3D Ultrasound Videos - A Great Gift or Dangerous?
It has been stated that just in the year 2000 alone, some 2.7 million women, that is about 67 percent of the pregnant women, had prenatal sonograms.
The purpose of ultrasounds is that they are taken in order for the doctor to check on the development and growth of the baby. The parents are then given a simple 2D picture of their fetus to take home and cherish.
Now, it seems that those simple 2D pictures have turned into a money making market promoting 3D fetal videos burned on DVDs and sold to parents to enjoy. The prices can range from a 2D fetal picture selling at $75 to a full blown package consisting of a 20 minute video that is set to music and some wallet size pictures and some larger size fetal photos that are suitable for framing selling for $285. The ads for these videos and photos appear in several different parenting magazines.
Although the whole concept of prenatal videoing can seem a little thrilling and somewhat comforting to the parents of the fetus, the question arises as to the safety to the unborn child.
The first question of safety comes with knowing that someone besides a medical or trained professional may be running an ultrasound machine on you and your baby unsupervised.
Some studies have been shown that over the years it has been proven that ultrasound has not been proven to be harmful to the mother or the baby. However, the FDA is still raising concerns about the unsupervised usage of the ultrasound machine.
Ultrasound is a form of energy
Ultrasound waves vibrate at 100 times the frequency of normal sound, causing a variety of affects on tissue. One of them being, heat. Another affect is noise reaching decibels of 100, which causes fetuses to move.
Similar studies on animals being exposed to ultrasound have shown that fetal brain tissue does become heated and studies are now done on how this heating of brain tissue affects development.
In a study in 1998, a study on a live guinea-pig showed that the temperature of the brain of the fetus rose about 8 degrees Fahrenheit.
So,before answering an ad in your favorite parenting magazine, or before allowing someone to take an unsupervised 20 minute video of your fetus, do some research and form your own opinions and conclusions. That way you will have the comfort of knowing that you did your homework.
Link Here | November 10, 2006,
Thank you for the informative article titled “3D videos- Great gift or Dangerous.” I really appreciate the fact that the article appears on a page filled with ads from “Keepsake” Ultrasound facilites.
The novelty/keepsake industry started in the US a few short years ago when entrepeneurs discovered that they could provide these incredible images in private settings with high profits. Because ultrasound does not use radiation, the use of ultrasound is not closely regulated. Safety lies in the power of the equipment and the extensive knowledge and education of a true medical professional. Since then, state and federal healthcare institutions have voiced concerns over the legality of such services offered without doctor oversight. California now has a needed law prohibiting the sale of ultrasound equipment to a non-medical provider, because of Tom Cruise and his very public disregard for ultrasound safety.
Most expecting parents are unaware of the difference in safety between ultrasound providers. I welcome the opportunity to urge the public to be aware of the difference between keepsake services and a full-service, regulatory compliant practice with full medical and physician oversight. Patients have the right to ask about the credentials and supervision of the providing facility. They should only employ registered ARDMS technologists and have a board certified radiologist and medical director.
The demand for elective 3D/4D experience is great and proven to have psycho-social benefits for expectant women and their families. Results of viewing their ultrasounds have been documented in published journals from smoking cessation to improving diet. True diagnostic applications of 3D technology can include visualizing of facial and spinal defects possible during a level II examination.
Patients should know that they have a choice and can have the best of both worlds, a wonderful emotional look at their infant before birth, with pictures and a video with a beautiful family theatre but always remain medically safe and sound.
Pacific Coast Ultrasound of Los Alamitos, Ca is a regulatory compliant, diagnostic ultrasound facility offering full diagnostic ultrasound services and elective 3D/4D sercices to southern California.
Comment by Darlene Ginnett, RDMS