Level II ultrasound???

[green_momma2007]

I just realized that I have an appointment for a level II ultrasound at 18 weeks. Someone on MDC mentioned that they don't do level II ultrasounds unless they suspect some abnormality. I'm pretty sure that's not the case b/c everything checked out ok with my ultrasound one a week ago. The docotr who initially saw me said that the triple test along with the ultrasound would pretty much tell them if everything was ok. Are level II ultrasounds becoming standard now? I understand that it's a bit stronger and longer than a regular ultrasound.

[alegna]

Whatever they can get away with charging insurance companies for is becoming standard :wink

Personally I don't do ANY u/s without medical reason.

I certainly wouldn't consider a level II for no good reason.

-Angela

[gretelmom]

I just realized that I have an appointment for a level II ultrasound at 18 weeks. Someone on MDC mentioned that they don't do level II ultrasounds unless they suspect some abnormality. I'm pretty sure that's not the case b/c everything checked out ok with my ultrasound one a week ago. The docotr who initially saw me said that the triple test along with the ultrasound would pretty much tell them if everything was ok. Are level II ultrasounds becoming standard now? I understand that it's a bit stronger and longer than a regular ultrasound.


It is more in-depth, so if you're over 35 or have some other risk factor, they may want to see your baby in more detail.

If you don't have medical need for one, just ask for a basic U/S. They'll tell you "it's totally safe" and it probably is, I've read about every study on the subject, just because I had a ton of U/S on this baby because of a few specific and potentially serious issues. I was so against having too many done just for "fun" (or billing!) but when I did research I felt much better about doing them for medical necessity.

What I'm saying is: don't worry too much.

[chann96]

I recently read here at MDC someone who said her ob's standard now is just to do a level II u/s skipping the regular one. I can't remember the reason her doc gave. I guess some docs just do them routinely now.

I had a level II last time because of an "soft sign" of a problem seen on the regular one. And my daughter did have major medical issues so it made sense. I had a level II this time and skipped the regular one just to make sure the medical issues had not repeated themselves. It is a longer u/s than the regular one. They take lots of measurements and examine all of the structures more in-depth than in a regular u/s.

I would suggest calling your doctor's office and straight up asking them why they have scheduled you for a level II. Considering even ACOG these days doesn't recommend a regular u/s without a medical reason I would have serious questions about a doctor's office scheduling a level II with no medical reason.

[ChristyM26]

:yeah: A level II isn't supposed to be done unless there's some cause for it. I know that they're typically done for mamas over 35, mamas with twins (or higher order multiples) and if they saw something odd on a normal u/s.

I would call the office and ask specifically why they want one done. I wouldn't do it unless there's a reason.

[newbymom05]

Maybe this is JME but I'm over 35 (38 now) and my OB offered it as a check for Down's, and he prefaced the offer by saying that we needed to think about what we'd do w/ the info, i.e. if we wouldn't act on a positive reading, there might not be a point to it.

[Barcino]

Level IIs are sometimes done even with nothing unsuspected especially if you forgo other testing.

[DiannaK]

I just realized that I have an appointment for a level II ultrasound at 18 weeks. Someone on MDC mentioned that they don't do level II ultrasounds unless they suspect some abnormality. I'm pretty sure that's not the case b/c everything checked out ok with my ultrasound one a week ago. The docotr who initially saw me said that the triple test along with the ultrasound would pretty much tell them if everything was ok. Are level II ultrasounds becoming standard now? I understand that it's a bit stronger and longer than a regular ultrasound.


My OB recommended a Level II for us, as I will be an "old mamma" when this baby is born! I'll be in the 35 and older club. To me, it's no big deal .. we go to the Maternal/Fetal Medicine Specialists, and it's a lot more in depth .. more measurements and such.

We refused the Quad Screen, BTW .. the Level II u/s was the only thing I was OK with doing ....

[lylas]

I got a Level II with my daughter and I'm scheduled for one with this baby because of genetic diseases that runs in both my family and my husbands family that we need to check for.....on my husbands side though, it's a potentially fatal disease, so we want to be sure it's not present. So we go to Maternal/Fetal Medicine in the hospital for the u/s and that's the only one I'll have. My son has a different bio-father, so my OB didn't do a Level II for him. I have heard though of other OB's using Level II's now as a form of regular practice for u/s because they are more in depth. A couple of my friends who have had babies within the past couple of years had Level II's even though there wasn't any risk factors present.