Friday, 04 January 2013
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You're Invited: The Baby Shower Sonogram
Ever since the days of the too-enthused Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch about Katie Holmes (that worked out, right?) and the time we all heard about how they supposedly bought a sonogram machine for their personal use at home, I kind of saw this day coming. My days (nay, years) working in Radiology dreaded it, too. But it's here now, oh yes. And it's so cute and trendy, too!The baby shower sonogram - sonogram parties. Woot woot!
You're kidding me right? BO-RING! But that's beside the point... So for these parties, an ultrasound service is hired (they can be portable, you know). They're usually done in 3-D (ooh la la). And all those in attendance get to see the baby in real time as a certified ultrasound tech does the exam for all to see - in your home or banquet room.
Now, the FDA and the ACR (American College of Radiology - and that's a big name in medicine and in hospitals, let me tell you first hand) totally frown on the practice and strongly discourage the use of ultrasound purely for entertainment purposes. Think about it: You're supposed to have a prescription (basically) to have one done medically. Just like every other modality in radiology, whether that's X-Ray, MRI, CT, whatever. You don't just walk up to the hospital and say, "Dude, I want a brain scan" and they say, "OK" and put you on the table. Nope. It doesn't work that way. You need a script.
But because ultrasound is believed to be safe and it's relatively inexpensive, people think it's OK to just use this technology on their body (and on their baby) willy nilly. Not realizing that 50 years ago, we also thought X-Rays were OK so they had fluoroscopes (live image x-rays) in shoe stores to make sure your shoes fit right (and radiation was shot right up your reproductive organs, baby).
But it's cute right? And hey, you're invited!
Would you do a sonogram party? What do you think?
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- From: sarahsmurfette@xanga
- About Me: Proud military wife. Mother of two.
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Comments (3)
Good article. I think it's just one more "sign of the times" with our society. Everything is about gaining attention, and excess. Nothing is about the child, and no effort to learn how to actually raise that baby is being made, while parents are throwing party after party for it while it's still in the womb. Hubby and I were joking with some friends the other day about baby name reveal parties being next.
People are having sonogram parties now?..... This is ridiculous, not to mention potentially unsafe. The fact that I couldn't have an ultrasound done without my doctor informing the tech that I needed one is enough to make me feel like this kind of party isn't right. What if there was something wrong with the baby, like something previous tests didn't indicate? I, for one, wouldn't want to have everyone and their dog in the room when I and my husband discover there may be something wrong with our baby. To be honest, I wouldn't want everyone and their dog in the room when I have an ultrasound done, period. I mean, the techs only allow a certain amount of people to be in the room at the doctor's office, and there must be a reason for that, right?
Why is our society so obsessed with throwing parties for every little thing? I'm only 25, and it's only been 3 years since I had my last baby, so when did things change? Was I under a rock? Maybe I've been cooped up at home for too long or been too wrapped up with being a mommy to notice.... A baby shower is fine, in fact, I'd say it's almost essential. Nothing is nicer than having some of the burden lifted from your shoulders when you're expecting a baby, especially your first. But, sonogram parties, gender reveal parties.... I don't know.... This seems a bit extreme, and, well, boring. It also makes me wonder what's going to be next? Name reveal parties? Baby- is- overdue- and- I -have- castor- oil parties? How about I-thought-I-was-pregnant,-but-got-my-period parties? lol.
I was reading a popular parenting blog, and the mom has had horrible pregnancies, a preemie that died at 17 months, a miscarriage, etc and is preg. again and justifiably worried. She wanted an ultrasound just to settle her mind. WHich I understand. Many commenters told her to just go to those 3D places. Some women said their doctors did an ultrasound EVERY visit, just to look at baby, because "it was fun"! Here in Ontario, doctors don't do U/S, you get a lab. req. and go to another clinic. So, obviously, we get only 1 or 2 per pregnancy usually. So, I googled a bit, and found a report that looked at the safety of U/S since I had heard something about potentially affecting baby's hearing (I've had neck ultrasounds, and yes, there is definately a noise!!!!). I found some other potential concerns, and experts who say U/S should be limited to 20 min/pregnancy, and that they just don't know if there are risks. I reported this back to the blog. Women jumped on me saying their doctors are experts and said there was "no risk" with U/S. There's a big difference between "don't know" and "no".
So, I do think it's a little crazy to invite everyone to come look at your insides. Gosh people, have a little patience. It's only about 8 months from positive HPT to delivery, LOL. And how many people can't figure anything out on an ultrasound anyway? LOL. Show some pictures, record a video of it, and move on....