Across many major cities in the country, commercial ultrasound keepsake services are opening their doors to families, giving them a sneak peek of their growing baby. While these services can create cherished memories and provide an opportunity to learn the baby’s gender, using ultrasounds for non-medical purposes is not recommended.
An ultrasound is a procedure that employs high-frequency sound waves to examine a woman’s abdominal and pelvic cavity, producing an image (ultrasound) of the baby and placenta. This non-invasive procedure, when performed correctly, has not been shown to cause harm to the fetus. However, the long-term effects of repeated and/or prolonged ultrasound exposure on the fetus are not fully understood.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an ultrasound should be ordered by a physician for a medical reason and conducted by trained professionals such as sonographers, radiologists, or obstetricians. Ultrasounds performed by untrained technicians may misinterpret a complication or anomaly.
For these reasons, it is advised that ultrasounds not be used for non-medical purposes. Various organizations have issued statements regarding keepsake ultrasounds.
Official Statements on Keepsake Ultrasounds
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Those who promote, sell, or lease ultrasound equipment for creating “keepsake” fetal videos should know that the FDA considers this an unauthorized use of a medical device. Additionally, individuals undergoing ultrasound exposure using a diagnostic ultrasound device (a prescription device) without a doctor’s order may violate state or local laws regarding the use of a prescription medical device.
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM): The AIUM recommends that all fetal ultrasounds be conducted by properly trained and credentialed medical professionals (either licensed physicians, registered sonographers, or candidates for registration) who have received specialized training in fetal imaging. These trained individuals can recognize medically important conditions such as congenital anomalies or artifacts associated with ultrasound that may mimic pathology, and they understand techniques to minimize ultrasound exposure that goes beyond what is considered safe for the fetus. Any other use of “limited medical ultrasound” may constitute the practice of medicine without a license. The AIUM emphasizes that all imaging requires appropriate documentation and a final report in the patient’s medical history signed by a physician.
European Committee on Ultrasound in Medicine: The embryonic period is known to be particularly sensitive to external influences. Until new scientific information is available, studies should be conducted with careful control of production levels and exposure times. As fetal bone mineralization increases during fetal development, the potential for fetal bone heating rises.
Users should prudently limit exposure to critical structures, such as the fetal skull or spine, during Doppler studies (a type of ultrasound that detects movement, direction, and speed such as fetal heartbeats).
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In summary, while keepsake ultrasounds can offer a glimpse of your baby, it’s crucial to prioritize medical guidance and professional expertise to ensure the safety of both mother and child.