For many parents, prenatal ultrasound is a cherished part of pregnancy, a chance to see their baby before birth, hear the heartbeat, and get reassurance about their baby’s well-being. It’s so normalized that most people never question whether frequent ultrasounds are necessary or whether they’ve been thoroughly studied for safety.

Jim West’s book, 50 Human Studies in utero, Conducted in Modern China, Indicate Extreme Risk for Prenatal Ultrasound, raises important questions about the potential risks of ultrasound that many parents never hear about. The book compiles 50 human studies that analyzed pregnancies and fetal tissue, suggesting that frequent ultrasound exposure may not be as harmless as commonly believed.

What Does the Research Say?

West’s research reveals several potential concerns related to prenatal ultrasound, including:

• Cellular changes and potential developmental risks. Some studies suggest that ultrasound waves may cause subtle changes at the cellular level, though long-term effects remain largely unstudied.
• Lack of long-term research. Funding for ultrasound safety studies declined in the late 1980s, leaving many unanswered questions about the cumulative effects of frequent scans.
• Routine vs. necessary ultrasounds. While ultrasounds can be a valuable tool in high-risk pregnancies, they have become routine for almost all pregnancies, even when there is no medical need.

How Many Ultrasounds Do You Actually Need?

Medical guidelines differ across countries, but the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends just two ultrasounds during pregnancy for low-risk pregnancies:

1. First Trimester Scan (Dating Scan, 11–14 weeks): This helps confirm the due date, check for multiple pregnancies, and detect certain early conditions.
2. Second Trimester Anatomy Scan (18–22 weeks): This is the most comprehensive scan, used to examine fetal development and screen for structural abnormalities.

Beyond these, additional scans are usually only recommended if there’s a medical reason, such as concerns about growth, placenta position, or complications. Yet, in many places, parents are offered far more ultrasounds, often without discussion about whether they are necessary.

Why Are We Having More Ultrasounds Than Needed?

Despite the WHO guidelines, it’s common for pregnant people to have 5, 6, or even more ultrasounds throughout pregnancy. Why?

• Commercialization of prenatal care. With private clinics offering elective 3D and 4D ultrasounds, the practice has extended beyond medical necessity to become a business.
• Parental reassurance. Many parents request frequent scans for peace of mind, even when there is no medical indication.
• Routine medical practice. In some countries, multiple scans have become standard, not because of research-based necessity, but due to habit.

From a young age, women are taught to question and distrust their bodies. The patriarchy has conditioned us to believe that our natural functions (our cycles, our fertility, our ability to give birth and nourish life) need constant monitoring, intervention, and external approval. Pregnancy, rather than being seen as an innate physiological process, is often treated as a condition that must be managed and controlled. This deep-seated insecurity leads many women to seek reassurance through excessive ultrasounds, believing that without technological confirmation, they cannot trust that their baby is developing as it should. Instead of being encouraged to connect with our intuition and bodily wisdom, we are funneled into a system that tells us we are incomplete without medical validation. While modern medicine has its place, the overuse of interventions like ultrasound often stems from a lack of trust in women’s bodies, rather than from genuine medical necessity.

The book challenges us to reconsider whether we need so many ultrasounds—and whether the medical community should be doing more research to ensure their safety.

Informed Choices Matter

This isn’t about avoiding ultrasound altogether—it’s about understanding when it is truly needed and ensuring parents have access to all the information before making decisions about their care.

If you’re expecting, consider asking:

• Is this ultrasound medically necessary?
• What will it change about my care?
• Are there risks I should be aware of?

In West’s book encourages parents to ask more questions and advocate for informed decision-making. As with any medical procedure, it’s important to weigh the benefits and potential risks before making a choice that feels right for you and your baby.

What do you think? Did you feel fully informed about ultrasound safety during pregnancy?