Wireless Ultrasound Scanner

[DaddyJones]

Hello all!

I'm a soon-to-be first-time dad, and the whole pregnancy journey so far has been a joyful experience, from the first scan images to now knowing the sex of our baby! Despite these highs, there have also been lows, and these have been having to wait 11 weeks for our first scan and then another 9 weeks at the 20th week of pregnancy for the 2nd. In addition to this, the NHS only offers 2 scans unless the pregnancy is considered high-risk. As this is my wife's first baby, I have noticed she is constantly concerned as to whether our baby is okay and is always waiting for a kick to give her that reassurance. As the NHS offers only 2 scans and private scans can cost in the range of £45-80 per scan, if a product was developed that enabled a mother to scan her womb in the privacy of her own home or around her family and the image was displayed on her phone, would this be something of interest to all parents out their?

Benefits of the Self-scanning Ultrasound Kit

1. Unlimited real-time scans of baby in womb - NHS only offers 2
2. Convienant as can be done in home with family & friends - NHS and private scans only allow +1.
3. Wireless and portable

Disclaimer: Imaging this device gives should for no reason replace going to the NHS, as it only provides the most basic of imaging for the purpose of parental peace of mind.

No.

If the tech existed for this, surely midwives would all already have one as part of their kit?

There is a reason that ultrasounds are completed by a trained radiographer where a three year degree is required for them to learn this skill. How would anyone just pick up a probe and know how to use it correctly?

And what if as an untrained professional you can’t find the heartbeat or see something you can’t interpret? This causes more anxiety, not less.

Thanks for the feedback. Can I ask why not?

This technology does indeed exist, but the cost of one device alone can range from £2000 to £4000 from market leaders like Vscan & Clarius, in comparison to the cheaper, less portable versions used by the NHS. Equping the 41,716 registered midwives in the UK with such technology would not be feasible economically, and thus a cheaper alternative is needed i believe

Your right the technology exists it is used by farm animal and equine vets and scanners who scan sheep for pregnancy.
The quality of the scab decreases with the amount of money paid as the cheaper the scanner the fewer crystals in the probe. The fewer crystals the less definition of the probe,
An affordable option is feral heart rate Doppler that you can get from Amazon.

I have noticed she is constantly concerned as to whether our baby is okay
What experience does a MOP have in interpreting ultrasound? Is there not a greater risk of facilitating anxiety?

The same reason that home heartbeat monitors are discouraged, they should only be used by trained professionals.

If they are used for reassurance and the parent is wrong, for example using to check baby is OK when having reduced movements, then the results could be catastrophic.

And you can say 'oh it's not for these situations' but some people will use them this way.

I suppose you mean well, but I find this a little inappropriate.

You're on a board where threads are posted by women with often worrying antenatal test results, who are suffering from anxiety and looking for a safe space in which to share their concerns. I don't think this is quite the right forum. Quite apart from that, it feels pretty unethical to me to be monetising the anxiety of pregnant women, which is effectively what an affordable version of this machine would do. I strongly disagree with at-home dopplers for the same reason.

I also agree with the poster who made comment about the three year degree needed to become a sonographer. I don't think this technology that should be left in the hands of amateurs, given the potential repercussions of incorrect readings or misinterpretation of images.