Souvenir baby ultrasounds worry medical experts

Parents anxious to have souvenir ultrasounds photographs or film clips of their unborn child in the womb should make sure they are done by professionals who follow strict safety guidelines.

Technological advances have enabled parents to get amazing high definition ultrasound images of their unborn baby and even CD-ROMs and DVDs that can cost up to £250 (Lm155) at commercial companies.

But experts said although there is no evidence that ultrasound can harm the developing fetus it should be used prudently.

"You should make sure the people carrying out the scans are properly trained to do it and that they have procedures in place to deal with any incidental findings," said Kevin Martin, the president of the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS).

Dr Martin said the scans were intended for medical purposes and not to provide keepsake images for parents.

Doctors often give expectant parents a photograph of their unborn child taken during a routine ultrasound scan but many commercial companies are offering parents cutting edge images and moving pictures.

A report in the British Medical journal said parent's desire for early snapshots in the womb have led to a rise in commercial companies offering what it describes as "boutique ultrasonography".

French and American experts share the concerns of BMUS.

"In the US, the FDA has long been opposed to non-medical ultrasonography," according to the journal.