Dunkman opened her business after seeing women disappointed with their hospital experience, which she said isn’t as comfortable as her facility. Hospitals sometimes don’t allow an expectant mother to see much on the screen. Technicians are more focused on taking measurements and other required tasks, Dunkman said.
“A lot of times (mothers) would walk away almost crying,” she said. “They forget it’s a medical exam. They just want to see that baby move. They want to bond with that baby.”
Dunkman said she believes her ultrasounds are safe and no session is longer than 20 minutes — a precaution she has in place to prevent the ultrasound from causing any temperature changes.
The FDA warnings haven’t affected business, she added. The Belly Factory, which charges $59 to $125 depending on the package, scans about 250 women a month, Dunkman said.
Becky Jones, who runs Stork 4D in Aurora, said she has similar precautions in place at her center and also has not been affected by FDA warnings.
It also has its own benefit, Jones said. Women can bring along their entire family, including their other children, and the mementos created from the images or the recorded heartbeat are meaningful.
You, the Northwestern physician, said she appreciates the need to bond, and the curiosity, but ultimately the goal should be “a happy, healthy baby.
“That’s the best souvenir you can get,” she said.
Article Appeared @http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-keepsake-ultrasounds-met-20150104-story.html