What do babies in the womb and stranded whales have in common?

Like many marine mammals, babies in the womb are disturbed by high frequency sound waves from ultrasound and Doppler and often try to get away from them.

While the baby is likely trying to escape from a distressing or even painful experience, some medical providers may comment that it’s “cute” when a baby swims away during ultrasound or Doppler exams (yes, all Doppler devices use ultrasound technology).

According to the Acoustical Society of America, the sound a baby hears during ultrasound can range from 100 to 120 decibels, that is “as loud as a subway train entering the station.”

The technology used in pregnancy ultrasounds originated after the Titanic disaster. It was developed to help ships detect submerged objects. It was later adapted for military use in navy vessels to locate enemy submarines.

“Animals may respond to stressful situations by exhibiting the ‘fight or flight response’ with increased heart and metabolic rates, often accompanied by fast movement away from the perceived stressor.” Noted in the Proceedings of the Royal Society journal

When exposed to these unusual and likely frightening sounds, whales often try to escape, become disoriented and end up stranded. Since the sonar came into use in the sea, many whales and dolphins have been found stranded at beaches all over the world.

We don’t truly know how disturbing or damaging high-frequency sound waves are for babies, and we also don’t know the long-term emotional and psychological impact of repeated exposure to such stress in the womb. Oficial guidelines say ultrasound should be used only when medically necessary.

Did you know that a baby's experiences in the womb will profoundly affect the life of the future adult through epigenetics?

If you are pregnant or in the season of conceiving, would you consider declining routine ultrasounds and demanding the use of a fetoscope instead of a Doppler to minimize your baby’s exposure?