#135: The Truth About Ultrasounds: Risks & Benefits

​​Want to learn all of Dr. Morgan's expert advice on pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum? Get her lessons here!

Ultrasounds can save babies… and harm them.

In this episode, we break down the real risks, the imperfect tech, and the benefits so you can choose with nuance. We don’t take an all-or-nothing stance; We look at where this tool helps and where it doesn’t, and name the common pressure tracks people get swept into.

You’ll hear what makes the first trimester different, why short scans matter, and how an anatomy scan fits. We pull back the curtain on false alarms, anxiety spirals, and the temptation to use a Doppler like a security blanket. Sometimes the smartest move is giving your body what it already needs.

You’ll Learn:

[00:00] Introduction

[06:00] Choosing reassurance without overuse

[11:00] Early scans: where caution matters

[16:00] When false results derail a pregnancy

[20:57] IUGR: balancing risk and timing

[26:11] The miscarriage myth gets a reality check

[29:16] What a randomized trial found about child outcomes

[36:58] Choosing acceptance when you feel out of control

[40:36] Why the ‘right’ choice looks different for every Mom

[50:18] What the 20-week anatomy scan is for

[1:11:00] What a late-pregnancy biophysical profile actually checks



Resources Mentioned:

Healthy as a Mother podcast episode on The Power of Progesterone: An Essential Fertility Hormone | Apple or Spotify

Find more from Dr. Leah:

Dr. Leah Gordon | Instagram

Dr. Leah Gordon | Website

Womanhood Wellness | Website

Find more from Dr. Morgan:

Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Instagram

Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Website

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