It’s one of the greatest joys of being pregnant: getting an ultrasound, to see a picture of your unborn child’s face. But now many medical experts are sounding the alarm about the increasingly popular trend of so-called “reassurance” ultrasounds.

These are scans that pregnant women frequently opt for, not only to get a chance to see their child, but also to allay anxieties over their baby’s health, or just nab a souvenir image. 

But in some cases, these scans have led to stillbirths, late-term abortions and incorrect diagnoses.

Today, senior health reporter Henrietta Cook, on why these scans have sometimes led to heartbreaking outcomes, and the push to regulate sonographers.

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