Is Ultrasound During Pregnancy Safe?

Prenatal

oi-Anjana NS

By Anjana Ns

Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 13:23

Ultrasound done during 16-20 weeks of pregnancy, is a diagnostic test which creates a visual effect of the baby, placenta and uterus. It is basically a high frequency sound wave inaudible to the human ear. The sound waves passes through the uterus and the computer then translates the echoing sound into images of the baby shape. It is done to check the baby heartbeat, baby position, the position of the placenta, to ensure the wellbeing of the baby.

However, according to some researchers and study, regular ultrasound during pregnancy has side effects which directly effects the health of the child. One of the most prevalent side effects of ultrasound during pregnancy is the risk of faulty brain development. 2005 medical textbook Doppler Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, notes down the two aspects which might lead to side effects of ultrasound during pregnancy. The two effects are Thermal Effect and Mechanical Effect.

Thermal Effects -
When the ultrasound waves penetrate into the system it passes through body tissues, which leads to a lot of energy being absorbed by the body, which converts into heat and results in increased body temperature. This rise in temperature is caused due to friction forces of the tissues. The temperature may rise to 2 degree centigrade. This puts the embryo and fetal tissues at the risk of thermal injury. The elevated temperature can cause birth defects by effecting the development of the embryo and the fetal.

Mechanical effects -
During the Ultrasound process, the formation of microscopic bubbles in the tissues have been noticed, which once created do implode. This cavitation and the process of bubble implosion the temperature increases and exceeds to 5,000 degree Celsius. This bubble collapses and the increase in the body temperature leads to cell destruction and some studies have proved that it causes lung and kidney injuries.

The side effects of Ultrasound during pregnancy do not undermine the importance of it. It is needed to ensure the health of the child and for proper medication at the right time but the ways to prevent these side effects would be to to minimizing the number of times of the scan and also by keeping the power level as low as possible.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.