6 week ultrasound necessary?

[hapahaolegirl]

For those of you following my other post. I'm now wondering if I need a 6-week ultrasound. With DD I didn't have one until she was 18 weeks. I did not even see an OBGYN until I was 10 weeks pregnant. Even though I said I'd stick with my next appointment with my new doctor. I don't know if I can do it. The whole office really upset me. I just don't want to jepordize my baby because I was unhappy about something so trivial. I also don't know how long it will be until I am able to find a new OBGYN and then get an appointment with them. DH still thinks I should keep the appoinment which will also include my bloodwork. Though now I can't sleep since I'm up thinking about what to do.

Thanks!

Kristen

[Elizabethmidwife]

I am sorry that this is happening to you. If it is really keeping you up, I would switch before the next appt. Ultrasound can be done after 6 weeks, and if you are healthy blood work can be done later too. Follow your heart. You aren't jepordizing your baby by listening to yourself.

[peaceful_mama]

My midwife didn't think it was necessary at all, in fact would only do it if I absolutely insisted on it. She said you can't see much anyway, you may or may not hear the h/b, and she's known moms who have had a perfectly healthy looking 6 week u/s and still gone on to miscarry later. And there's nothing that machine can tell you that an exam can't. (for example, if you were to have an ectopic pregnancy, your uterus wouldn't feel say 6 weeks pregnant by exam, which would probably then be a reason to have a u/s) for the average person whose exam and bloodwork are fine, they're apparently not necessary, according to my midwife.

[Elizabethmidwife]

I absolutely agree. As long as you are healthy and feeling ok, there is no rush to "evaluate" pregnancy with tests and ultrasounds. Listen to yourself and find a new office that makes you feel comfortable and empowered, not angry and upset!
-Elizabeth

[Arwyn]

I haven't seen your other post, but I'm not planning ( on having any ultrasounds. They're not necessary unless specifically indicated, although I don't think they're as harmful as, say, xrays, either.

[lotusdebi]

I don't think ultrasounds are necessary at all, at any point in the pregnancy. If you want to have one, though, I recommend waiting until you're further along.

[pianojazzgirl]

I never had a 6 wk ultrasound with either of my other pgs.

[hapahaolegirl]

I'm cancelling my appointments on Monday the idea of a 6 week ultrasound just bothers me too much. I just hope they do not charge me a fee for cancelling without 24 hour notice. If they do then oh well, it's better then going back to them. I'd cancel now if I could but their office is closed on the weekends. I'll just need to get my paperwork transferred since they did a pap test.
I received a recommendation for a group of midwives so I'm going to try them out. I've never seen a midwife so it will be different for me but hopefully in a good way.

Thank you for your help!

Kristen

[lotusdebi]

I can't find the bit that I read in the most recent The Compleat Mother online, but here's a less involved blurb about the same issue:
http://www.compleatmother.com/ultrasound_danger.htm

I don't recommend multiple ultrasounds during a pregnancy. I think that one ultrasound is all you need to make sure the baby's fine, and that should be later in your pregnancy. If you're having multiples, more ultrasounds may be recommended. But, you never know how an ultrasound (or any interventions, really) may interfere with your body's natural processes. The multiple ultrasounds thing seems to be more about having extra photos for the scrapbook than for any medical reasons.

[lotusdebi]

Cross-posted with you, Kristen! I hope you find midwives who you're really comfortable with! I've been much happier with midwives than with OB/GYNs since I switched 4.5 years ago!

[raversangel]

i wouldn't get a 6wk ultrasound either...on my first two pg, i wasn't even seen by a doc till i was 13wks with the first and 16wks with the second! my third pregnancy i did have one at 6wks, but it was confirming a m/c...this one if i can help it i don't want an ultrasound unless i'm measuring really far ahead and there is a posibility of multiples (they run strong in our family) i think you made the right decision mama! oh and i'd probably call and leave a message cancelling your appt, you can argue that you called to cancel beforehand, which you did, they still check messages on the weekend

[hapahaolegirl]

raversangel I just want to give you a huge *hug*! I just called the doctor's office and I was able to cancel my appointments! Woo hoo! There's a huge weight off my shoulders now. I guess there is a person there during the weekends to take/cancel appointments. I will have a much happier weekend now and I'm sure DH will be so thankful

Kristen

[coffeetastesgood]

I have not had early ultrasounds with either of my pregnancies... just the standard middle point scan. I can't think of any reason to get an early one if you are sure of your dates. If you are unsure of your dates, an early scan is fairly accurate in determining how far along you are. But the jury is still out on whether or not multiple ultrasounds have any effects (minor or otherwise) on the baby, so some folks strongly feel you should not have any ultrasound that isn't totally "necessary".... my gut is, its fine because so many people get ultrasounds done, but ultimately if you don't feel comfortable having one (which it sounds like you don't), then don't get it!

[tika]

Smart move Kristen. Go with your instinct, it will steer you where you need to go.

Early ultrasound is not necessary, no ultrasound is necessary for you to grow a healthy baby...they often use these early u/s to "date the pregnancy" which can still be off by up to a week and can come back to bite you later in pregnancy if you pass your due date and they put a time clock on you.

[raversangel]

Originally Posted by hapahaolegirl

raversangel I just want to give you a huge *hug*! I just called the doctor's office and I was able to cancel my appointments! Woo hoo! There's a huge weight off my shoulders now. I guess there is a person there during the weekends to take/cancel appointments. I will have a much happier weekend now and I'm sure DH will be so thankful

Kristen

no problem mama! been there done that

[cinnamonamon]

Glad you were able to cancel! And I've also heard that the jury is still very much out on whether or not ultrasounds cause/can cause damage. If I remember right they know that ultrasound does cause cellular change, they just don't know if/how it harms...

That said we had with ds1 (dh wanted to & I knew of no reason not to) and with ds2 (vbac, had to make sure of placenta placement).