The Morning Edition
The private ultrasounds putting mothers and babies at risk
Apr 6, 2025
Henrietta Cook, a senior health reporter, reveals alarming truths about private reassurance ultrasounds. These scans, designed to ease anxiety during pregnancy, are linked to heartbreaking outcomes like stillbirths and misdiagnoses. She shares distressing stories of women facing dire consequences from unregulated clinics. Cook emphasizes the urgent need for regulation and the importance of seeking certified professionals to protect both mothers and their babies.
10:15
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The rise of reassurance ultrasounds reveals a critical gap in prenatal healthcare, leading to unsafe practices and potential misdiagnoses.
- Experts emphasize the importance of obtaining ultrasounds from qualified healthcare providers to ensure both maternal and fetal safety during pregnancy.
Deep dives
Concerns Over Reassurance Ultrasounds
Reassurance ultrasounds have become increasingly popular among expectant parents seeking to alleviate anxiety and obtain images of their unborn child. Many women feel a gap in their healthcare as standard hospital visits typically only provide two ultrasounds during a normal pregnancy, leaving them anxious in between appointments. The demand for these private scans reflects a desire for early confirmation of fetal well-being, but this can lead to risky outcomes, especially when untrained staff conduct the scans. The emotional investment in these experiences often blinds parents to the potential for misinformation about their baby's health embedded within these unregulated services.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
