U/S - remind me why?

[Tizzy]

Up until now (okay, last night) I've been positive about having a mid-pregnancy ultrasound/anatomy scan. My main two reasons are for finding out placenta placement, to make sure it's not near my c/s scar and number of cord vessels - and these are only because I plan to birth at home which is 25min away from the nearest hospital that is of any help (other 2 hospitals that are closer are small and primitive).
DH really doesn't want to know the gender, I thought I did but I've decided that I don't. So that part is irrelevant also.

I have an ultrasound booked for Thursday but I haven't arranged babysitting for my kids yet and really, I just don't feel like going. It seems like somewhat of a waste of time. Plus if I feel I need one later in my pregnancy, it's no problem to get another requisition from my midwife.
So my question is, do you think I really need one?

[gossamerwindweb]

No, you don't NEED one. It is all about if you want one. Do you really feel it is important to make sure the placenta isn't by the c-section scar? Are you really concerned about baby's anatomy? If so, then go... if not... then don't. UC and pregnancy plans are often very fluid

[ann_of_loxley]

Well - even then, your placenta is not neccessarily going to be where its going to be. You may have a complete previa right now - which would require a follow up scan. Making that two scans you didn't really want. Really, because those suckers move around - even still at 20 weeks...if thats your one main concern, get it checked very late in pregnancy when you know it isn't going to go anywhere - like 35 weeks + if anything.

Your MW should be able to feel for the placenta though and you can hear it with a pinard as well. If you had a complete previa (and as far as I am aware, 'complete' previa is the only 'unbirthable' kind) - it would present itself in other ways too...like bleeding late in pregnancy. So you could skip the scan all together unless you had bleeding and/or your MW could just not possibly feel or hear where the placenta was if, later on in pregnancy, you feel thats what you still need.

[Tizzy]

Excellent point about the placenta moving, I realized that this afternoon too! If there WERE any troubles, I'd have to have a 2nd scan later. So really, unless I'm concerned about other major issues to do with development, it seems kind of pointless.

[mwright]

I am UP/UC and this will be my first VBAC and I have no desire to get an US..I would rethink that decision if anything(medically) were to change..

Follow your heart/intuition!! I have heard over and over from local midwives that you dont need an US just because your a VBAC.

[onelilguysmommy]

If I were VBACing it might make me more likely to get one (I'm on the fence if I have another).
I took my kids with me so that was one less thing lol.