Ultrasounds. yes or no, why? - Page 2

[aprilushka]

Originally Posted by Carley

We are having our first and (hopefully) only ultrasound on Monday because we're planning a homebirth and want to be as sure as we can be that our little one wont need any immediate medical attention due to developmental anomalies.

That's basically why I had the second trimester one. I know I can gestate in peace better having had it, that's just me. It was a bit of a hassle to get one though without going to an OB, but we managed it, thank God!

[mom2bMN]

Follow up- decision made

Originally Posted by mom2bMN

I'm still not sure yet (18 weeks along). But I'm not really concerned about risks or harm to the baby.

My reasons against are that there is NO evidence that routine ultrasound (without an indication) improves outcomes in any way. Also, honestly, I have very positive feelings about my baby until I start thinking of the possibility of an ultrasound. Then I start thinking "what if they see something"? There are SO often "concerns" found on an ultrasound that with more ultrasounds, time, worry, etc. you find out everything is fine. So that is what I'm most worried about. If I was planning a hospital birth I probably wouldn't even be considering an ultrasound, but I'm planning a home birth.

My reasons for an ultrasound are the really small chance that there might be a problem with my baby that would make a hospital birth an advantage. I think those are RARE and not the case even for a lot of defects. However, I just keep thinking about the guilt I would feel if something were to happen and I would think- what if I just had an ultrasound? Could I have prevented this? I KNOW that SO often things are not seen on ultrasound, and my feeling is if I have an ultrasound and then have an issue, well then there's nothing else I could have done about it. I did the ultrasound and it wasn't seen. That happens.

Any thoughts on my dilemma? I'm going to have to decide in the next month (before 22 weeks).

I thought I would follow up on my previous post, as I finally decided to have an ultrasound. I'm still not sure it was the right decision, but it was a good experience.

From the point I scheduled my appt until I actually had it (about 3 days) I was a nervous wreck. What if they saw something suspicious? Would I feel different afterwards? Would "seeing" my baby (when I'm not really supposed to- nature doesn't provide a peeking window) change me or the pregnancy?

The night before my ultrasound I had the first negative dream about my birth. It was long and vivid, ending in a c/section. I was crying throughout my dream. I really think my mind was starting to think negative thoughts about the pregnancy, even though I 'knew' everything was ok. It was kinda of like deciding to have an ultrasound was acknowledging something could be/go wrong. I also think, subconciously, I took it from 'if you choose to use technology in your pregnancy, you may then need technology in your pregnancy'.

Anyway, I was fortunate to be able to schedule it for the Friday after Thanksgiving, when we had family members in town (even though I was only 19 weeks and know it would have been better between 20 & 22). That was the part that was exciting for me- to get to share the experience with my family. They all appreciated being a part of it. That was the only positive part of going to the ultrasound for me (before hand).

Of course everything was fine (from what the tech could tell me anyway- I'll know for sure next week). Towards the end of the ultrasound I felt a 'thump' at the same time I saw the baby move. So now I know for SURE that those thumps are the baby. That was a wonderful emotional experience, and incredible to happen with my husband and family around.

Well I hope that sharing my thoughts and feelings might help someone else come to their own decision about having an ultrasound. I have no set advice, other than finding what is best for you. I have no idea if I would do it again with the next pregnancy.

[Sadiebug]

I am for u/s. I had one at 20 weeks with first dd and three at 12weeks for age, 17 weeks because the heartbeat couldn't be found with a doppler and 25 weeks for organ checks and gender with second dd. Both of my children are healthy and have developed normal. This time I have had one a 12weeks because the PA was saying I was having a miscarriage and I have my 20 week schedualed in a week. I love seeing the baby on the screen and I always have to find out what the gender is, but I do think that some doctor's can over do it. Also we all want to see our babies, but I think it kind of gets old if you have too many. All you think about is the little bones you see on the screen not the butter ball baby you'll be having in a few months. I'm not on the fence for the normal u/s, but I have been wondering a lot about the new 4-D u/s they have now. I wonder if those are harmful because they are (atleast on the websites I've seen) an hour long. But aren't we lucky we can have the option or not to have an u/s

[Marsupialmom]

I have read studies that say LARGE quantities of U/S can put you at risk but these are not what normal pregnancies consist of.

One u/s and a dozen Doppler isn't harmful.

I do wonder about some studies making correlations between u/s and birth defects being more of an issue that you are risk for them in the first place. I once read an article about mammograms causing breast cancers, especially in younger women. Well the fact is that younger women that get mammograms are getting them for a reason, they suspect or at jigh risk for cancer. So I wonder if that is the connection.

I don't think if you decided not to do one you are horrible. They are expensive and they really don't tell you much at all. It didn't catch my dd birth defect. Even the 4-D (those are excesive in most cases) wouldn't have detected it.

[eilonwy]

4D ultrasound uses the exact same technology as regular ultrasound as far as the transducer is concerned; the only difference is the processor inside of the machine. It's got a better computer, one which can, instead of taking a single, 2D "layer" of information and putting it on the screen, take many different layers and process them all at once into a 3D picture; the latest processors are capable of accomplishing this task in realtime, allowing for motion in three demensions on the screen, which is how we get 4D ultrasounds. The transducer is not sending any more ultrasound waves through your body to do the 4D ultrasound than it is to do the 2D ultrasound, the difference is all in the processor.

As to time... well, a level 2 ultrasound done on a regular machine is, on average, an hour long. That's what that means-- a more in-depth examination of the entire fetus, which takes longer than a regular ultrasound (which can be as short as 20 minutes for a quick overall assessment of a healthy fetus).

[BethSLP]

I am not opting for U/S. I have heard too many false diagnoses and unecessary panic for no reason. Also, so many things go missed anyhow.

I do not think I need to "prepare" because I don't think you can ever adequately do this anyhow. I'd prefer to grieve when this baby is not a part of my system and also experiencing this grief.

I read an article over the weekend about new technology that detects Down's Syndrome in the first trimester. These kinds of technology scare me. As a person who works with these kids and sees all the wonderful qualities and possibilities for them, it makes me sad to think that the few of us who choose not to do all the diagnostic testing could potentially be the ONLY ones to have a child with Down's. I feel like the world is becoming more like that movie Gattaca every day. Because we never know what will happen to even our "healthy children" (accidents, disease, etc.) I do not believe the "I could not handle a child with disabilities" is a fair thing to say. Also, it is not true. You can handle a lot.....research shows we are poor affective predictors and often predict we can handle less than we really can.

I also do not judge those who get U/S and everyone has their reasons, but there is solid research to show cell cavitation (mostly first trimester). It is very misleading to say, "I had u/s and my kids are all fine" because no one knows what could be happening on a cellular level. You may remember that years ago, women were given X-rays during pregnancy and their babies were "just fine"....until they discovered years later that they had a proclivity towards cancer. Again, not meaning to scare, just to pointing out the validity of the anti-U/S side. I am a big advocate of scientists actually conducting some research on these things, because us mamas deserve to be able to make informed decisions, right? SO many things about pregnancy are unknown because no one researchs them. To my knowledge no one has ever proven U/S safe either.... and that cavitation stuff gives me the creeps...esp. with the data that says girl babies pass on those cell changes to their babies.

My MW did one doppler on me for less than a minute. I don't feel the need for another one, but will consider if I suddenly do. She will also use the doppler during birth to monitor intermittently. To me, the benefits outweigh the potential risks here. Of course, everyone's risk/benefit ratio is a personal decision here. I certainly understand that those with special genetic situations, history of m/c, etc. may feel the need for more reassurance and I also think thats cool.

But basically, what my main point is, is that people like Tom Cruise buying a u/s machine for going overboard. Moderation is key in my opinion.

XOXO
Beth

[nighten]

It's a personal choice - like whether or not you'll raise your children vegetarian, or let them watch TV. And behind these choices are varying degrees of fervor from parents both adamantly for and against such choices.

But ultimately every parent has to make those and other choices -- we do what we believe is the best for our children.

Me? I don't use heating pads right now because of the electro-magnetic waves (their use while pg has been linked to increased cases of leukemia in children later on).

Does that mean I am better than people who do? No. Smarter? No. More wel-informed? Perhaps. But even then, it's not definitive research. It's still theory, but one I happen to agree with.

Bottom line is I just have a different personal concern over what I view as harmful -- and it's not just based upon research or instinct, but upon things like our family history. If there's a pre-disposed tendency in your family toward cancer, then avoid all things cancer-related/causing.

If you have a family pre-disposition towards developmental probs, then maybe reconsider things like u/s during pg.

But that's YOUR CHOICE. Maybe the probs were caused by pregnant mothers getting flu shots or smoking or eating MSG or god knows what? I'm not trying to invalidate the pp who believes u/s is the cause of her child's problems. If she believes this, then it likely is and I feel bad for her And to believe something so fervently and feel as if you're not in turn believed sucks, no matter what the topic.

But how I respond to that belief is my choice. I personally think there are far worse things that could affect my unborn child than u/s. And most of these are things people continue to do while pg without a second thought. But I also agree that in any situation, moderation is the key.

So I'm not going overboard with u/s nor did I rent a doppler, but the peace of mind for me has been invaluable and as such, I chose to have the u/s I've had. And there's one more scheduled to go and I'll keep it.

Because to me it's less risk than for instance those pg women who drink coffee every day, so I gave up coffee, because that's MY CHOICE. Don't bash me as some coffee-hater, please. I adore the stuff. I just think caffeine and ADD/ADHD are linked, yet I know I have ZERO proof -- just a gut feeling. So I don't preach about it -- I just practice it.

Make sense?

[Earthylady]

No u/s here!

With dd, we weren't educated on them when we had hers at 18 weeks. But, after we learned about the controversy (and actually watched a video of the reaction of human cells undergoing u/s) over them we no longer allowed our midwife to use doppler either.

This time we pretty much knew from the beginning that we would forego the u/s. I wouldn't terminate a pregnancy regardless of what any test showed anyway...so there really was no point in doing it.

I especially agree that 1st trimester u/s shouldn't be standard. There is actually compelling research that shows it to be most harmful prior to 8 weeks. Unfortunately, many OB's are making it standard to date pregnancy in 1st tri. That fact alone helped me weed out a couple of OBs when I was interviewing them.

Thankfully, now that we've settled on homebirth...it's not an issue. Our midwife doesn't do u/s anyway.

Mandy