Anyone not doing an ultrasound?

[aguacates]

Just curious. We don't plan on one unless it seems necessary. Although, hearing about the Feb. Mamas getting to see their babies, and finding out gender definitely makes me jealous. I don't know that we would find out gender if I had one, but I would enjoy seeing the little one move around. I see a homebirth midwife, so I would have to pay out of pocket for one, and get a referral from my doctor. It is just too much of a bother/cost. I didn't have any w/dd, so I am pretty comfortable not getting one. Anyone else?

[AnyaK]

We're not doing any either--I'm also starting to feel a little left out, not having seen the little one yet! We're not using a doppler either, so we haven't heard the heartbeat yet (I think we should be able to by fetascope at our next appointment, though). We read a lot about the use of ultrasounds and decided not to have any unless something at some point says that medically it'd be a good/necessary idea... It sure would be neat, though, to see him/her swimming around in there....

-Anya

[My Three Boys]

I never had an u/s with my first two. I had one with my second child because I measured huge for a very long time and I just had to know if there was one baby or two! (Just one)

This pregnancy, I've had a ton of bleeding and I had two u/s very early on (very quick ones - just to check for a heartbeat). I felt those were necessary for me emotionally. I had lost three previous pregnancies and I was an absolute mess!! I am really mad at myself because I allowed myself to be talked into the 20 week u/s for this baby. I did insist that it just be quick - she checked placenta location and that's IT!! (The midwife I was seeing said that they really like to know that.) Anyway, I've since found a wonderful hb midwife and I wish I'd started seeing her earlier so I wouldn't have gone against my instinct and had one.

Stick to your guns!! Have one only if you need one!

[aguacates]

I never had an u/s with my first two. I had one with my second child because I measured huge for a very long time and I just had to know if there was one baby or two! (Just one)

It's funny, we were considering getting one for this reason, but our midwife thinks there is just one big baby. In any case, it will probably become clear eventually, lol.


Anyak, we also don't do doppler either, and I am also really looking forward to hearing the hearbeat with the fetoscope at our next visit.

[Jlcampbellkidz]

I had more than one with my other two pregnancies. I havn't made up my mind this time. Not wanting to know the sex so don't want it for that reason, although i have always thought doing it for just that reason was silly. :LOL This time I am having a homebirth and have a midwife who will do it if we ask but doesn't reccamend or push it. A part of me wants to do it to see the heart and 4 chambers and placement of placenta. I would rather do one at 20 weeks than at the very end. At the end they tend to be more off and just cause more problems with pushy OB's I think personally.

So still trying to decide. I have been letting her use doppler for the heart beat check, once at 14 weeks and recently at 18 weeks. I want her to start trying the fetascope at the next apt. :throb

[MamaMarlen]

I'm 36 and this is my first to-term (we hope!) pregnancy, so my doc really wanted me to have an u/s to do genetic screening, etc, and my hubby and I felt that'd be a good idea. I haven't read about the risks yet--tho I've seen headlines--so that wasn't a factor in our deciding.

Gotta say, seeing our little one was a pretty moving (!) experience for both of us! It ws around 18 weeks. The next day I felt my first fetal movements, and being able to visualize our little one helped me connect with what was going on--and my hubby too; I immediately called him at work!

I've posted another thread about the whole finding-out-the-sex question; I sense that the immediacy of possibly finding out has made it harder for me to NOT find out, but more on that in my other post!

BTW, we learned I have a low-lying placenta so we expect to have another u/s later to check in on that. My mother's mother lost a day-old baby in the 1930's due to an unknown placenta previa... seems to me our technology could help me/us avoid that outcome. Meanwhile, I do my visualizations of the placenta growing upwards!

Best to all of us!

[MamaMarlen]

...which is definitely a factor! :)

[citizenfong]

We're not doing any either--I'm also starting to feel a little left out, not having seen the little one yet! We're not using a doppler either, so we haven't heard the heartbeat yet (I think we should be able to by fetascope at our next appointment, though). We read a lot about the use of ultrasounds and decided not to have any unless something at some point says that medically it'd be a good/necessary idea... It sure would be neat, though, to see him/her swimming around in there....

-Anya

Have you thought about purchasing a fetocsope? They are only about $20. I take mine to bed with me and listen to the baby kcking and thumping. It really helps me to visulize the baby and connect with him/her.


BTW, we learned I have a low-lying placenta so we expect to have another u/s later to check in on that. My mother's mother lost a day-old baby in the 1930's due to an unknown placenta previa... seems to me our technology could help me/us avoid that outcome. Meanwhile, I do my visualizations of the placenta growing upwards

Yes, a low-lying placenta is pretty common at this point. I hope they reassured you that the chances are very low that it will stay low.

That's so sad about your grandmother losing her baby! I am curious about the rest of the story. I wonder how the baby made it a whole day, only to succumb the next day. Do you happen to know any more of the story? I'm *always* interested to learn more about birth.

[charmedgirlies]

I want to skip it Dh wants to peek. We did use a doppler at the midwifes last visit just because he has a really hard time connecting until then. Ironically he heard the heartbeat came home and said he was now onboard with an unassisted birth so go figure.

[AnyaK]

Have you thought about purchasing a fetocsope? They are only about $20. I take mine to bed with me and listen to the baby kcking and thumping. It really helps me to visulize the baby and connect with him/her.


Oh, I had no idea they were so inexpensive! I'd love to buy one... what kind of place sells them?

-Anya

[citizenfong]

I think that this (http://www.allheart.com/om13fetal.html) is where I bought mine a few years ago.

:heartbeat :heartbeat :heartbeat :heartbeat :heartbeat :heartbeat

[guitarmama]

I'm seeing a lay midwife, who has very limited access to u/s. She assured me that having one was not necessary. My mom, however, is very nervous about the whole idea of homebirth. She actually offered to pay for an u/s if I decieded to get one. Her one stipulation is that she gets to keep the picture. Hehehe...grandmas and their pictures! I'm not interested in knowing the sex, so I don't plan on having one unless completely necessary.

[Honeybee'smama]

No ultrasound here either, and no doppler. I am hoping to be able to hear the hb at our appointment later this week though. I had no idea fetoscopes were so cheap! I may have to check into that!

[MelissaEvans]

We're not doing it either (any form of u/s including/especially doppler). =) I know what you mean about feeling left out though. This is the stethescope I'd like to get http://www.1cascade.com/professional_products/equipment/stethoscopes/economy/teaching/teaching_stethoscope/ so that the midwife can listen and I can hear along with her (and DH too!). I think the great part about a doppler is that everyone can hear, I'm hoping this will solve that part. =)
That being said, my midwife really wants to use a doppler in labor and as a VBAC, I thought that's OK. Much better than CEFM!!! =)

[momma_andi]

This is my first pregnancy and i'm not having one done. I don't feel comfortable with the technology that they use to do one. Plus it is just another added expense to me and the system that I don't feel is necessary. If I thought something were wrong with my baby and it was an emergency then i'd probably have it done. But otherwise I see no reason. Like my mom said, she had 3 kids and they didn't do routine ultrasounds back then, so if i'm healthy, and have no family history of birth defects, why should I have to get one.
Luckily i'm going to a birthcenter and my midwife was understanding as to why I didn't want one.

[momma_andi]

Forgot to mention, also not using the doppler anymore. They used it at my first two visits to hear the heartbeat. Now I have a fetoscope at home that I can use also. :)

[quirkylayne]

Very interesting. I'm not sure if I will do an ultrasound but I will probably do a doppler, if not for my sake than for dh.

[MelissaEvans]

It's my understanding the Dopplers may be even of higher concern.

"More studies are obviously needed in this area, particularly in Doppler ultrasound, where exposure levels are much higher, and in vaginal ultrasound, where there is less tissue shielding the baby from the transducer." from http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/ultrasound-risks.html

[russianthistle]

I believe that u/s are completely unneeded for low-risk pregnancies. I feel like the common public is under the spell of the western medics who have made u/s seem like it is something that is needed. There is a chance I would have an u/s if something went awry...if I was to encounter bleeding or if I noticed that the baby stopped moving...

Your body is made to have babies!!! U/s were made to help those with risk involved!!!

[HerthElde]

We're not doing any either--I'm also starting to feel a little left out, not having seen the little one yet! We're not using a doppler either, so we haven't heard the heartbeat yet (I think we should be able to by fetascope at our next appointment, though). We read a lot about the use of ultrasounds and decided not to have any unless something at some point says that medically it'd be a good/necessary idea... It sure would be neat, though, to see him/her swimming around in there....

-Anya

Yeah, me too. Left out and maybe even a touch jealous. It was really amazing seeing dd last time around - we even got a video. With this one, we're avoiding u/s and doppler as well, so I'll just have to wait.

[HerthElde]

I believe that u/s are completely unneeded for low-risk pregnancies. I feel like the common public is under the spell of the western medics who have made u/s seem like it is something that is needed. There is a chance I would have an u/s if something went awry...if I was to encounter bleeding or if I noticed that the baby stopped moving...

Your body is made to have babies!!! U/s were made to help those with risk involved!!!
ITA

[MelissaEvans]

Sometimes when people ask if we're going to find out the gender, I tell "Of course! In Feb!" Other times I say it's hard to when we're not doing any u/s. One lady replied, "I thought you had to." It struck me as funny becuase I don't know who the u/s police are or what they'll do to you if you don't have one. But not going along with the norm and especially going against an OB's advice/expectations has probably never crossed her mind. I know it was hard for me the first time I turned down a test; telling a doctor "no" is weirdly hard!

[aguacates]

Sometimes when people ask if we're going to find out the gender, I tell "Of course! In Feb!"

This is a great answer :LOL