The Dangers of Ultrasound
Dec 16, 2023For most women, ultrasound is a decision that comes up in the first 12 weeks, often before the decision to hire a Doula or Radical Birth Keeper.
I think it’s incredibly important to be informed about all decisions, including ultrasound. Please find my list of recommended resources below. I encourage everyone I engage with to look into the research and do what feels right for them.
For many couples, and those choosing to birth as an independent parent, they feel like they may want to “connect” with the baby through ultrasound, but there are also plenty of other ways to do this as well, as the wonder of saving the first time you see your baby when they are born into this world.
Some want to know the sex of the baby, but again, is this worth the potential impact to the developing baby, or can it wait until that special moment when you discover whether your baby is a boy or girl when you meet them?
Families may want to check there is a heartbeat, however ultrasound gives no guarantee that the heartbeat will continue, and in fact studies show that ultrasound increases the likelihood of loss, as well a foetal abnormalities.
We may want to check for abnormalities in the baby, but it’s also worth considering, what would an abnormality detected do to our decision-making process? Also knowing that ultrasounds are not 100% reliable, would it be something you worry about over the next number of months until your baby arrives and find out all is well? Would you consider ending the pregnancy if an anomaly was found? We know that stress and anxiety and in turn raised cortisol levels can be harmful to the human body.
If the result of the ultrasound would not change your actions, then there is certainly no need for them.
Remember you do not “have to” do anything in terms of antenatal care, you are allowed to say no and are allowed to do as you prefer. A scan is not needed for dating.
You have the option to trust your body to grow your baby and birth your baby. It is your decision each step of the way.
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Book by AIMS Ultrasound Unsound: https://www.aims.org.uk/assets/media/26/ultrasound-unsound.pdf
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Dr Sarah Buckley: https://sarahbuckley.com/ultrasound-scans-in-pregnancy-your-questions-answered/
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Study: A routine tool with far-reaching influence: Australian midwives’ views on the use of ultrasound during pregnancy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4551225/
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Midwifery Today - Ultrasound Article: https://midwiferytoday.com/mt-articles/ultrasound-weighing-propaganda-facts/
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Unpacking Ultrasounds Podcasts with Yolande Norris-Clark:
If you would like some support in exploring your options or a safe space to share your feelings, you can book a complimentary 20 minute call with me.
