Which do you feel is the least damaging?

[ann_of_loxley]

A scan or a doppler? (and why if you want to state) -Thanks

(and if you want to know why I want to know - I feel both are not totally safe and invasive to the baby, but as a woman who has been TTC for awhile now with a handful of early miscarriages, I kinda feel like I want some reassurance when a bean does stick - iykwim) - TIA

[NewDirections]

I have no idea which one is safer. I just wanted to comment on the need to know everything is ok after a loss, which I've experienced too. I had a lot of anxiety about this pregnancy. Everything has been fine, it's just that after a loss it's so hard not to worry. I talked to my dr and she understood and let me get a scan last week. That made my anxiety so much better. I feel more secure in the pregnancy and my little bean. I'm not very comfortable with ultrasound being totally safe, but I also realize that it's not good for my little one to have me be stressed all the time. It's a tradeoff I guess.

If an ultrasound will make you feel better I'd do it. I hope your rainbow baby comes very soon

[Evergreen]

"They" say a doppler is more concentrated. So, if it's early pregnancy and you are searching for a heart beat I'd probably go for a one time scan. I opted out of all U/Ss and early dopplers but allowed doppler monitoring a few times during my 42 hour labor. It all depends on your analysis of the risk/benefit.

[AlexisT]

I think ultrasound offers a better risk/benefit balance, especially if you're considering the 20wk anomaly scan.

[weliveintheforest]

I would choose a scan over doppler. That way you know the most you can know, with the least amount of exposure.

[roxyrox]

I don't think either is "damaging". They both have their uses. Doppler doesn't really tell you much though. Yeah, you hear a heartbeat but that doesn't tell you much other than what is happening *right then*.

Scans can be quite useful. I personally wouldn't homebirth without at least one scan. And early scans are useful for dating purposes and to rule out eptopics.

I think doppler is most useful in labour.

[flapjack]

Scan. You can gain the maximum amount of information with a minimum amount of US exposure.
If BTDT is any use, however, the 8 week scan we paid privately for did not give the reassurance that we expected it to. I just acknowledged that we'd got to that point, but baby definitely wouldn't make it to 12 weeks so what was the point? (He's 18 mo now.) I've stuck to the 12/20 week scan pattern this time, and it's been reassuring.

[TonyaW]

What do you all mean by a scan? If I am understanding it is not a ultrasound.

[ann_of_loxley]

Originally Posted by TonyaW

What do you all mean by a scan? If I am understanding it is not a ultrasound.

Yes - ultrasound.

[tzs]

this is really interesting. i opted out of ultrasounds for religious/safety reasons but then later on (i guess i figured it was too late and might as well continue with what i had started) realized that maybe the doplar was the same thing. what IS the difference???