Ultrasound during pregnancy: harmful or not, expert opinion

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

At the present stage of technology development, ultrasound is the most common diagnostic method, which is painless, accurate and effective. During pregnancy, a woman undergoes ultrasound quite often. Therefore, future parents have a question: is ultrasound during pregnancy harmful or not? In modern science, there are a number of arguments confirming the harmfulness of research. Is ultrasound really that dangerous?

What is an ultrasound?

Before moving on to the question of whether ultrasound is harmful to the fetus during pregnancy, let's define what it is. Ultrasound examination is the diagnosis of organs, tissues, fetus, which is carried out using ultrasonic waves. They are able to easily pass through tissues and shine through a particular cavity quite clearly and in detail. The sensor captures all the changes that the waves experience and translates them into a graphic image. It's him on the screensees a specialist and immediately carries out diagnostics, making the necessary measurements. During the period of bearing a child, the study allows you to trace the presence of pathologies of the embryo, uterus or placenta, find out the sex of the baby, and see all the stages of its development. There is even a modern three-dimensional examination, which is a complete model of the baby. Is it safe to have an ultrasound during pregnancy? Let's figure it out. There are a number of arguments for and against ultrasound.

General characteristics of the study

Ultrasound during pregnancy is harmful or not? The question is relevant enough. Ultrasound examination for expectant mothers is done in all cases of pregnancy and to all women without exception who are registered with the antenatal clinic. This is done in order to exclude pathologies of the course of pregnancy and threats to the expectant mother and child. Is it safe to do an ultrasound during pregnancy? Rather no than yes, because no diagnosed harm from ultrasound for a woman and a baby has been detected. The limited number of procedures is not associated with harmfulness, but, on the contrary, with the popularity of ultrasound and increased load on equipment:

• The first examination can be done as early as the 3rd week from the moment of conception - thanks to the study, it is possible to determine the fact of pregnancy. It is for this that ultrasound is needed during this period, because nothing else can be seen, except for a fertilized egg.
• The end of the first trimester, namely the 10-12th week. This is a planned ultrasound, which must be done. During this period of embryonic development,organs and systems, both nervous and vascular, are laid. At this stage, genetic diseases of the fetus are diagnosed, and multiple pregnancy is determined, if any.
• Ultrasound at 13-16 weeks of pregnancy show the baby's limbs - legs, arms and even fingers. Here a full-fledged heart of 4 chambers already appears, which is actively beating, so you can hear your baby's heartbeat.
• 17-20 weeks allow you to study the condition of the placenta and amniotic fluid. You can see the size, the place of attachment, which will indicate the state of he alth of the baby.
• 22-24 weeks - the dates of the second mandatory screening, which determines the structure of the spine, the work of the brain, heart and other organs of the developing fetus. At this point, you can create a three-dimensional model of the child, which will allow future parents to see the full size of their baby and look at him from all sides.
• 25-28 weeks show the emotional state of the child, he already shows his displeasure, facial expressions are visible, for example, a look, wrinkled lips, and so on. At this time, you can determine the sex of the child.
• 29-32 weeks is the time of the third and final mandatory screening. The child is not just perfectly visible. It is allowed to make a video in which the baby shows activity and emotions. After the 32nd week, it will increase in size, but it can no longer move, so it will be pointless to make a video.
• Ultrasound at 33-36 weeks helps to see the location of the child, his head, as well as to see in detail the development of the kidneys, pathologieswhich are traced precisely at this time.
• At 37-40 weeks, the baby is already full-term and labor can begin at any time. Ultrasound is needed in order to see the location of the fetus and check the entanglement of the umbilical cord, whether it is or not.

So, now let's move on to the question of whether ultrasound during pregnancy is harmful to the baby. It was previously said why ultrasound is needed and what are its features at each time, and now we turn to determining the dangers of the procedure. Consider the main points of view of the opponents of ultrasound.

Ultrasound should not be done in the early stages

At the moment of conception, a cell appears in a woman's body, it gradually turns into an embryo, which then develops into a fetus. Is early pregnancy ultrasound harmful? No, scientists, since the 70s of the last century, have been constantly conducting research and have not noticed a harmful effect on the embryo. Even on the first devices, which were less advanced, the radiation did no harm. Attention was drawn to the fact that men whose mothers had ultrasound during pregnancy were predominantly left-handed, there were a third more of them than those whose mothers did not have ultrasound.

Expert gynecologist D. Zherdev is convinced that ultrasound is not harmful, because there is no evidence of a negative effect, but it often makes no sense to do a study. Despite the fact that there is no evidence of harmfulness, the laying of organs and the formation of the body occur in the early stages, so any external factor can affect the process.

So, early ultrasoundIs pregnancy harmful or not? Experts say that there is no evidence of harm, but it is not necessary to abuse the procedure in the early stages. One or two examinations will be enough until the 22nd week. It is before this period that the child is formed. Of course, if there are indications and deviations in the tests, ultrasound is performed more often, there is nothing wrong with that.

Research affects DNA

Is ultrasound harmful to the fetus during pregnancy and does it affect the DNA of the baby? Supporters of the version that spoke about the negative impact of ultrasound on DNA refer to the scientist P. P. Garyaev. He pointed out that ultrasound affects genes and leads to their mutations, as a result of which children are born with pathologies. Also, the scientist in his research came to the conclusion that ultrasound causes damage to genes not only mechanically, but also by the field method. That is, any change in biological fields forms damage to the tissues of the unborn child. As a treatment for such damage, Garyaev urged to pray.

More modern arguments are established in the experiments of Pasko Rakic. He conducted experiments on pregnant mice. In those animals that were exposed to ultrasound for 30 minutes before birth, pathologies in the brain were revealed. There are no external deviations, the pathology consists in deviations in the movements of neurons.

In refutation of this theory, we indicate the following arguments:

• Modern equipment is licensed and tested internationally. There are specially defined safety limits to whichconform equipment.
• Waves mainly do not reach the cells of the embryo, they are reflected from other organs of the woman or absorbed by them.
• Ultrasound works in the mode of short pulses, they last a microsecond, during this period of time it is impossible to harm the child.

Let's turn to the opinion of the obstetrician-gynecologist L. Siruk. He points out that ultrasound does cause a thermal effect and tissue vibrations. But in relation to people, a sensor with a safe radiation frequency is used. An ultrasound lasts for several minutes, usually no more than 10, so most of the energy simply does not reach the baby. Harmful or not ultrasound during pregnancy? The scientist says no. A routine examination cannot harm mother and child, especially during the period when the baby has already formed, and this is the gestational age of more than 20 weeks.

Child reacts negatively to ultrasound

Many mothers doing ultrasound probably noticed that during this period the child begins to actively move, show a violent reaction. Even at the stage of embryonic development, there is a change in position at the time of ultrasound. Proponents of the theory of the harmfulness of ultrasound believe that this proves the negative reaction of the embryo to the harmful and dangerous effects of ultrasound waves. Yes, many babies really begin to actively move, turn away and hide from the sensor, with the help of which the abdominal cavity is translucent. Studies show that the child begins to react this way because his mother tenses up during the procedure, and also happensa touch on the abdomen, which is keenly felt by the fetus.

Is ultrasound harmful to the fetus during pregnancy? Here is what obstetrician-gynecologist E. Smyslova notes: “Yes, the uterus begins to actively contract during ultrasound, hypertonicity appears. This may be a reaction to ultrasonic waves. But besides this, there are many reasons why the body behaves this way. These include the emotionality of the expectant mother, full bladder, dehydration and more."

Ultrasound is contrary to the rules of ethics

This theory appeared quite recently, it was invented by those who did not find a scientific explanation for their beliefs and switched to ethical and moral motives. Harmful or not ultrasound during pregnancy? Proponents of unethical research make the following arguments:

1. Uterine development of a child from the moment of fertilization to birth is an intimate process. He should not be observed by outsiders, including the mother of the child, what can we say about the doctor, he is even forbidden.
2. An invisible connection is established between mother and child, which begins from the moment of conception and continues after the birth of the baby. Ultrasound destroys this connection and does not allow mother and child to be one.
3. Ultrasound, like any other study, has a strong impact on the emotional state of the child, he is under severe stress. All this subsequently leads to disturbances in mental development.

Ultrasound doesn't matter to mom, scientists need it

How does ultrasound affectpregnancy? Scientists have not found a scientific justification for the harmfulness of this process, but some believe that the absence of harm does not mean safety. That is why there are such theories as the previous one - ethical. Also, some say that the study is necessary only for doctors. Yes, of course, screening results provide information about the development of the child, pathologies that are used in genetics, anatomy and medicine. Opponents of ultrasound point out that doctors often make erroneous conclusions and talk about them to the expectant mother, who begins to get very worried, which affects the child. Opponents also point out that medicine is not omnipotent, and, having noticed pathologies, the doctor sometimes cannot help the expectant mother and child. That is, supporters of this theory believe that it is better not to know anything before birth, and then it will be seen.

In this case, it does not take into account how useful ultrasound is. It can diagnose diseases and pathologies that really threaten the life of the mother or baby. With the help of ultrasound, you can see a miscarriage, entanglement of the umbilical cord or breech presentation in time, which cannot be seen in other ways.

Terms of pregnancy and ultrasound

So, it was determined how harmful ultrasound during pregnancy. And although its negative impact has not been proven, there are still some recommendations on the frequency of its implementation.

According to the standards of the World He alth Organization, ultrasound should ideally be done about 3-4 times during the entire period of pregnancy without any special indications. Firstthe study is done from the 10th to the 13th week, the second - around the 20th-22nd, and the third - at 32-34 weeks of pregnancy. Here are the cases in which the doctor insists on doing an ultrasound ahead of time:

1. Systematic frequent pain and urge in the lower abdomen, which may indicate abnormalities or an impending miscarriage.
2. There are other signs that indicate a threatened miscarriage. This is predicted with the help of analyzes, other studies.
3. There is such a thing as an ectopic pregnancy, which can only be diagnosed by ultrasound. The results of the tests with it will not differ much from a normal pregnancy. An ultrasound will show the location of the embryo and its development. If an ectopic pregnancy is detected, the embryo is urgently removed from the female body, otherwise it may harm the woman.
4. A discharge with blood droplets or bleeding that resembles menstruation.

Timely diagnosis of certain pathologies can help eliminate them, correct the pregnancy management program and, in some cases, save a woman's life.

Is frequent ultrasound during pregnancy harmful? If the expectant mother falls ill, there are some deviations that are not within the normal range, the doctor will definitely prescribe an additional ultrasound. At the same time, the number of procedures is not limited, it is carried out as much as necessary. So, is it harmful to do ultrasound often during pregnancy? Not unless there is a doctor's order.

In the last stages of pregnancy, it is important to do a study to eliminate the risk of premature birth, pathology in the locationfetus or other anomalies in the position of the child.

Ultrasound is done only according to the doctor's indications or perhaps at the request of the mother?

Pregnancy test showed two stripes, and now there is a long joint development of the child inside the mother. The pregnancy is proceeding normally, and the doctor recommended only three ultrasounds. In this case, is ultrasound during pregnancy harmful without indications, just at the request of the mother? No, such a study is not harmful, and even in some cases it is very useful, because at the moment when a woman sees her baby on the screen he althy and full, she will be filled with hope and inspiration. Many experts recommend not resisting the wishes of the mother and prescribing an additional ultrasound at her request.

Expectant parents can do this ultrasound both in the antenatal clinic where pregnancy is conducted, and in a private paid clinic that provides this service. It doesn’t matter at all how and where the ultrasound will be done, because at this moment something else is important - to see your child safe and sound.

Conclusion

The article presented the most common stereotypes and points of view regarding the fact that it is often harmful to do ultrasound during pregnancy. Each point of view was given special attention, reasonable arguments of experts for and against this procedure were given.

Most opinions about harmfulness are based on outdated studies that go back to the last century. This is a serious mistake, as modern ultrasound equipment is constantly being improved andfocused on the safety of mother and baby. The developers clearly understand that working with a child, especially in the early stages of development, is responsible, and any change can harm the embryo.

So, is it harmful to do an ultrasound during pregnancy? In the early stages, when there is still an embryo in the womb, it is better to do an ultrasound scan only 1-2 times without any special indications. Despite the fact that there is no evidence of the negative effect of ultrasound on the embryo, the procedure should not be abused. After all, everything is determined individually, so doctors cannot predict the body's reaction to the study with 100% certainty.

Starting from the 20th week, you can do ultrasound as much as you want future parents. At this stage of development of the baby, there will definitely not be any threats to life and he alth. And although there is an opinion that ultrasound during pregnancy is harmful, expert reviews confirm that this is nothing more than a stereotype. Whether or not to conduct a study is up to the woman and her doctor.