Anyone concerned about ultrasounds? - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[willsmomm]

I'm not a huge fan. But an 18 week u/s in my last pg caught my baby's cleft lip and palate which I am quite grateful for. I'm so glad we were prepared and that my midwife was prepared and not shocked when he was born She knew to make sure his airways were clear right away and I knew to be prepared to pump. Huge blessing!

This time we were planning on just doing the 2nd tri u/s but there is kind of a huge discrepancy in my dates and where I'm measuring so we'll do one tomorrow morning. Doesn't have to be done but it will give me peace of mind. I totally support doing a u/s-free pregnancy. I don't think it's necessary most of the time.

I think every mama just has to do what will give her peace whether it's no ultrasounds or more than a few. Mom's stress is probably worse on baby than a u/s is.

[essco]

Fascinating thread!  Espion I didn't think your post was a personal attack at all. I too felt that article was so one-sided and outdated (1999?!)  as to be unhelpful.  Having said that, I see U/S as being waaaay over-used and also used as a scare tactic to force women into having inductions and C-sections. Talk about not adhering to evidence-based medicine! I can't stand how OB's rely on U/S data for size and dates even knowing the unacceptably large margin of error for those measurements on ultrasound.

The author of that article in Midwifery Today needs to do an updated article, looking at all of the research done since its original publication. Or maybe Midwifery Today has a newer article? Anyone get that mag?

[Tenk]

I'm not in your DDC but wanted to respond to this...  (I'm just waiting to join because I'm scared)

Espion, I did not find your post offensive either.  I think that you (like the rest of us) have the right to your own opinion, as does the original poster.

Our 4th daughter was stillborn at 38w, cord accident, if an ultrasound had  been done when I told them something was wrong they would have seen it :(  who knows how they would have reacted to it though.

3 early miscarriages

5th little guy had BPP's (biophysical profile) 2 times a week ... this is an ultrasound.  I had 25+ ultrasounds (he's perfectly healthy and normal) because we needed to make sure he wasn't in distress and didn't have a cord around his neck.  Born at 38w after 24 hours of hard labor with no dilation.

6th little girl born at 33w5d after finding distress by ultrasound and concern she was going to die.  I had many many ultrasounds with her, excess bleeding in the 1st 18w or so and with my history it was medically necessary.

I would/will always proceed this way because unless you've been when I am, understanding may not be an option.  I think it's more important not to judge others decisions but trust they did what was best for them :)

Edited by Tenk - 10/28/12 at 5:43pm

[Jules09]

Tenk, I also had over 20 ultrasounds for my rainbow DD. I understand. I think everyone makes the best choices for their own situation.

[jr'smom]

There are certainly reasons to have ultrasounds but to accept them as routine should at least be questioned.  It's a choice each mother should make consciously. I'm not judging anyone by which choice they make. Like I said, I've had reason to have an ultrasound in each of my pregnancies.  But I would choose not to if it was plausable.  I think I will have to have one to see where my placenta is since I've had 4 c/s.  But I will request the do just that and get off of there.

BTW, there were some interesting comments made about ultrasound on "More Business of Being Born."   It says something to the effect of ultrasound has been know to change cell size and that makes you wonder what effects it could have on such a small embryo when it's used to simply date a pregnancy. It also says some studies have suggested that ultrasound could be linked to autism.  I've never heard either of these things before. 

[mamabens]

I've done a little research on ultra sounds & don't plan on having one at all unless something serious comes up. With my son I hadn't planned  any at all but my MW heard what she thought was 2 heartbeats & freaked because she won't attend a homebirth for twins. This time around, I am not planning one at all & even if I had a twin scare I  probably would still decline. I'm also planning to  limit doppler use as much as  possible too.
 

[amlikam]

I am chuckling here coming back to this thread. Today I am going for my 3rd u/s and feel slightly conflicted in my choice. However I want to make sure all the organs look ok and that the placenta has moved up. I am sure it has. Some mild variations in normal have shown up this time around but really wanting to balance the fear model with trust. My midwives and OB all suggested several u/s toward the end of pregnancy (once a week from 32 weeks on!!!!)
I am still considering that. Anyhow I am thankful we have the option (I think I am thankful). :-)

[pokeyAC]

I hope things look good on the ultrasound and that your placenta has moved up.  I'm waiting for mine to move too.  That's why I will have another u/s in April.  Otherwise, I would have stopped after the 20-weeker.  Knowing where the placenta is located is very important.

[amlikam]

Placenta is moved! Yay!

[pokeyAC]

Awesome!    Birth plan back on track, right?

[amlikam]

For the most part, I still have some variations but overall I feel settled into the plan :-)

[spotty4]

Great news about the placenta, amlikan! We have a follow-up scan 2/25 to check on my placenta. I hope for the same outcome as you!

[JNajla]

I haven't been worried about having them.  The first one was (mostly) necessary because I was way off on my LMP (irregular cycles) and honestly had no clue about the dating.  The 2nd one was because I'm >35 and it ruled out downs (I suppose that wasn't necessary) and the 3rd one was for the 20 week anatomy scan.  I suppose that it could be considered 'selfish' because I truly looked forward to my 12 and 20 week ultrasounds because they gave me SO MUCH reassurance that the pregnancy was healthy and progressing as expected.  I know some people who have had elective 3D/ 4D ultrasounds at 30+ weeks, but we have no interest in doing that.  

[PartTimeCrunchy]

I'm 26wks with twins and my OB has insisted on US every 4wks. I tried to get them every 6wks, but no go. I decided that I have bigger fights in my future and let her win this one - even though it makes me crazy!

[amlikam]

Spotty did your placenta move?

PartTimeCrunchy do you have any variables that are of concern? An u/s every 6 weeks seems a little excessive for most women. My OB even told me her goal is no more u/s until 34 weeks (I went into preterm labor with DD and I have some other variables that the midwives and the OB want to track and I do too :-)

[PartTimeCrunchy]

Originally Posted by amlikam 


PartTimeCrunchy do you have any variables that are of concern? An u/s every 6 weeks seems a little excessive for most women. My OB even told me her goal is no more u/s until 34 weeks (I went into preterm labor with DD and I have some other variables that the midwives and the OB want to track and I do too :-)

There are tiny chances of the placentas fusing and then an even smaller chance of one twin growing larger (Twin To Twin Syndrome) is her reason. Although their placentas aren't even close and they are both in the 80-90% for their age. Even if one started growing MUCH MUCH bigger, they wouldn't induce for many more weeks (at least 6wks).

The thing I hate about using my OB is that everyone there - nurses, u/s techs, Drs are all sooooo scared of a lawsuit that they want you to live in fear like them. It's all of these "what ifs". You should get an epidural, just incase Twin B is in distress and we have to do an emergency c-section. Nevermind that and epidural and raise my chances of having a c-section for both babies. And if I don't get an epi and they do HAVE to section the second baby out, then general anethesia would cause them to "rip into me" to get the baby out - PLUS the nurse had a friend who had all of her teeth knocked out when they put the tube down her throat. I looked at that nurse and asked if she got in a car to drive home, because there was a greater chance of her getting killed tonight in a car accident than that happening to me. She didn't know what to say. It was actually pretty funny, but my mother was mortified that I told the nurse that. *giggle*

[amlikam]

Originally Posted by PartTimeCrunchy 

There are tiny chances of the placentas fusing and then an even smaller chance of one twin growing larger (Twin To Twin Syndrome) is her reason. Although their placentas aren't even close and they are both in the 80-90% for their age. Even if one started growing MUCH MUCH bigger, they wouldn't induce for many more weeks (at least 6wks).  Well I suppose perhaps this makes some sense....  I wonder if you have a level 2 u/s unit near you that can do a better scan and then you don't have to worry about speculation?

The thing I hate about using my OB is that everyone there - nurses, u/s techs, Drs are all sooooo scared of a lawsuit that they want you to live in fear like them. It's all of these "what ifs". You should get an epidural, just incase Twin B is in distress and we have to do an emergency c-section. Nevermind that and epidural and raise my chances of having a c-section for both babies. And if I don't get an epi and they do HAVE to section the second baby out, then general anethesia would cause them to "rip into me" to get the baby out - PLUS the nurse had a friend who had all of her teeth knocked out when they put the tube down her throat. WOW I had something like this happen when I asked my provider about VitK, one of them mentioned how she knew about a baby dying who didn't get it. I was a bit shocked but we rushed out of the appointment because they had someone arriving after me. I have a meeting scheduled to check in about that conversation. While I appreciate the "possibilty" I am more concerned that when the other midwife mentioned "another thought is that nature designs us and some partents believe there is a reason for this" - that the "baby dying" midwife interjected "Well I'd like to stay as objective as possible here. And so we'll supoprt you what ever choice you make." I was a bit taken aback by that and I feel a little bothered by the whole thing. I will say I LOVE my birth team, I just am surprised that conversation happened that way. My OB has been more relaxed with my care and very supportive of my choice to homebirth (more than I thought she would.) Also she is relaxed with the testing and has done a GREAT JOB giving me informed consent, really telling me the risks not just of not doing tests but also of doing them.

I looked at that nurse and asked if she got in a car to drive home, because there was a greater chance of her getting killed tonight in a car accident than that happening to me. She didn't know what to say. It was actually pretty funny, but my mother was mortified that I told the nurse that. *giggle*    !!!!!! AWESOME !!!!!

[spotty4]

Originally Posted by amlikam 

Spotty did your placenta move?

Yes, it did.  It was confirmed but only after a scare.  At 22 weeks I began spotting.  Eeepe!  I went into the dr to be checked out.  My cervix was closed tight and heartbeat was good and strong (I was still feeling her thump around like normal).  We went ahead and bumped up my u/s to have a peek inside.  My dr figured the spotting was from the placenta moving upward.  And that is indeed what the u/s showed.  Thank goodness!! 

[PartTimeCrunchy]

amlikam - these were WITH Level II ultrasounds! And trust me, two 2hr u/s are annoying. Hopefully we can stick to the Level I for the rest of this pregnancy. Last guy kept pushing so hard on the same spot, hurt so bad I was crawling off the table. I said that hurts and he said "maybe you are having a contraction" lmao - seriously? I know what a contraction is. Men!

[LorienIslay]

I had quite a few ultrasounds with Jack in 2009, which I didn't really have an issue with (we even did 3-D for gender) but it was the last 'just in case' ultrasound they did at 40+8 that led them to say 'low fluid' which led directly to an unsuccessful induction that ended in c-section.  Knowing now that fluid levels are notoriously unreliable on ultrasound (and that my midwives could have said, hey drink a bunch of water and see if things get better), I am pretty bitter about ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in late pregnancy. 

I read that midwifery article (plus others) which basically said there may be unknown harm and that outcomes are not necessarily better with ultrasound.  For this baby, I agreed to the dating ultrasound at 12 weeks and the anatomy one at 20 weeks, but I don't feel there is much benefit in getting more in an uneventful, healthy pregnancy.  In fact, the 20 weeks ultrasound didn't see her face, so they offered me a second one to check and I declined.