If you’re considering getting any type of ultrasound outside of a medical setting, check with your practitioner first. The same thinking goes for at-home Doppler ultrasound machines, which aren't nearly sensitive enough to pick up on fetal cardiac activity until the fifth month of pregnancy (and the FDA requires a prescription to use them). A long session (or repeat sessions, as some of these centers offer) can be intrusive and disruptive for a fetus who's using womb time to grow, develop and get the sleep he needs. What's more, some commercial sessions last for 45 minutes - much longer than a medical scan. That's because, in addition to potentially putting your baby’s health at risk, the technicians who perform commercial ultrasounds may not be able to address your questions and likely won’t have the expertise to be able to spot any problems with your baby’s development. Currently, ACOG recommends that expecting women have at least one 2D ultrasound between weeks 18 to 22 of pregnancy, noting that some women may also have a first-trimester ultrasound.Įxperts also discourage the use of any kinds of ultrasounds (2D, Doppler, 3D and 4D) for the purpose of creating a memento. ![]() ![]() Given what we do know, experts (including ACOG and the FDA) say that ultrasounds should only be performed by a qualified medical professional when your practitioner deems them necessary for medical reasons. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), when ultrasound enters the body it heats the tissues slightly, which in some cases can create small pockets of gas in body fluids or tissues - and the long-term effects of this are unknown. But studies evaluating the safety of ultrasound technology show mixed results.Īt this point, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that while there are no known risks of ultrasounds for pregnant women, they should be used carefully and only for medical purposes. It's tempting to book an appointment for a 3D or 4D sonogram at your local prenatal portrait center, especially if you've seen these stunning baby portraits and videos online. In other words, 3D sonograms and 4D ultrasounds are usually not part of routine prenatal exams.Īre 3D and 4D ultrasounds safe during pregnancy? Ultrasounds in 3D and 4D are performed only to closely examine suspected fetal anomalies, such as cleft lip and spinal cord issues, or to monitor something specific. ![]() Medical practitioners use 2D and Doppler ultrasounds in uncomplicated pregnancies to examine the fetus, assess amniotic fluid and look for birth defects, among other reasons.
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