Pregnant women have been warned against exposing their unborn baby to a 3D ultrasound imaging session offered by private clinics, as such a move is fraught with risks.
Pregnant women have been warned against exposing their unborn baby to a 3D ultrasound imaging session offered by private clinics, as such a move is fraught with risks. This advice has been offered by medical experts, in the wake of growing popularity of three dimensional ultrasounds enabling moving pictures of the unborn child.
It is no longer news that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had purchased their own ultrasound machine in 2005, so that they could monitor their baby’s growth, at will from their home.Geoff Watts, a science writer, who feels strongly about the inherent risks in exposing the child to unnecessary ultrasounds, quoted the FDA which said, 'Although there is no evidence that these physical effects [of ultrasound] can harm the fetus, clinicians and the industry agree that casual exposure to ultrasound especially during pregnancy should be avoided.'
It is customary for women to undergo scans between 12 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, where two dimensional images are enabled and copies are provided to the parents. Such scans are purely for medical purposes, to check for any abnormality.
Though, there is no substantial evidence to prove that 3D scans are harmful, yet it is common knowledge that highly evolved scans, such as this, are more powerful.
Michael Heard, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said 'You should not expose a fetus to procedures that are not necessary. Before 12 weeks it would be entirely inappropriate because the fetus is vulnerable to ultrasound. On the other hand we have had 20 years of experience of ultrasound in obstetrics and it is very, very safe.' According to him, the commercial pictures are so beautiful, that it could enhance the process of bonding between the parent and child.
Source-Medindia
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