Ultrasounds and Autism

There's an article in Midwifery Today recently that discusses the link between ultrasounds and autism, as well as other birth defects.

From the article:

Early studies showed that subtle effects of neurological damage linked to
ultrasound were implicated by an increased incidence in left-handedness in boys
(a marker for brain problems when not hereditary) and speech delays.(5) Then in
August 2006, Pasko Rakic, chair of Yale School of Medicine's Department of
Neurobiology, announced the results of a study in which pregnant mice underwent
various durations of ultrasound.(6) The brains of the offspring showed damage
consistent with that found in the brains of people with autism. The research,
funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, also
implicated ultrasound in neurodevelopmental problems in children, such as
dyslexia, epilepsy, mental retardation and schizophrenia, and showed that damage
to brain cells increased with longer exposures.(7)

I heard something similar through the grape vine after the Guppy's birth and vowed not to get another ultrasound done unless it was truly medically necessary.

We once x-rayed pregnant woman and believed it was safe. Why is it so hard to believe that ultrasounds aren't as safe as people think? Another case of technology being over-used to the point of harming mothers and babies.

Let's also not forget that thanks to the ultrasound, so many moms are being told that their babies are "too big" to be born vaginally and are scheduled for a c-section or induction. Ultrasounds are not guaranteed. They can be off by as much as five pounds!!

*sigh*

Ultrasounds and Autism