Ultrasound linked to Baby's Brain Damage

[Guest guest]

p

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 01:23:18 -0000

Ultrasound linked to Baby's Brain Damage

 

 

 

This is a common knowledge to many in alternative health care people,

but it is worth mentioning again. People tend to forget

it is worth mentioning again.

 

 

 

 

source: http://womensissues.about.com/library/weekly/aa121201a.htm

 

Ultrasounds Linked to Brain Damage

 

A new Swedish study could affect the future of prenatal care.

Join the Discussion

" What's your take on ultrasound scans? Do you believe that they are

harmful or necessary? " --Share on our Forum

 

I have had two ultrasound scans performed on my unborn daughter, as

well as multiple doppler scans to determine her heartrate. Although I

could not feel her move at the 12 week ultrasound, I did feel her move

at the 20 week one, and at each doppler reading. As soon as the

machine comes close to her she either kicks or moves away! I recently

asked my midwife if she thought ultrasounds had any effect on unborn

fetuses. She said that her experience was that babies move away from

the scan, but she was unsure as to the cause. It's always been in

the back of my mind that ultrasounds could be damaging, and recent

news is beginning to support that theory.

 

A December 9th report by The Sunday Telegraph states that men born to

women who had prenatal ultrasound scans were more likely to show

subtle signs of brain damage. The study was conducted on 7,000 men

whose mothers received ultrasound scans in the 1970s and 170,000 men

whose mothers did not receive the scans. Men born during this period

were found to be 32% more likely to be left-handed.

 

Although the results do not sound all that disturbing, research shows

subtle brain damage can cause people who are genetically predisposed

to be right-handed to become left-handed. In addition, these " south

paws " can face a higher risk of learning difficulties and other

conditions. Normally, left-handedness is genetic. The chance that

two left-handed parents would have a left-handed child is 35%. The

chance that two right-handed parents would have a left-handed child is

9%. Since the 32% rate is greatly above the average, scientists have

become concerned that brain damage is an underlying factor.

 

The report does not urge women to refuse ultrasound scans, especially

as the benefits ($$$$$$$$$$) at this point far outweigh the risks.

Rather they

call for further exploration and more comprehensive studies to be

performed.

 

~Nikki V Katz