Ultrasounds Can Impact a Baby’s Brain Development

People are becoming more sensitive to what they put into their body… as in what they eat and drink. That’s good! However, we also need to be aware that our body can be impacted by other means. A new study indicates that a baby’s brain development can be adversely affected by the use of ultrasound. They do say that it can still be a good tool if medically necessary… but it calls into question the use of ultrasound just to see the baby and to have pictures to pass around at work!

Ultrasound scans can affect brain development

“Exposure to ultrasound can affect fetal brain development, a new study suggests. But researchers say the findings, in mice, should not discourage pregnant women from having ultrasound scans for medical reasons. When pregnant mice were exposed to ultrasound, a small number of nerve cells in the developing brains of their fetuses failed to extend correctly in the cerebral cortex. ‘Our study in mice does not mean that use of ultrasound on human fetuses for appropriate diagnostic and medical purposes should be abandoned,’ said lead researcher Pasko Rakic, chairman of the neurobiology department at Yale University School of Medicine. However, he added in a telephone interview, women should avoid unnecessary ultrasound scans until more research has been done.”