In order to protect unborn children from unnecessary radiation exposure, the possibilities of getting a desired ultrasound will be drastically reduced from 2021 onwards.
It is one of the most beautiful moments for expectant parents during pregnancy, when they can see their baby thanks to ultrasound before birth. It is understandable that many parents also like to use offers for a “desired ultrasound” in addition to the medically necessary examinations. Keyword: “Baby Cinema” or “Baby TV”. However, such options for viewing the baby by ultrasound will soon be significantly reduced, reports ” MDR AKTUELL “.
For, according to the official statement of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety : “After the modernization of the Radiation Protection Act on 31 December 2018 by the ‘Ordinance on the protection against harmful effects of non-ionizing radiation when applied to humans’ are investigations, which are not used for diagnostics, ie not performed to answer medical questions, will be banned in the future. “
Ultrasound only if it is medically necessary
In plain English: If the doctor regards the 3D ultrasound as necessary for the diagnosis, this is still allowed. However, if the investigation is only intended to give the expectant parents an even more impressive souvenir photo or even a film of their baby, the doctor is not allowed to do this anymore.
The Ministry clarifies: ” Of course, ultrasound examinations in the context of regular prenatal care for medical purposes continue to be permitted, but an application of diagnostic ultrasound for non-medical purposes on the fetus from 31 December 2020 is no longer permitted.”
How dangerous is 3D ultrasound for babies?
In the face of re-regulation, many parents now wonder how dangerous 3D ultrasound is for babies. The Ministry explains to “MDR AKTUELL”:
“Ultrasound devices with improved imaging are used, which operate with higher ultrasound power, which poses a potential risk to the unborn child, as opposed to a prenatal diagnostic ultrasound, where a clinician weighs the benefit versus the risk on a case-by-case basis such a consideration does not take place here. “
On the question of how dangerous 3D ultrasound is for babies, other experts are currently expressing themselves in this article of the “MDR”: “How dangerous is 3D ultrasound for babies really? “