ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
ADHD
Genetic Damage
Jaundice
Childhood cancers (eg. Leukemia)
Skin Diseases
The studies can be found in the book Diagnostic Ultrasound: A New Bibliography, Human Studies Conducted in Modern China written by Jim West, a medical researcher:
“Unknown to Western scientists, the hazards of ultrasound have been confirmed in China since the late 1980s, where thousands of women, volunteering for abortion, thousands of maternal-fetal pairs, were exposed to carefully controlled diagnostic ultrasound and the abortive matter then analyzed via laboratory techniques.” (Jim West, A New Bibliography, Human Studies Conducted in Modern China) ³²
There are also some important guidelines for safe ultrasounds use that women should be aware of if they are considering having them:
Guidelines for Safe Ultrasound Use:
Ultrasounds should be used when medically indicated. (They shouldn’t be used in the first trimester in a low-risk pregnancy.)
The operator should have a high level of skill and experience and should only use minimum intensity settings.
A session should last no more than 3 minutes (5 minutes maximum)
Avoid non-medical 3D ultrasounds. They carry a potentially higher risk to baby due to the higher acoustic output required for high-definition images.
Safer and less invasive Alternatives
A fetoscope, which is a more traditional way to listen to a baby’s heart rate without the risks of ultrasounds. (This is what my homebirth midwife used to listen to my baby’s heartbeat throughout both of my pregnancies.)
A pinard horn is another alternative - This is a horn-shaped device (usually made from wood or metal). You can request for your midwife or doctor to use a fetoscope or pinard if you are looking for a less invasive alternative to ultrasounds.
A fetoscope which my midwife used to listen to my baby's heartbeat in pregnancy.
“Although ultrasound may sometimes be useful when specific problems are suspected, my conclusion is that it is at best ineffective and at worse dangerous when used as a ‘screening tool’ for every pregnant woman and her baby. […] Treating the baby as a separate being, ultrasound artificially splits mother from baby well before this is a physiological or psychic reality. This further… sets the scene for possible but to my mind artificial conflicts of interest between mother and baby in pregnancy, birth and parenting” - Sarah Buckley MD.³³
This is not to suggest that ultrasounds should not be used in cases when they are medically indicated. It is worth discussing in depth the known risks and the potential benefits with your prenatal care provider prior to having prenatal ultrasounds. Look at the bigger picture and never discount your gut instinct.
FOLATE VS FOLIC ACID
One of the very first pieces of advice I received during my pregnancy was to supplement with folic acid. Although I believe that we should get our vitamins and minerals naturally wherever possible, I am also well aware that supplements can be extremely important and necessary at times.
Women are generally advised to supplement with synthetic folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy, rather than natural folate. You might hear that folic acid is just the supplement form of folate, but they are actually very different.
What’s the difference?
Folate is a general term for a group of water-soluble B vitamins known as B9. Folic acid, on the other hand, is a synthetic compound used in dietary supplements and fortified foods. It wasn’t until 1943 that humans were exposed to folic acid through the introduction of food fortification.
Folate has some important functions in the body. It breaks down, builds and uses proteins. It is used in red blood cell production, DNA synthesis and much more. A lack of folate can result in anemia, loss of appetite and poor immune function. A lack of it in pregnancy can lead to neural tube defects including spina bifida, low birth weight or prematurity.
Synthetic folic acid may seem like the perfect way to make sure people get enough folate. This was the very reason it was added to foods like breads and cereals; however this is the problem: The body doesn’t actually use folic acid. It needs to be broken down first into methylfolate. Synthetic folic acid therefore is much more difficult for the body to break down and metabolize than naturally occurring folate.³⁴ Having regular doses of folic acid added to your diet when pregnant means your body will constantly be having to metabolize it to convert it into methylfolate. This overload creates problems. It prevents the body from getting the real folate it needs, causing ironically, a folate deficiency. The process of having to convert a synthetic supplement results in unmetabolized folic acid being left over in the body which takes up the receptor sites where folate is needed.
MTHFR Mutation and Why It Matters
The MTHFR (short for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is a mutation that affects up to 50- 60% of the population. It makes it difficult for those who have it to convert folic acid (and even folate) into a useable form.³⁵ Having the MTHFR mutation also makes it more difficult for the body to detoxify. This means that anyone who has it who is supplementing with folic acid will have additional problems with toxicity during their pregnancy from the buildup in the body.³⁶ There are ways to get tested for MTHFR (and also folate supplements designed specifically for those who have it).
What Can I Do to Increase Natural Folate in My Diet?
The most natural and effective way is to eat an abundance of foods rich in naturally occurring folate. These include:
Dark leafy green vegetables such as kale, spinach, chard and collard greens
Broccoli
Avocado
Citrus foods like lemon, lime and oranges
Legumes such as lentils and chickpeas
Beets
Nuts and seeds
Natural Folate Supplements
There are some high-quality supplements that contain natural folate (rather than the synthetic folic acid) that can be taken in pregnancy. Ask your natural health practitioner for a prenatal supplement with natural folate that supports your needs.
Supplementation During Pregnancy
In an ideal world we would be able to get all of our essential nutrients from whole foods. We would also have plenty of time to make ourselves delicious and nutritious meals every day. Sadly we don’t live in a perfect world, and supplements can often be a much-needed