Keepsake’ Ultrasounds Aren’t Dangerous
(Extract)
By Emily Oster
A 2010 Cochrane review (a meta-analysis of randomized trials) concluded there were no long-term negative effects of ultrasounds before 24 weeks of pregnancy on fetal outcomes or child development. A second review showed the same null effects of ultrasounds conducted later in pregnancy.
This evidence suggests that there is absolutely no reason to avoid ultrasounds as administered during prenatal care. There has been some reluctance to extend this conclusion to recreational ultrasounds because of concerns they may last longer or use different ultrasound power settings.
An ultrasound is not exactly high-def TV, and doctors (or doctor-employed ultrasound technicians) are likely to be much better at interpreting the images than a technician who performs them for parents’ entertainment. A poorly trained technician might see problems with the fetus when they are not there, causing unnecessary worry, or might fail to see problems that are there.
Even worse, some companies do not even have technicians, employ people who trained in 3 days to use the ultrasound equipment. This is is not recommendable. Please ask for a registered sonographer.
Emily Oster is an associate professor of economics at Brown University and the author of “Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong — and What You Really Need to Know.” @profemilyoster