What is an Ultrasound?

Austin Area Birthing Center Prenatal Pregnancy Care
Austin Birthing Center Prenatal Pregnancy Care

Ultrasound is a form of high-frequency energy (approximately 100 times the frequency of normal sound waves) that forms an image of the baby by reflecting waves off the baby’s tissues and onto a receptor probe. The contact of ultrasound waves compresses tissue. The result of the tissues absorbing ultrasound energy and of being compressed is a temperature increase on the cellular level. The increase in temperature combined with pressure may result in cavitation (the forming of gas bubbles) and implosion of cell membranes. It is important to remember that no well-controlled scientific investigations are currently being done or have ever been done to determine the long-term risks of ultrasound use.