thoughts on ultrasounds/dopplers

[Prism]

I'm really leary of them and am wondering what research or how others came to their decisions regarding having them or not.
We waited until 33 wks w dd, then had no u/s and maybe only 4 doppler listens w ds. I plan to do the same this time around but was curious about others thoughts feelings on this.........

I've read papers that talked about u/s being "the biggest untested human experience in the history of mankind" and things like that.....:


(but, please, I am only curious and not looking to make anyone defensive of their decisions!)

[quietserena]

I had ultrasounds with DD though they were minimal. I didn't have as many as your mainstream mom does though. Yowza, some of those ladies went monthly!

With this one I plan to go for one ultrasound just to make sure things are a-ok. Or in case there are twins because then I can't birth at the birth center.

Doppler, that one I didn't realize is as big of a problem as the ultrasound. I do know that my midwives were always very careful to feel where the head was and to point the probe away from it. I mean, it was sort of for tem too, since they're looking for the heartbeat no the brainbeat. There's something comforting about hearing the heartbeat for me.. There are some 'old fashioned' ways of doing that too, right? I'll have to ask the ladies when I see them next.

I guess I didn't give you any good info. I need to find some of that stuff and bookmark it!

[D'sMama]

Originally Posted by Prism

I'm really leary of them and am wondering what research or how others came to their decisions regarding having them or not.
We waited until 33 wks w dd, then had no u/s and maybe only 4 doppler listens w ds. I plan to do the same this time around but was curious about others thoughts feelings on this.........

I've read papers that talked about u/s being "the biggest untested human experience in the history of mankind" and things like that.....:

: I have the same questions! First-timer here, so I have NO experience/ideas about the u/s & doppler business, except that I'm generally wary of invasive-ish diagnostics w/o good reason. Please post your tips/experiences, mamas!

[ruthmg]

I'm really torn on them. I had multiple ultrasounds with ds because I have had chronic hypertension since I was 20 (I was 33 at time of that pregnancy). The doc wanted to make sure that he was growing on schedule - otherwise I'd have to be transferred to the high risk hospital for the rest of my pregnancy and birth. Luckily he grew on target (although he came 4 weeks early).

I absolutely refuse to do the 4-D u/s that's supposed to show you what the kid looks like - I personally think they look creepy and it's unnecessary.

For this one I've already had u/s (yesterday) and will have it towards the middle and end, but I don't think I'm going to do it as often.

I really wish I could do a homebirth, but with my medical history, I'm not interested in stroking out or dying during labor, so I'm resigned to a certain amount of intervention.

[mamasthree]

I'm curious, too, of what others opinions are, and what any research shows. I had the regular 20 wk u/s with my first 2, and dopplers at every visit. With my 3rd pg (m/c) I had the first u/s at 8 weeks, in which I learned the pg wasn't viable. With my 4th pg (3rd child), I had the 6 wk u/s and dopplers, plus I had an abnormal AFP, so a 20 wk more in-depth u/s, and then 4 more at the end b/c of that. I definitely won't do that again! The last 4 were not necessary, IMO, and they had to wake the baby up with that noise thingy. It just seemed wrong. I have mixed feelings about a lot of the interventions.

[annanicole]

If you are having issues don't hesitate to get an ultrasound. With this pregnancy I'm not doing an ultrasound unless I have any issues. Too much research about how hot it makes the amniotic fluid. But for testing to ensure all is ok or to disprove a theory I think they are fine when done by a professional.

Dopplers are so quick. I, personally, haven't read any studies contraindicating them for a babies health.

[Prism]

Here's one article I found to start our research with:


http://www.compleatmother.com/ultrasound_danger.htm

let me know what else you find and what you all think of this one

[D'sMama]

Originally Posted by annanicole

Too much research about how hot it makes the amniotic fluid.

WHA?! :

[laurelg]

I'm really torn about this. We were considering avoiding u/s altogether, but my best friend brought up the possibility of birth defects requiring immediate postnatal care, and that seemed to be a pretty good reason to get a 20wk u/s since I'm aiming for a homebirth. DH and I agreed if we were doing the scan for medical reasons then we would go ahead and find out the sex at the same time. However, I wonder if the risk of some random bizarre birth defect is worth the possible risk of the u/s?

The doctor I'll be seeing for backup care also offers a 10-12 week u/s - I was planning to decline it, but I'd also like to check the heartbeat. Maybe I'll go with Doppler as a compromise? :

[Prism]

laurel, the heartbeat can always be heard with a fetoscope as well, don't forget. once the hb is found the scope is held on the belly and the ear piece put in your ears. Maybe not as cool as hearing the hb throughout the room but it's how it was done for ages before the doppler came out in the 80's.

[annanicole]

Originally Posted by rachel616

WHA?! :

LOL I'm still digging but here
http://www.aidmyback.com/safety.php
http://www.naturalnews.com/019910.html
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articl...undrodgers.asp

some more food for thought!

[mamajody]

I had one u/s a week for my last 6 weeks of pregnancy, plus a 10 week and 20 week. Yuck. I would like to just have the 8 week this time, but I will compromise and have the 20 week if I need to.

[mamasthree]

here is a list of papers written on the subject...some are quite interesting, and a lot are old, unfortunately.

[laurelg]

Originally Posted by annanicole

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articl...undrodgers.asp

Yipes... that's a good (scary) article. I think I'm swinging back toward no u/s after all!

[Cutie Patootie]

With dc #1, I was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix, had a stitch and 5+ mos of strict bed rest and had so many ultrasounds, I lost count. I didn't know much then, but they were not by my request. I had quite a bit of early ultrasounds with dc #2 as they were trying to rule out past complications. As soon as I heard the "normal pregnancy" come from the doctors mouth, we never went back. I did not have any further ultrasounds with dc #2, although they used the doppler now and then when they couldn't get the heartbeat with the fetascope.

This time around I am going do the doppler check on my first appt if they can't find it with a fetascope...I've had so many early m/c's, I really need to hear a heartbeat. I will also have 1 ultrasound at the 24 ish week mark. I weigh the risks and benefits as with anything else. I think that one ultrasound to check to see if anything can or needs to fixed before birth outweighs the risks.
I just watched some show where they saw a tumor in the mouth and throat of the fetus on ultrasound. It totally blocked the airways and the baby would have died right away at delivery if they had not known. When mom went in to labor, they did a c-sect and only delivered the babies head, keeping her attached to the placenta and the oxygen from her mother. They removed the 2 inch long tumor from her mouth and airway and she is fine today.
That said, I hate ultrasounds. I am always very much on the far end of the natural scale as is my midwife, but things like this scare me. I will absolutely not have more than one though, unless it is seriously medically necessary.


...and ITA, the 4-D ones are a bit on the creepy side.

[xakana]

I limit u/s, but with Lilly, an extra was necessary because the doctor was certain she was breech (so was I and everyone else, actually--her butt was THAT big) but the u/s showed she was head down. And then to find out why she wouldn't engage (lots of fluid). But with this one, I'm hoping just to have one, at 20 weeks, to see gender and a complete little baby. I can't tell you how important Lilly's u/s was in convincing me she really was a baby and helped me bond with her (and get past my fears of having a girl).

I'm planning to hear the heart by doppler at 12 weeks and looking forward to it. To me, it's worth the risk based on what I've read, compared to my constant stress and terror that my baby has died. And I'll have them monthly until I can hear on fetoscope, then get my own fetoscope to listen and that will be that for the doppler, unless at some point I can't hear baby and haven't felt kicks and am worried enough.

I can't imagine the people using doppler daily--Lilly hated it and always swam or rolled away. But I find it a useful tool otherwise, if one to use with caution.

[AAK]

I am one of the "crazy" people who believe that u/s caused a problem. I may be wrong. . .but now I play it safe. (BTW my 2 dd was born with very rare optic nerve problem--dr said that 'something' interrupted it's dev.--I had two early u/s during the time frame in question) With my 3rd, I did the 20 week u/s because I wanted to make sure nothing obvious was wrong before I proceded with our homebirth. My dh is really more comfy in a hospital (but who gives birth--ME) so we agreed to do the u/s and if all clear, we would do a homebirth.

Amy

[KatyLinda]

I am having a u/s at 6 weeks to check for viability due to my history of early losses. I'm sure if I had not had losses I wouldn't worry about it, but I feel the need. I will probably have 20 week scan to make sure all is good, and I assume that will be it. I had 3 or 4 u/s with DD. The OB did a dating scan at my first appointment, and one at 14 weeks and one at 20 weeks. I think there may have been one more in there. I will not refuse dopplar, it is only a few seconds, and I need the reassurance .

[Prism]

mamasthhree and annanicole thanks for adding those articles.
It's great to read others thoughts/positions/experiences on this.

[UnassistedMomma]

With our last baby we rented a doppler for home use at the end of the pregnancy & during labor. It was very limited use, and I did find it very reassuring to be able to 'check in' on the fht every few hours of labor, and especially at the end. (this was a UC birth) More than likely we will do that again this time around. No U/S though.

Something I have been wondering about lately though are all these unknowns with U/S. My SIL had 2 twin pregnancies in 3 years both with some very real issues and her OB was doing U/S nearly EVERY WEEK for 3/4 of her pregnancies!! I never thought that was a good thing, but then recently it occurred to me that all 4 of the babies have terrible, terrible skin problems....... and I wondered if it wasn't at least partly caused by upwards of 25 ultrasound screens per pregnancy?? Did the possible cellular changes/vibrations or heating of their environment cause some of that??

I do wish there were more definitive research out there. I have a feeling that in our current birth climate in the US though, that it wouldn't make much difference in the way we did things.