Ultrasound a brain scrambler?
A private philanthropic organization in California that studies brain science sets up a little alarm for pregnant folks who load their baby’s ultrasound picture onto their iPhone to zip around to friends and family. The DANA Foundation alerts us to new research cautioning the rampant use of what so many folks must assume is a harmless little techy part of modern pregnancy.
Researchers are finding that unborn mice exposed to the same waves that the little handpiece emits through that cold gel the technician has squirted on a pregnant belly end up experiencing a derailing of their developing brain cells. The Yale researchers cited here conclude: “The effect of this slight disruption remains unknown. More testing is underway.” So then, why are so many of us submitting our unborn to a most-often unnecessary procedure that might derail activity in a busily developing little brain? We need to be asking our doctors: “Is this procedure absolutely medically necessary?” And then ask “Why?” – that little word that so many of us don’t often like to have to deal with. The Yale research team suggests that, for now, we step away from the scanner unless there’s a clear and present need. It just might be worth waiting until after the birth for “baby’s first picture.”
