More and more future parents are succumbing to the temptation of “pleasure ultrasounds”, these sessions where you discover your baby’s face in 3D, in a cozy setting and outside the medical environment. If the experience promises emotion and memories, it raises real questions: what does the law say? What are the risks for fetal health? And why are these ultrasounds strictly prohibited?
A “magic moment” sold as a unique experience
Soft sofa, subdued lighting, state-of-the-art ultrasound machine… In certain French cities, these places are discreetly flourishing. They promise future parents a “unforgettable meeting with baby”, videos, 3D photos and even souvenir USB keys.
All for a price ranging from 100 to more than 300 euros, depending on the formula. “Treat yourself to a unique moment before the birth”, praise the brands on social networks.
But behind this gentle and reassuring promise, a detail which is not one: these ultrasounds are not carried out by doctors or midwives. These “practitioners” are often entrepreneurs, sometimes with a background in wellness or photography, but without medical training.
A practice strictly prohibited by law
However, French legislation is unambiguous:
“The sale, resale and use of a human fetal imaging ultrasound system is reserved for authorized healthcare professionals — doctors and midwives — and only for medical purposes.”
Last June, the Dunkirk court convicted an entrepreneur for illegally exercising the profession of midwife, after she offered this type of service. The National Council of the Order of Midwives (CNOSF) welcomed this, recalling that these “pleasure ultrasounds” represent a worrying drift.
“It’s not a question of competition, but of security,” explains Isabelle Derrendinger, president of the CNOSF. “An ultrasound is never a trivial procedure.”
Underestimated risks for the baby
From a medical point of view, ultrasound is not dangerous in itself – but only if it is used with discernment and in a controlled setting. Dr Philippe Bouhanna, president of the ultrasound commission of the National College of Obstetrician Gynecologists, recalls in Le Parisien:
“Ultrasound can cause a slight increase in tissue temperature. It is not dangerous at low doses, but you have to be careful. This is why we recommend only three medical ultrasounds during pregnancy.”
Apart from a strict protocol, prolonged or repeated exposure could, in the long term, have effects that science does not yet fully control.
Dr Jonathan Brami, radiologist consulted by True Medical, nuance: “In theory, this does not harm the baby. The available studies do not show any danger. But just because we don’t see any harm doesn’t mean there’s any good. It’s all about marketing.”
In other words: no medical benefit, but a potential risk, even minimal.
The confusion between care and leisure
Beyond the question of health, these practices pose another problem: the confusion between medical procedure and comfort provision.
Some parents come away moved, others worried after believing they detected an “anomaly” on the screen. Without a doctor to interpret the images, anxiety can quickly replace wonder.
The CNOSF also warns of another perverse effect: the idealization of the baby. “There is a risk of discrepancy between the fantasized baby in 3D and the real baby,” underlines Isabelle Derrendinger. An expectation that can weaken the parent-child bond, instead of strengthening it.
A lucrative market on the back of emotion
Let us also remember: none of these services are reimbursed or medically recognized. Which sometimes surprises some parents when paying the bill.
Dr Brami summarizes: “The problem is the confusion between medicine and comfort. The more we mix the two, the more we confuse the message. It’s a bit like in aesthetics: it’s not dangerous, but it’s no longer healthy.”
A confusion and a cost, for memories on which these false practitioners intend to capitalize.