Parents warned about non-essential scans

Parents have been warned about having unnecessary ultrasound scans until the health risks are clear.

Concerns have been raised due to increasing numbers of women opting for further scans to see their baby in 3D/4D or find out the sex in private clinics.

Experts at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) say women should not hesitate to have routine diagnostic scans to check their baby’s health because as far as research goes, the practice is safe. However their concern lies with the possible dangers of 'non-essential' scans carried out for parents as keepsakes. For these scans the ultrasound energy lasts longer in order to get a clear shot of the baby's head.

In advanced 3D scans, ultrasound echoes are digitally enhanced so they create a life-like picture of the unborn baby while 4D shows the foetus moving in real time.

A British Medical Journal report said several medical bodies have concerns about the 'casual exposure' of unborn babies to the technology including the the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, the French Academy of Medicine and the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

A spokesperson from the FDA said: “Although there is no evidence that these physical effects can harm the foetus, public health experts, clinicians and industry agree that casual exposure to ultrasound, especially during pregnancy, should be avoided.”

Justin McCracken, chief executive officer of the Health Protection Agency, said that overall the practice of ultrasound for routine scans is safe but there is more research to be done.

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