Think Ultrasound For Babies Is Safe? Think Again.

Research shows ultrasound populations have a quadrupled perinatal death rate, increased rates of
brain damage, dyslexia, speech delays, epilepsy, and learning difficulties.
Perinatal death rate quadrupled in ultrasound group. (2,475 woman study by Davies et al., 1993);
Midwifery Today.
Ultrasound babies more likely to develop epilepsy and learning difficulties. Ultrasound Abstracts.
Males babies exposed to two or more ultrasounds were 32% more likely to be lefthanded (which is
thought to be caused by brain damage). Ultrasound Abstracts.
Four hours after ultrasound, cell death doubles and rate of cell division drops by 22% in mammals
and researchers believe results same in humans. Ultrasound Abstracts.
Risk of miscarriage significantly increased among women who perform ultrasound more than 20
hours a week. (Taskinen et al., 1990); Midwifery Today.
Babies who had serious problems and were ultrasounded died more often than non-ultrasounded
babies with serious problems. Midwifery Today
Ultrasounded babies who were growth retarded were three times more likely more likely to be
admitted to ICU than non-ultrasounded babies who were growth restricted. Midwifery Today
Preterm labor more than doubled in ultrasounded women. (Lorenz et al., 1990); Midwifery Today
Researchers who developed ultrasound admitted possibility of hazard from ultrasound and said that
it should never, ever be used on babies under three months. Midwifery Today
Cells exposed to single dose of ultrasound behave abnormally ten generations after insonation.
Midwifery Today
UltrasoundEUR(TM)s gaseous cavitation increases free radical production in amniotic fluid and
blood plasma, and provides a likely mechanism for DNA damage. Crum et al (1987); Ellisman et al
(1987)
Even if the above stats donEUR(TM)t give you pause, how about the fact that ultrasound measures
100 decibels in utero EUR" thatEUR(TM)s the equivalent of having your infant stand on a subway
platform as a train comes roaring in and screeches to a halt New Scientist. As one writer notes,
if youEUR(TM)ve ever heard of on opera singer breaking a sheet of glass with her voice, that is an
example of what just one slow sound wave can do . . . but ultrasound uses ultra high frequency
sound waves which bombard the child at an extremely high rate of speed. New Scientist.
Perhaps most ironic and compelling is this quote from one of YaleEUR(TM)s MD elite (Dr. Kenneth
Taylor, M.D., Professor of Diagnostic Radiology and Chief of the Ultrasound Section at Yale
University School of Medicine) who states: EURoeI would not let anybody get near my

infantEUR(TM)s head with a transducer [ultrasound wand] . . .EUR A Prudent Approach to

Ultrasound Imaging of the Fetus and Newborn by Kenneth Taylor, M.D.
-Compiled by ICPA 23 November 2008
Further References:

Beech, B. Robinson, J. (1996). Ultrasound?

Unsound. London: Association for Improvements
in the Maternity Services (AIMS).
Bolsen, B. (1982). Question of risk still hovers
over routine prenatal use of ultrasound. JAMA,
247: 2195-2197.
Donald, I. (1979). Practical Obstetric Problems. (5th ed). London: Lloyd-Luke, Medical Books Ltd.
Donald, I. (1980). SonarEUR"Its present status in medicine. In A. Jurjak (Ed), Progress in Medical
Ultrasound, 1: 001EUR"04. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica.
Jahn, A. et al. (1998). Routine screening for intrauterine growth retardation in Germany; low
sensitivity and questionable benefit for diagnosed cases. Acta Ob Gyn Scand, 77: 643EUR"89.
Lorenz, R.P. et al. (1990, June). Randomised prospective trial comparing ultrasonography and pelvic
examination for preterm labor surveillance. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol, 1603EUR"10.

Mason, G. and Baillie, C. (1997). Counselling

http://www.medhelp.org/pregnancy-health should
be provided before parents are told of the presence
of ultrasonographic EUR~soft markersEUR(TM)
of fetal abnormality (Letter). BMJ 315:
180EUR"81.
Newnham, J.P. et al. (1991). Effects of frequent
ultrasound during pregnancy: a randomized
controlled trial. The Lancet, 342: 887EUR"90.
Saari-Kemppainen et al. (1990). Ultrasound screening and perinatal mortality: controlled trial of
systematic one-stage screening in pregnancy. The Lancet, 336: 387EUR"91.
Salvesen, K.A. et al. (1992). Routine ultrasonography in utero and school performance at age
8EUR"9 years. The Lancet, 339.
Skari, H. et al. (1998). Consequences of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis: a preliminary report on
neonates with congenital malformations. Acta. Ob Gyn Scand, 177: 635EUR"42.
Tarantal, A.F. et al. (1993). Evaluation of the bioeffects of prenatal ultrasound exposure in the

Cynomolgus Macaque (Macaca fascicularis). Chapter III in Developmental and Mematologic Studies,
Teratology 47: 159EUR"70.
Taskinen, H. et al. (1990). Effects of ultrasound, shortwaves, and physical exertion on pregnancy
outcome in physiotherapists. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 44: 196EUR"201.