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Concerns have been raised about the safety implications of non-medical ultrasounds used to create moving images of unborn babies.

The popularity of commercial scans has boomed in recent years thanks to the development of high-quality 3D and even 4D images, according to an article in the British Medical Journal.

Geoff Watts argues that strengthening the maternal-foetal bond for as little as £150 would only be advantageous if it does not compromise the safety of the unborn child.

"If people choose to pay a couple of hundred pounds to undergo a safe imaging technique, why shouldn't they? No reason at all so long as it really is safe. This, of course, is the nub of the argument," he writes.

While no evidence exists to show that ultrasounds pose a risk to the health of the foetus, the medical community agrees that exposure should be limited wherever possible.

Studies have shown that there is no real difference between 2D and 3D images in boosting the maternal link with the foetus, the only real potential medical advantage to the practice.

The British Medical Ultrasound Society is currently updating its guidance on non-medical ultrasounds, the article states.