Curious- What's with all the Ultrasounds?

[forest~mama]

When I was on MDC 5 years ago with my last pg, it seemed like not a lot of people had more than one ultrasound during their pregnancy. In fact, it was common to hear a lot of mamas talk about not even wanting any during pregnancy. Now that I'm back in the pregnancy and ddc forums, I notice a lot of mamas getting multiple ultrasounds, many starting in the very early weeks of pregnancy. I'm just curious what the change is. Different demographics on MDC, change in safety concerns of ultrasounds, less people with homebirths, ect.

I had been thinking of scheduling one around 20w or so-when I went in last time-and now I'm wondering if that's strange...

[dakotablue]

I think its common for doctors to order a dating/ viability ultrasound. Then 12 week neural tube defect ultrasound (instead of amino). 20 week anatomy ultrasound then the is the head down ultrasound.

I personally have not found any real research backing any danger and much more research backing its safety, other than possible irritation to baby ears, annoying but not dangerous.

[forest~mama]

So maybe it's that there are more moms here seeing doctors instead of homebirth mw. I have to admit that it would be nice to know if my pg is viable or not.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by dakotablue

I personally have not found any real research backing any danger and much more research backing its safety, other than possible irritation to baby ears, annoying but not dangerous.

honestly, I had so many ultrasounds with DD that if they caused ill effects, she would have some. She doesn't. Shes a smart and healthy 5 year old... right where she needs to be with everything if not slightly ahead.

Im having a home birth this time but Ive had 4 ultrasounds... 1 because I have had a missed miscarriage (viability scan) and if I don't have an early ultrasound my anxiety will drive me crazy and cause undue stress.

1 for anatomy scan
1 to double check on placental location (partial previa at anatomy scan, we were not going to worry about until I had bleeding and decided the risk was worth checking it again)
and 1 because DH was not able to go to the anatomy scan and this is his first bio-child, he would like to experience it, since it may be his ONLY bio-child. Yes, that one was totally entertainment-only... a 4d ultrasound... but the experience was so amazing, we even saw our little DD-on-the-way smiling!

[MyFullHouse]

I'm on my 5th pregnancy in 12 years.

With my first, my only "official" u/s was at 20 weeks, but my OB had just gotten his own u/s machine and liked to practice.

With my second (OB/hospital), I had an early u/s due to miscarriage paranoia (lost a pregnancy between 1 and 2) in addition to the 20wk u/s.

With #3 (CNM/hospital), I had an early u/s for dating, since I hadn't had a cycle between babies, as well as the 20wk.

#4 (CNM/hospital), I had the 12wk, 20wk, and two post-dates u/s.

This time (CNM/undecided on hosp v. hb), I had an early u/s due to previous ectopic, 12wk, and I plan to have the 20wk.

I've never felt *required* to do the 12 or 20, but I prefer to have them. The rest are based on individual circumstances (except for my first, when it never dawned on me that they were anything but fun.)

[Qbear'smama]

I thought it was a Canadian medical system thing, only getting the one US at 20 wks, but a colleague of mine is due later than I am and she has already had a couple. But I have a MW and she has an OB, maybe that's the difference; seems you can get them if you want them but MWs won't necessarily recommend you go the way I assume an OB would. When my MW didn't hear the heartbeat via doppler, she suggested I come back in two weeks to try again, but other people thought I should have gone for an US. I'm only having the one next week, unless there is a medical reason to have more. Mind you, Mae's 4D pics were pretty darn cool!!

[lillymonster]

I had one for dating, not sure why, I wasn't expecting it, but the midwife did it. My OB last time didn't.

I had nt u/s, I didn't do that last time, but this time, being almost 40 and not wanting an amnio, I did that instead.

And then my 20 week scan

Last pregnancy I had a few towards the end for NST stuff

[Joyster]

I'm going in for my fourth. This is the first time using midwives and this is the most times I've had u/s in a pregnancy, and blood tests too.

[treeoflife3]

I had one with my last pregnancy just to find out the gender and currently I don't plan on having one at all when I get pregnant again unless there is reason to believe something needs to be checked.

I think even without using a doctor instead of a midwife, it is hard to not want ultrasounds. making sure everything is okay, getting to know the baby on a level you can't without one prior to their birth, plain excitement... a lot of people love to share those first pictures of their little ones.

[lyterae]

Last time I went with a CNM (in an OB practice)

I had a dating ultrasound around 8 weeks (I was certain of dates though)
20 week ultrasound
34 week ultrasound (measuring "too big")

---
We are using a CPM and having a homebirth this time.

This time we will have one ultrasound to make sure all is good in regards to my placenta and my cesarean scar.

[lillymonster]

Originally Posted by Joyster

I'm going in for my fourth. This is the first time using midwives and this is the most times I've had u/s in a pregnancy, and blood tests too.

Me too! I had more blood tests and scan with a midwife, which surprised me.

[Masel]

My 8 week US was to check for multiples. The next one was because I was in an accident and then there was the 20 week. A couple more were at a perinatal clinic to check my cervix and then a few more for gestational diabetes to check growth.

[Qbear'smama]

Originally Posted by lillymonster

I had one for dating, not sure why, I wasn't expecting it, but the midwife did it. My OB last time didn't.

Originally Posted by Joyster

I'm going in for my fourth. This is the first time using midwives and this is the most times I've had u/s in a pregnancy, and blood tests too.

Originally Posted by lillymonster

Me too! I had more blood tests and scan with a midwife, which surprised me.

Wow, I guess my theory is wrong. Our current MW and my last one discussed various tests and USs with us, but have expressed when they thought something wasn't necessary and tended towards less, but clearly it varies!

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by Qbear'smama

Mind you, Mae's 4D pics were pretty darn cool!!

indeed!

and it also let us let DHs family know that yes, despite their family being predominately male in offspring, we are indeed having a girl and thus buying things personalized for a little Maeryn will NOT be a waste of money!

It also allowed me to share the ultrasound with both my mother and MIL because we got a DVD of it... something I did not get to do with the other two (4D was science fiction when pg with DS and brand new still when pg with DD)

[lunamegn]

I haven't had any ultrasounds with my last two and currently none with this one. Sometimes it makes me feel like a "bad" or negligent mother that I chose not to have the routine ultrasounds and while I'm grateful that we live in a time that women can have access to them if they so chose, I think about and take solace knowing that when my mother was pregnant with me some 28 years ago they were not routine in the least.

That said, if I ever felt I should get one, like if I felt something was wrong or my midwife suggested one and had her reasons, I would.

[WifeofAnt]

I had one at 10 weeks for dating (long PCOS cycles and doc wanted to double-check my charting) and 18 weeks for the anatomy scan. I really hope my doctor is smart enough to know how to do Leopold manuevers because I don't want to get an ultrasound on a nearly term baby just to find out where the head is!

[mistymama]

Normally I would only do one u/s in pregnancy - the 20w anatomy scan. I personally weigh risk vs. benefit and for me, that one is worth it.

However, I did have an early u/s at 6 weeks this time. I got pregnant just one cycle after a miscarriage and needed to see that heartbeat and know things were going ok. For me, it was another risk vs. benefit that made sense.

[VillageMom6]

I suspect that as the years pass, many MDC moms are repeat moms. Unfortunately the more pregnancies you have, the more likely it is that at least one of them is a loss.

In my experience, the pregnancy after that is more likely to have early ultrasounds for the mom's/midwife's/doctor's reassurance and to look for any concerns that could indicate a repeat miscarriage.

I had only one ultrasound per pregnancy for my first five babies and I started to think that I'd skip any future ones. Then I had a miscarriage. Then this pregnancy had a lot of bleeding early on. Thus, multiple early ultrasounds.

[jcregan]

I use a MW at a hospital and we only did the 20 week with #1 and this time that it likely the only one as well... I won't even see her until I am about 10 weeks along.

[annettemarie]

I've had pregnancies with no ultrasounds, pregnancies with one. This time I had 4 in the first trimester. I've done my research over the years and feel confident there is no conclusive evidence that US in and of itself causes harm. I do think it can lead to a cascade of interventions, but am very confident in my ability to stand up for myself at this point. I had back to back miscarriages, and the peace of mind the early ultrasounds brought was absolutely worth it. And we found out we're having twins. And I'm 37. So I am really comfortable having the assurance that my babies are OK, especially with the risk factors. Personally, I am still not comfortable with the whole "recreational ultrasound" industry, but I can't exactly put my finger on why.