Do You Recommend An U/s @ 7 Wks?

[BabyHopes]

I have seen several people say that they had an ultrasound at around 7 weeks and were able to get the heartbeat of the baby!

Does anyoneone know of any downside to doing an u/s this early or do you think it is perfectly safe??

I am kinda excited because i just cant wait to get a heartbeat!! has anyone gone for a u/s at 7 weeks and NOT gotten the heartbeat but gone on to have healthy pregnancies?? What is the week that you can expect a heart beat for sure?

[averymybaby]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most of us that have had u/s that early , have had a clear indication or reason for having one - i.e. spotting/bleeding that necessitated checking for a miscarriage or eptopic pregnancy. I know I for sure didn't walk in and say hi, I want an ultrasound at 7 weeks just to see the baby. I guess there are some OB's that have the machine in the office and will do it just because, but if you're seriously considering the "risks" or safety of an ultrasound at all, then why have one unless it's medically indicated? It's a personal decision, but if you're worried, don't do it. You can see the heartbeat at 7 weeks, yes, you can see it at 6 weeks. You can also wait if you have no complications or indicators that would necessitate a u/s, and hear the heartbeat with a doppler at your next appointment as early as 9-10 weeks (but 12 is more common).

So.. if you have symptoms or indicators that point to something going awry, then I'd say yeah, call and see if your care providers recommend one. Are you bleeding? Cramping? Etc.?

If not, get used to this level of worry. ;) Pregnancy is a lot of worrying and being scared of not knowing what's going on or not being in total control. ;)

[SMR]

I think 6 weeks is when the heart starts beating.. I know at my first midwife appt she was looking for the heartbeat with the doppler and said that if she hadn't found it, there were 'other' ways.. I was 10 weeks then I think.. (that was pregnancy #1)
I'm almost 6 weeks now, and haven't even called the midwife yet.. maybe i'll do that today! ;)

[alegna]

The "safety" of u/s is unknown. Given that, I don't do ANY u/s without medical reason.

I would not even consider one that early without serious medical indication.

-Angela

[Ligeia]

I definitely wouldn't just walk in to get an ultrasound but I always end up getting one because my cycle is very abnormal and the midwife prefers to do an early u/s for dating so that we actually know how pregnant I am! If all you want is to hear a heartbeat, I would recommend a doppler as it is less invasive.

[wendy1221]

No one has ever even suggested I get one that early, and this is my 4th baby.

[crazydiamond]

The only ultrasound that its alright with me, though many skip this one too, is the level II at 20 weeks. If you really don't know your dates at all, then I'd be okay with an earlier one, since dating is most accurate earlier on.

This is, of course, assuming a normal pregnancy with no complications. If I had a problem, like bleeding or pain, I'd consent to one. But for pregnancy that's progressing normally? No way would I get one done at 7 weeks.

[alegna]

If all you want is to hear a heartbeat, I would recommend a doppler as it is less invasive.

I *think* 7 weeks is too early to hear with doppler. That said, I don't really think doppler is less invasive. From my reading it uses the same waves, but really more of them.

We don't do doppler without medical reason either.

-Angela

[ananas]

I've noticed that most of the people in my Due Date Clubs (all around 8-14 weeks) have had at least one u/s and MANY have had two! I personally don't understand the point of having them that early, especially with the risks.

[BabyHopes]

what is a doppler??

[~Megan~]

I wouldn't do it. I think that there is some discrepancy as to the safety of ultrasounds, especially in the first trimester. I'd avoid it if it were me.

[Irishcupcake]

I had one at 5 weeks because my OBGYN was an UA violation. :irked: This baby was totally a surprise and I was sort of in a daze and not thinking when I went to see the doc...who I never saw again after that appointment.

I worry that I shouldn't have had it done because they really don't know the effects of u/s... :(

I definitely wouldn't do it again.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! :D

[ChristyM26]

Yes you could hear the hb at 7 weeks, but why would you do one? If there's no indication for it (meaning a previous history of m/c or other issues like ectopic pregnancy or clomid, etc) then there isn't a reason.

Since you're asking this must be your first, and I understand that anxious feeling of wanting to see the baby - especially when it isn't feeling real yet. But that said there's no point to starting medical interventions that early. You'll just give your doctor the impression that you're on board with anything and everything. That's probably not what you want. Ultimately though, the decision is yours to make.

FWIW, I don't think that it does any harm to the baby but there's no research that is definitive one way or another that I've ever seen.

[BabyHopes]

Well... from all these responses, i think i am not going to do an ultrasound. I think it is just that I have had 2 previous miscarriages so i just want to hear that heartbeat since i never got to hear it with the first two. of course, not at the expense of the health of the baby.

I am using a midwife this time around and going for a home birth, but i am running all my blood tests through my doc since it is covered under my insurance that way...

i guess i will just hold off....

but what is a doppler? i know my midwife said something about that... but is that something that is safer?

[slgt]

I understand wanting to relieve that anxiety after loss. I ended up having one with my 2nd pg (this one) around 10 or 11 weeks purely to relieve what was becoming overwhelming anxiety. I figured the tradeoff to my health & state of mind was worth it - anxiety is not a healthy thing. However, I didn't even think about doing it before that time, and the only one I've had since was about 2 seconds to rule out placenta previa.

The Doppler is also high-frequency sound waves. Any better/worse than a full-blown u/s? I don't know the answer to that - the theories abound about safety. We decided to be ok with the Doppler every other app't, again for peace of mind. If we do this again, we may well choose to forgo the soundwaves altogether!

[NatureMama3]

A general rule is that you "should" see it by transvaginal u/s at 7 weeks, but there are exceptions (check out misdiagnosedmiscarriage.com) so I certainly wouldn't use an u/s at 7 weeks with no h/b to decide on D&C

I did get one then because I have a history of recurrent pregnancy loss and for me the risk of hemorrhaging again is greater than the risk of an ultrasound. If I didn't have that history, I'd be much more reluctant to do an early u/s.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably wait till around 12 weeks when it is easily visible by abdominal u/s. Though by then you should be able to hear it on doppler (handheld device that uses low-band u/s waves to "hear" the heartbeat).

[NatureMama3]

eta: oops. apparently my post burped

[slgt]

I understand wanting to relieve that anxiety after loss. I ended up having one with my 2nd pg (this one) around 10 or 11 weeks purely to relieve what was becoming overwhelming anxiety. I figured the tradeoff to my health & state of mind was worth it - anxiety is not a healthy thing. However, I didn't even think about doing it before that time, and the only one I've had since was about 2 seconds to rule out placenta previa.

The Doppler is also high-frequency sound waves. Any better/worse than a full-blown u/s? I don't know the answer to that - the theories abound about safety. We decided to be ok with the Doppler every other app't, again for peace of mind. If we do this again, we may well choose to forgo the soundwaves altogether!

[Barcino]

I had one at 9 weeks due to crazy thyroid levels. They needed to rule out twins. Otherwise I would not have had one. I did end up having another super quick one at 12 weeks because the baby was nowhere to be found with the doppler. She likes to play tricks on us ;) That was really quick though. Finally I had my 20 week sono. I had major issues/complications with my last birth so I will be a bit more monitored this pregnancy since there is a question about placenta abruption being a possibility for me. So my point is unless there is a reason for more I only do the 20week anatomy sono. This time sadly I have had to do more but they were all for a decent reason. The first two were very very quick. The second one being less than a min long.

[frontierpsych]

I got one last pg because I was very unsure of my dates (I was amenhhoreic and didn't know I was O'ing at all, let alone when).

Honestly, I wouldn't get one without a reason, although I understand wanting to see the heartbeat, I really do, this is my third pregnancy and I have no living children.

u/s has not been proven either safe, or unsafe. So in the end no one has any real reason to tell you to do it or not, just give their opinions. Learn what you can, and if you still feel it's necessary for your well being, then get one. If you decide you don't want to take the (possible) risk, then wait.

Good luck! :thumb

[FiberLover]

I've had 3 so far.

With 3 miscarriages, and no sucessful pregnancies, combined with a family history of infertility and autoimmune issues, I went to see a specialist. When I got pregnant this time, part of diagnosing why I might be having miscarriages was pinpointing exactly what and when something went wrong with the pregnancies, hence the use of ultrasound as a true diagnostic tool to help me hopefully achieve a sucessful pregnancy.

Now I've "graduated" from the specialist, and am back with the midwives, I expect to have the one Level II ultrasound around 20 weeks to check for things that might be critical to my choice of how to birth etc. and that's it!

[Shanana]

With my last pregnancy, I had one early on because I'd had a previous m/c ... but I was also much more "medically minded" at the time. If I had to do it over again, I would not do that. I will admit I almost cried with relief when I saw the hb (I think I was at about 8 weeks). Not that you can't still m/c, but the odds are much more in your favor once you see the hb. That said, it is possible to see the hb at 7 weeks, but still quite early. It is entirely possible to NOT see the hb at 7 weeks and go on to a healthy pregnancy.

My philosophy has changed now, and with this pregnancy I am not doing u/s or doppler (u/s lets you see the baby, doppler is a handheld device that lets you hear the heartbeat through a speaker -- both use sound waves, although I believe there are some differences in the exact technology). My dd always "ran away" from the doppler (moved as soon as we found her hb) and I thought it was funny and that she was being a "stinker" at the time, but now I don't think it's funny at all. I think it was because she didn't like the way it felt, and she was trying to get away from it. I feel very sorry about that now. And I had an experience with an u/s with her where *I* could feel it and it was very uncomfortable, but again, I failed to consider what *her* experience was.

So this time, based on my personal experiences during my last pregnancy, we will not do u/s or doppler unless medically indicated (e.g., mw has reason to believe my placenta is low-lying, I have bleeding/cramping, etc.). My mw is using a fetoscope (essentially just a stethoscope) to hear the baby's heartbeat, and will use that to monitor my baby during labor as well. So there are alternatives, although you can't hear the hb with the fetoscope as soon. Usually no sooner than 18 weeks, but even that is a little early.

Here is a link that lists some articles from Mothering on ultrasounds and the potential risks:
http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id=81178768&pageid=r&mode=ALL&n=0&query=ultrasound

It's a personal decision, but it should be an informed one. Congratulations, and I'm wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy :).

[rach03]

I've had one at 6.5 weeks and this tuesday at 8.5 weeks. I needed the reassurance after 2 losses last year, so I totally understand your feeling there. I'm going back at 10.5 weeks to listen for the heartbeat on doppler since that is right after when my first loss happened. For me, i need the reassurance in order to not be a complete mess.

[lovingmommyhood]

I wouldn't do it just to see a heartbeat in a normal pregnancy. Only because it's not necessary and U/S is expensive.

I've had early u/s with all three pregnancies. I've had 12 u/s total with three pregnancies. My boys haven't suffered any ill effects.

The more I read the less worried I am about u/s but it's a very personal decision and everybody should do their own research.

Good Luck!

[alegna]

I've had 12 u/s total with three pregnancies. My boys haven't suffered any ill effects.


Just have to point out that they've had no ill effects you're aware of at this time ;)

My dh was X-rayed in-utero and hasn't suffered any ill effects we're aware of either.

Yet no one suggests that expectant moms should sign up to have their babies x-rayed :wink

-Angela

[mchalehm]

I don't worry too much about ultrasounds. I didn't have an early one but I would if I was afraid of a problem.

That said, I wanted to agree with the pp who pointed out that doppler is not less invasive--it's more or less the same, but with more of the waves, as I understand it. The only way to hear the heartbeat that's less invasive is to wait until you can hear it with a stethoscope/fetoscope--I think.

[ChristyM26]

:hug I'm sorry about the losses you've had. That's always hard. I don't know if an u/s would help or not though... it sounds like they were both very early which can indicate issues with hormone levels or indicate there was a problem with the embryo. Have you had any testing done to determine the causes?

If it will make you feel better to look, then I would. I've had plenty of u/s with this pregnancy to check cervical length, so I wouldn't say to never do it. Like lovingmommyhood pointed out, you need to make up your own mind about whether or not it's safe. There are people here who would never do it and people who feel it helps them. Have you gone over to the Pregnancy After Loss board? There's a lot of mamas there who've been through what you've been through and might be able to help you make a decision.

[Barcino]

I wanted to come back and say that I agree - you have to do what is right for YOU! Honestly I have plenty of friends with OBGYNs that do a sono at almost every appt. Amazingly their kids (some of them now getting older) seem to be just fine ;) Now I think that is crazy and out there but you need to do what will bring you more peace. I make sure I tell the person that is doing it that I am not a huge fan and I want it done as quickly as possible. Do not linger to put on a show for me :) That might be a good compromise ;) Good luck with your pregnancy!

[BabyHopes]

SUPER HUGE THANKS to everyone for all these posts!! i appriciate the advice and understanding! I definatly need to do some more research on it and make and informed decision.... it is probably not a necessary thing... i might just keep bugging my doctors office for beta numbers to make sure everything is moving along ok...

[jentina]

I think it's really good to check into the risks before you go ahead with it. MDC has lots of really good information about possible risks. For us, we did one at 7 weeks because of medical indications. I was spotting a lot and was freaking out--and my beta tests were high enough that the mw thought multiples were a possibility. But all was well and it's just one baby and I was very glad to have done the test. my stress levels went down considerably after that. However, if we have another baby, I might make a different choice.

good luck!

[LoveChild421]

I wouldn't feel comfortable having one in the first trimester without a very good medical reason.

[Sugarshoc]

I had a transvaginal u/s at 6 weeks and we could see the little heart beating. The baby was the size of a rice grain. LOL!

[foogoomomma]

well isn't that scary! I had an early ultrasound with my daughter (now 3-1/2) due to not having any idea when the due date would be since my monthlies are rarely monthly, along with my dr. freaking out because I'm a fluffier mommy. This time along I was having some weird pains which for now I'm attributing to this being my 3rd pregnancy since per the u/s on baby and on my pain areas I'm a-ok. Now though a little worried that I might have endangered my baby, but with all the pains I've been feeling I do feel relieved that we're doing good. Fyi I was 7 weeks 4 days and did get to see the little h/b. It was a relief.

[BlueIrises]

I had many early u/s with my first PG b/c it was thru IVF... I had one at 5 wks to make sure the embryo didn't implant in my one open tube...6w due to bleeding...7 wk to SEE the hb (I don;t remember hearing it though...I think I had to wait another week or two for the hearing part via u/s)...and several more after that. But I had been having u/s every 3 days for almost 1 month prior to that so it all seemed protocol for IVF. Having had a disappearing twin that PG, all the subsequent u/s did bring peace of mind...whether that is right, wrong, healthy or unhealthy...only one who has done something as invasive as IVF could understand.

I got PG naturally this time and my RE did an u/s around 6-7w to make sure once again it was not ectopic since I have tubal issues...I had another one at 8w due to an emergency trip to the ER when I had severe bleeding...and when I bled again at 10w I had to have another one...this wasn't spotting it was heavy period bleeding with huge clots...yuck!

This PG as with last I have placenta previa so I will have some u/s done later in my PG to make sure my cervix is all clear.

As for dopplers...I heard my son's hb at 9w2d and this time I was just shy of 12w...

It is not like you can request an u/s though, your doctor has to do that...so there needs to a medically necessary reason on his/her part tp get one...

Best wishes

[Dame]

I had one at 5 weeks and one at 7 weeks, but this was because I had bleeding and we needed to check everything was okay.

[Tiffanoodle]

It's an interesting question; to u/s or not.

With dd, I had a dating u/s early on because I had absolutely no idea when I conceived. I mean, I thought I knew, but I was 18 and certainly not planning prenancy. I then had one at 19 weeks because my hormone levels were very high and they were concerned about twins, downs, spina bifida, etc.

With ds, I had 6. My cycles were hugely wonky and I shouldn't have conceived when I did. Then I had horrible cramping at like 6 weeks, bleeding at 8 weeks, he had a heart thing in the 2nd tri, I was measuring really big, and I was going for a VBAC so they wanted to check size and such. He ended up being absolutely perfect. :)

With this one I am almost 16 weeks and have had 3. The first was at 5 weeks for dating. Again, I shouldn't have gotten pregnant when I did. Plus, I had 2 huge cysts on my right ovary just a few weeks prior and we were still checking on those. She wanted another u/s at 8 weeks because we only saw the sac, no hb. With the issues we'd had, she wanted to make sure. Then at my 12 week appointment we couldn't hear the hb. I was okay, but I probably would have stressed MAJORLY after I got to thinking about it. I had also been having a bit of pain and a LOT of sickness with weight loss, so she wanted to just peek and be sure. I hope to go until 37 weeks now before we have another u/s for sizing for the VBAC. I know she mentioned wanting another at 20 weeks, but I don't want to know the sex and unless she gives me a very compelling reason, I won't do one. I know I could have refused any of them at any point, but given my circumstances, I guess I felt they were necessary. My insurance has paid them, so apparently they (or at least my Dr.) agree. :)

[njbeachgirl]

I wouldn't do it unless there was a medical reason. A lot of doctors do it as a standard thing but there is no reason to do it a lot of times!

[Meglegs]

I called when I first found out I was PG and they scheduled me to come in on 1/24 and they said first they will do an US and then I meet with the Dr. I am looking forward to it and everyone I know had them early. It will give me so much piece of mind. I don't think I will really believe till I actually see it. Never mind I had 14 + tests and have missed my period for the 2nd time.

I never heard of their being any harm in getting one and I really don't think the Dr. would suggest it if it wasn't safe. As far as I am concerned that is how they see that there is a baby and that everything is looking normal.

[alegna]

I never heard of their being any harm in getting one and I really don't think the Dr. would suggest it if it wasn't safe. As far as I am concerned that is how they see that there is a baby and that everything is looking normal.

Drs. used to routinely suggest x-rays for pregnant women. Just because something is currently assumed to be "safe enough" doesn't mean it's actually safe.

Drs. suggest lots of things that are not evidence based.

-Angela

[Meglegs]

Every person I can think of that I know that has had a baby in the last 5 years has had one and their babies are all fine.

[alegna]

Every person I can think of that I know that has had a baby in the last 5 years has had one and their babies are all fine.

Yep. My dh and his twin are just fine too and he was x-rayed in utero. Feel safe signing up for one of those? ;)

There is plenty of evidence showing that the safety of u/s is questionable. Do a search here and with google.

Even the main OB/Gyn association says that the safety is unknown and they should not be used without medical reason.

-Angela

[Meglegs]

Everyone is entited to their own opinion. That is what the person who started this topic was asking for. If you don't think it's safe and choose not to do it then fine. I don't think it's unsafe and all my friends/sister, etc. have all had them and their children are fine. It doesn't make me right for having or you right for not having one. It's a matter of opinion.

[ZoeyZoo]

I am choosing not to do an u/s unless there are indications of a medical problem. I did use a doppler once because I wanted the reassurance of hearing the hearbeat. Once I had that, I went to using only a fetoscope. A doppler is a handheld device that uses u/s waves to project the heartbeat. A fetoscope is a non-u/s way of detecting a heartbeat but you have to be much farther (usually 20+ weeks) to be able to hear anything.

I made the decision by looking at medical studies from reputable sites like BMJ.com . Basically while many things are the same between u/s and non-i/s groups like height weight, there have been noted differences. These difference make me nervous.

First, u/s in some cases heats the cells and there are several studies that show changes at the cellular level when the u/s is strong enough to produce heat. It is argued that the u/s used in pregnant moms doesn't heat the tissues enought to produce that outcome. However, several tests have been performed using the same level of u/s that is used by obs and there have been differences between the groups that they cannot link to the heat so something else is going on where there is no explanation for yet.

A Yale study using the same u/s as is used in pregnancy perfromed a test on pregnant rats. The neurons in the brains of both groups developed differently even though the rats on the surface looked the same. This is one study that didn't use high enough u/s waves to heat the tissues so this was an unexpected outcome.

Another study showed a higher rate of disabilities, particularly speech problems, in children who had several u/s versus ones that didn't have any. While not every child with a u/s had a speech problem, it was much higher in the u/s group.

Another study show much higher rates of left-handedness.

While the kids looks the same, the studies point to some small differences between the u/s and non-u/s groups. Science doesn't understand why this is happening and I would prefer not to be a test subject unless I would find out beneficial medical information about the baby or pregnancy.

Again, everyone needs to weight the benefits vs risks in their own situation. IMO I wouldn't do it just to see a heartbeat. I would try to be patient.

[BabyHopes]

WOW!!!! that is DEFINATLY enough to make me not want to have an ultrasound at all in my pregnancy! why take the chance right?? Thanks so much to everyone for the advice!!! Wishing everyone happy and healthy babies!!!!

[Dea]

I think that having an ultrasound early just to see the baby is a little too much, but if you feel that you need the reassurance then I think the anxiety and stress is much more harmful to your baby. Also it's not like you're off to get a 4D ultrasound which is NOT recommended by the FDA. If you're getting a proper ultrasound at a doctor's office I don't think there is a huge risk, or really any at all. (although that is my opinion, based on a lot of research, there are some very militant mama's on this site who well yell at me for saying that, but to each their own, right?) To be clear I had one at 5, 7, 9, 12, 16, and 20 weeks, and I wouldn't have changed anything, all for medical reasons. I have not had a 3D or 4D ultrasound.

ALSO it was explained to me that the rate of miscarriage is much lower if there is a heartbeat at 7 weeks. I can't remember the details since that was 29 weeks ago for me, but I do remember the anxiety and stress I had wondering if this was a sticky baby, and I didn't find out until 14 weeks that really I had no risk to worry about since there was already a documented heart beat. Again I will stress (so no one yells at me) that I can't remember the details of that statistic.

Also dopplers use a steady wave, so they are a little more intense, whereas ultrasounds use the same wave but it's intermittent, and less intense. (My baby fights dopplers and is less irritated by an ultrasound.)

Finally it's all fine and true to say that we don't know about the affects of ultrasounds even though our children are okay now, just like we don't know the long term affects of any decision we make, so I think it's really unfair to try and guilt other mamas.

[Shanana]

ALSO it was explained to me that the rate of miscarriage is much lower if there is a heartbeat at 7 weeks. I can't remember the details since that was 29 weeks ago for me, but I do remember the anxiety and stress I had wondering if this was a sticky baby, and I didn't find out until 14 weeks that really I had no risk to worry about since there was already a documented heart beat. Again I will stress (so no one yells at me) that I can't remember the details of that statistic.

OT, but my understanding was that once you see/hear the heartbeat at all (at any time), the risk of m/c goes down significantly. It's not that there is no risk, though. You can still m/c, and several women in my ddc lost their babies as late as 18-20 wks. You can lose a baby at any time. But yes, once there is a hb, the risk goes down a lot.

[BiscuitBaby]

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