Over the past decade, pregnant women have been bombarded with advertising from “boutique ultrasound” services that promise to provide a “keepsake” ultrasound video of their baby. These commercial businesses, more like photography studios than medical facilities, go far beyond the standard, doctor-administered ultrasound previously offered during pregnancy. In fact, many women have started posting their baby’s ultrasound photos on Facebook and other social networking sites. Today’s photo-realistic images show much more detail than the standard ultrasound image of the past. Ultrasound videos can even facial features, movements and thumb-sucking.

This budding, yet controversial, business sector provides expectant families with photos, videos, and digital images of fetal ultrasounds. High-tech boutique-style ultrasound centers have been gaining popularity across the country, but it is beginning to cause alarm within the medical community. Many obstetricians believe these frequent, non-medical ultrasounds could be potentially harmful to both the mother and fetus.

Connecticut legislators are close to banning ultrasounds for pregnant women unless they are pre-approved for medical or diagnostic reasons. This action is in response to the growing number of “keepsake” ultrasound businesses in the state. While there are no conclusive studies to prove long-term injuries caused by excessive ultrasounds, the bill’s supporters contend that using ultrasounds as a form of “entertainment” is inappropriate and dangerous.

The FDA has also expressed concern about this growing practice, calling it an “unapproved use of medical devices”.

Part of the reason for the growth in commercial ultrasound business is recent improvements in the technology over the past 5-7 years, which have improved the photo quality of the images, but like any other medical procedure, it comes with a certain amount of risk. Most physicians agree; conducting medical procedures outside of a medical setting is never a good idea.

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