asked their doctor? It is really causing me some worry as I have been going once a month so far.

dmland17 · May 2015

I've read that there isn't any evidence that they're harmful, but that they shouldn't be used more than deemed medically necessary either.

jbettles · May 2015

I read a recent study - I believe it was American Pediatrics - that the slight heating of the cells frequently and for prolonged periods could pose a risk - it was more talking about women who do an hour-long session at a boutique many times throughout their pregnancy then the shorter ones under order of a doctor for medical reasons. No mention of autism, and the study flat out said they weren't sure what the end result risk might end up being, just recommended against getting unnecessary sonograms. I would not worry if I were you - the benefit of monitoring your baby if your doctor sees a need outweighs this risk, imo!

Yiggle09 · May 2015

I have heard of a theory that due to ultrasounds being sound waves that excessive ones can affect the hearing of a baby. Again its not proven just a theory. Mostly a cautionary tale told to people who may get several 3d ones?

Yiggle09 · May 2015

I have heard of a theory that due to ultrasounds being sound waves that excessive ones can affect the hearing of a baby. Again its not proven just a theory. Mostly a cautionary tale told to people who may get several 3d ones?

BabyBugutsky · May 2015

At the beginning I went for ultrasounds every 5 to 6 weeks too. My Doctor said this was not harmful to the baby. I only went so often as I did not have my OB given to me yet so the clinic I was going to for prenatal appointments requested this many. If your doctor is asking you to go I would not be worried. They wouldn't get you to go if it would be harmful for your baby.

29jmicks · May 2015

I haven't heard anything about regular ultrasounds or having multiple regular ultrasounds. There has been talk about 3D/4D ultrasounds especially having them done on your own. I have read/heard that they don't want people to abuse ultrasounds and only use them for medical reasons (doctor prescribes). This is due to the fact that they are not sure of long term effects. I know some doctors who are personally against 3D/4D ultrasounds because they aren't really used for medical reasons but for fun.

JenLovesDesign · May 2015

I got an earful from my a Ultrasound tech about how she thought unwarranted ultrasounds were dangerous. She reminded me that there were rumors of Brangelina buying one for her pregnancies. Who knows if true or not.

mrscate88 · May 2015

I've asked two of my doctors and two of my nurses, and they all assured me it doesn't harm baby. There have been studies done that suggests the ultrasound does warm the tissue around baby, but there's no evidence that it's harmful, according to my doctor. I wouldn't do a weekly ultrasound just for fun or anything like that, but any medically necessary ultrasounds are fine, and then maybe a special 3D one if you want. I avoid Google altogether, all the pregnancy hype and drama is just too much stress. Always talk to your doc and take Google's word very lightly.

caityrose · May 2015

A lot of the reason there's push not to do extra ultrasounds or 3d/4d especially early is because they are not medical and if something's wrong with the baby they won't be able to tell you. I would always get one at the doctors first. At my doctor here they allow you to pay a small fee for an ultrasound when there isn't one scheduled for medical reasons, so I'm assuming the 2 minutes extra every other month or so is not going to hurt her or they wouldn't allow it.

als8711 · May 2015

I asked my perinatologist and he said that the concern is for 3d/4d because of the type of waves they use. As long as you aren't having a really long 3d/4d then I wouldn't worry. I've had 4 ultrasounds in 23 weeks, 2 of them being only 1-2 minutes long. The other 2 were quite long, but the 3d/4d portion was maybe 3 minutes max. I'm not worried about it but I wouldn't go get elective ultrasounds done. I did that with my first and had about a 30-40 min 3d. I had my son 8 weeks early (completely unrelated) but he's now 4 and has no problems at all.

manlapaswedding · May 2015

I have heard that the risks have more to do with the boutique 3D/4D ones as they aren't always medically necessary, aren't as heavily regulated, and technicians may not be properly trained, plus equipment might be outdated/malfunction/etc. This was mentioned in my prenatal class so I think it's legit. I heard it had to do with heating up the tissue as well. However, the doctor wouldn't put baby at risk, so if they have been recommended to you, I wouldn't worry. I have had 3 so far and will have at least one more due to a low lying placenta. I'm sure you're fine. Don't worry

sidskinner · May 2015

The fda diacourages unneccesary ones but those your doctor says you need, you need. I decided not to go for a 3d of baby since i had already had 4 regular ones up until 17 weeks. Id love to see her again but not adding any extra risk especially since we may do another closer to her arrival. I will say ive had a lot of friends go for several extra ones. Just depends on preference.

amanda1nc · May 2015

My doctor said ultrasounds are not dangerous. I previously had a miscarriage at 10 weeks. When I got pregnant this time, my doctor knew I was worried and scared that it would happen again. He said I could come in anytime for an ultrasound, even if I was just worried and just wanted to check that everything was OK. Between weeks 7 and 12, I had a sonogram every week or two. My doctor said that there is no risk at all and the frequent ultrasounds let me know that the baby is OK. Knowing that my LO was fine helped me relax and enjoy being pregnant.

Daylianna · May 2015

I have to get an ultrasound every 2 weeks because I had a miscarriage at 20 weeks some years ago. The doctor recommended this to monitor my cervix. I doubt they would put my baby in harms way. It's just a precautionary measure.

ktbkitten · May 2015

NO! :-O It really bothers me when people attribute things like this to autism. There is a risk of the skin becoming heated, which isn't good, but that is from the boutique places. These ultrasounds are not medically needed and IMO shouldn't be done for any reason. Important information is easily missed from an unskilled technician. ANYWAYS, ultrasounds will not causes damage to a fetus. It is sound waves. Just because there is a correlation does not denote causation.

rachelkawesome · May 2015

Yeah, the only arguments I've heard with ultrasounds and autism are things that are correlation, not causation. Like, now people get more ultrasounds and the rate of autism is higher - that's correlation, which could be said about a million things. Or that the Amish don't get ultrasounds and they don't have kids with autism. Well, there could be a million reasons why the Amish aren't getting diagnosed with autism that have nothing to do with the number of ultrasounds (and the biggest one in my mind is that they don't go to public schools and have their own doctors, so my guess is that they have kids with autism, it's just that the kids aren't getting diagnosed).

And, there are twins studies with autism where one twin is autistic and the other is not, or one twin has Asberger's/is high functioning and the other is low functioning, and they obviously had the same number of ultrasounds in the womb. So if ultrasounds are even a factor at all, they certainly aren't the only factor.

edited to fix grammar

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