It’s one of the greatest joys of being pregnant: getting an ultrasound, to see a picture of your unborn child’s face. But now many medical experts are sounding the alarm about the increasingly popular trend of so-called “reassurance” ultrasounds.

These are scans that pregnant women frequently opt for, not only to get a chance to see their child, but also to allay anxieties over their baby’s health, or just nab a souvenir image. 

But in some cases, these scans have led to stillbirths, late-term abortions and incorrect diagnoses.

Today, senior health reporter Henrietta Cook, on why these scans have sometimes led to heartbreaking outcomes, and the push to regulate sonographers.

It&rsquo;s one of the greatest joys of being pregnant: getting an ultrasound, to see a picture of your unborn child&rsquo;s face. But now many medical experts are sounding the alarm about the increasingly popular trend of so-called &ldquo;reassurance&rdquo; ultrasounds.
These are scans that pregnant women frequently opt for, not only to get a chance to see their child, but also to allay anxieties over their baby&rsquo;s health, or just nab a souvenir image.&nbsp;
But in some cases, these scans have led to stillbirths, late-term abortions and incorrect diagnoses.
Today, senior health reporter Henrietta Cook, on why these scans have sometimes led to heartbreaking outcomes, and the push to regulate sonographers.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The private ultrasounds putting mothers and babies at risk

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/9a43e73f-b027-479d-a8ca-b2b50024b2a7/transcript