PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for December, 1998: Re: Article about ultrasound heating at http://www.fensende.com/Users/swnymph/Midwife/usoundtd.html

Re: Article about ultrasound heating at http://www.fensende.com/Users/swnymph/Midwife/usoundtd.html

From: art fougner, md

anonymous@obgyn.net

Fri, 18 Dec 1998 16:27:45 -0600 (CST)

Diagnostic ultrasound has been in use since the late 1950s. Given its known benefits and recognized efficacy for medical diagnosis, including use during human pregnancy, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine herein addresses the clinical safety of such use:

There are no confirmed biological effects on patients or instrument operators caused by exposures from present diagnostic ultrasound instruments. Although the possibility exists that such biological effects may be identified in the future, current data indicate that the benefits to patients of the prudent use of diagnostic ultrasound outweigh the risks, if any, that may be present.

AIUM

hope this helps.

Art

At Thu, 17 Dec 1998, Jas wrote: >
>At the risk of starting a great debate here I am going to make a final
>comment on this issue. While it may seem informative to read up on this
>issue, you also have to read and quote more than just a 6 yr old study.
>If you read further after the article refrerred to there is a rebuttal
>to suggest differently.
>
>On another note about PP website quote.........."no need for routine u/s
>in pregnancy" For what grp of women?? Low risk? High risk? Its a broad
>opinion. I really question that only 5-20% actually need an u/s. Is
>that implying that only 5-20% of pg are affected with complications
>requiring an u/s?( a reality check needed there).
>
>Finally, not everyone who has an u/s is after the sex of their baby.
>Forgive me but your comment about turning down the u/s for that reason
>suggests you believe that is what most women are after. I had an u/s
>and didn't even care or ask the sex. I also don't believe, nor will I
>be mislead to believe I did something that was not in the best interest
>of my baby. This article comes form the Midwife archives and I am
>willing to bet that you would not find a single article there to suggest
>that u/s is safe or for that matter any medical interventions that
>midwifery does not use or believe are necessary.
>
>Jenn
>
>At Thu, 17 Dec 1998, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>
>>It says, among other things, "ultrasound waves are known to generate
>>heat" and "this heat may cause microscopic bubbles in bodily fluids of
>>the fetus to oscillate and collapse."
>>
>>Also, the parentsplace.com website says there is "no need for routine
>>ultrasound in pregnancy" and that 97% of women want an ultrasound but
>>that actually only 5-20% of women need one.
>>
>>I was planning on getting an ultrasound but now I think I won't since my
>>pregnancy is normal and I don't want one just to see a picture of the
>>baby or find out its sex.
>>
>>Women need to err on the side of caution I think.

-- art fougner, md SonoScan/Genetic Sciences forest hills, ny evsono@pipeline.com

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