U.K. groups caution against home pregnancy ultrasound

The growing trend of members of the public performing their own pregnancy ultrasound scans at home has prompted the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) and the U.K. Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) to issue a statement emphasizing the need for ultrasound equipment to be used only by properly trained professionals.

It's natural and understandable that expectant parents would want to see their unborn baby, but there are strong concerns that the use of ultrasound in inexperienced and untrained hands could provide false reassurance of fetal wellbeing or even cause harm if exposure is prolonged, according to the societies.

"Both the SCoR and BMUS recommend that ultrasound examinations are only performed by appropriate professionals, who can interpret the ultrasound images accurately and use the equipment safely, to reduce any potential harm to the baby or anxiety for parents," they wrote.

The full position statement can be found on the SCoR's website.