The Rise of “Pleasure Ultrasounds“: A Touching Business… But Illegal and Not Without Risk
social media is awash with glowing testimonials and images celebrating a new trend for expectant parents: “pleasure ultrasounds.” Brands offering these services are lauded online with phrases like “a unique moment before the birth,” capitalizing on the emotional connection parents seek with their unborn child. However, a closer look reveals a practice that is not onyl legally questionable but also possibly carries underestimated risks.
These ultrasounds are not performed by qualified medical professionals like doctors or midwives. Instead, they are often offered by entrepreneurs, sometimes with backgrounds in wellness or photography, but lacking formal medical training.
A Practice Strictly Prohibited by Law
french legislation clearly defines the parameters for fetal imaging ultrasound. The law states: “The sale, resale and use of a human fetal imaging ultrasound system is reserved for authorized healthcare professionals – doctors and midwives – and only for medical purposes.”
This legal framework was recently reinforced in June when the Dunkirk court convicted an entrepreneur for illegally practicing midwifery after offering these non-medical ultrasound services. The National Council of the Order of Midwives (CNOSF) welcomed the verdict, emphasizing the concerning trend of ”pleasure ultrasounds.”
“It’s not a question of competition, but of security,” explains Isabelle Derrendinger, president of the CNOSF. “An ultrasound is never a trivial procedure.”
Underestimated Risks for the Baby
While ultrasound itself isn’t inherently risky, its safety relies on judicious use within a controlled medical setting. Dr. Philippe Bouhanna, president of the ultrasound commission of the national College of Obstetrician Gynecologists, explained to Le Parisien that ultrasound “may cause a slight increase in tissue temperature. It is not dangerous in low doses, but you have to be careful. This is why we recommend only three medical ultrasounds during pregnancy.”
Prolonged or repeated exposure, outside of a strict medical protocol, could potentially have long-term effects that are not yet fully understood.
Dr.Jonathan Brami, a radiologist consulted by Doctissimo, offered a nuanced perspective: “In theory, this does not harm the baby. The available studies do not show any danger. But just as we don’t see any harm doesn’t mean there’s any good. It’s all about marketing.”
This highlights a critical point: there is no medical benefit to these scans, only a potential, even if minimal, risk.
The Confusion Between Care and Leisure
Beyond the health concerns, these practices blur the lines between medical procedure and comfort service.Some parents leave feeling moved, while others experience anxiety after believing they’ve detected an “anomaly” on the screen. Without a qualified doctor to interpret the images, this can quickly transform wonder into worry.
The CNOSF also cautions against the idealization of the baby. ”There is a risk of discrepancy between the fantasized baby in 3D and the real baby,” underlines Isabelle Derrendinger. This unrealistic expectation could potentially weaken the parent-child bond, rather than strengthen it.
A Lucrative Market on the Back of Emotion
It’s importent to note that these services are not covered by insurance or medically recognized, a fact that sometimes surprises parents upon receiving the bill.
dr. Brami succinctly summarizes the issue: “The problem is the confusion between medicine and comfort. The more we mix the two, the more we confuse the message. It’s a bit like in aesthetics: it’s not dangerous, but it’s no longer healthy.”
This confusion allows entrepreneurs to profit from a deeply emotional experience, offering a service that, while appealing, is both legally dubious and potentially carries unforeseen consequences.
