Ultrasound: is the sound really safe?
It’s something every obstetrician needs to see and every mother-to-be wants to have: an image of the unborn child that shows in clear detail the baby’s tiny hands, fingers and toes. For the doctor, it’s much more than a happy photo opportunity; it is a chance to ensure the overall health of the fetus, including the proper functioning of internal organs and tissues.
Ultrasound uses sound waves, at a frequency thousands of times above levels considered harmful to our hearing, to develop an image of organs and blood vessels. Since the growing fetus doesn’t develop ears until the 24 week or so, parents-to-be are assured that ultrasound waves are safe, and certainly far safer than x-rays, which use electromagnetic radiation.
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