[annekh23]

I'm still trying to figure out whether or not to have an ultrasound around 20 weeks.

Part of the difficulty in deciding is the difficulty in pinning down the facts, when I google for various terms, I can find that there is a debate about them, but it's hard to find any specifics. I could really do with seeing a balanced article with references!

As I understand it, the current opinion seems to be that they don't improve outcomes in a low risk pregnancy and are therefore not cost effective. But cost effective is how insurance companies and goverments make decision, not how individuals make decisions!

We've not had any first trimester scanning, we were confident of our dates so there didn't really seem to be any need.

So now I'm trying to balance the risk of there being a problem that would change something (like delivery location) versus the risk of having unnecessary stress and worry because something was found that turned out to not be the case.

Help!

 

[Voltige]

I've had multiple u/s because I'm having a complicated pregnancy, for the time being. That said, if things had been otherwise, I'd have the 20 week scan only if I planned on an UC or maybe even homebirth. I would want to know about any potential issues involving the placental location. Obviously there are plenty of folks who are comfortable with those options without the u/s. I think it's a very personal decision

 

[mokey4]

I decided to have the 2nd trimester ultrasound, after doing some research and thinking about it. I did it because I'm planning a homebirth and wanted to know if there were any forseeable complications. Everything turned out to be fine, but while I was sitting in the chair getting the u/s I actually felt very bad about doing it. My baby was obviously squirming away from the thing and didn't like being observed like that. I felt bad for doing that to the baby!

The one good thing about the u/s (besides finding out that everything was ok, which I pretty much knew anyway) was that DH came along and was really excited about it. He didn't even want to come at first, but I made him. Seeing the baby move around on the screen made it real to DH, especially because he hasn't been able to feel the baby move through my abdomen. For some reason I just wasn't as excited about it!

 

[hedgewitch]

For me this one was a big deal as it is the abnormality scan and I wanted that. I also wanted the reassurance and it really helped my anxiety levels which has helped my pregnancy overall. It is definitely your call, for me the pros outweighed any undetermined cons.

For me it was a lovely experience that enhanced my pregnancy a great deal.

 

[PTmorgan]

With my first pregnancy I declined all the first trimester tests as well. I agreed to the 20 week ultrasound just for the reassurance. Unfortunately we found a two vessel cord, so the reassurance wasn't as great as I was hoping for! DS ended up being normal, but we had an emergency C-section for cord issues.

DS also hated each ultrasound. He would become very agitated and try to wiggle away from the sound head. DH and I are convinced that it was very uncomfortable for him.

I'm at 15 weeks with my second child now. Because I'm fighting the stupid VBAC situation, I've agreed to have the ultrasound to check for placenta placement. My midwives don't seem to be very enthusiastic when I ask if they can tell the position by listening.

 

[soso-lynn]

I did not do an ultrasound and would not do one unless I had a legitimate medical concern for which the outcome could be improved by doing it.

To me, it seems like such an invasion of mine and m child's body.

If you are at all on the fence and you do not feel it is vital for your sanity, I would recommend skipping it, if only to enjoy the shocked looks on people's faces when they find out you did not have an ultrasound. It's a classic.

Seriously, though, it really is a very personal decision, for which you must not only consider the risks and benefits but also your philosophy towards pregnancy and health care.

 

[alegna]

We don't do u/s without significant medical reason.

I live in a very medical city and am very close to hospitals if I need them. Therefore I would still choose to homebirth in most situations.

-Angela

 

[AndrewsMother]

I did and I always will because a PP was discovered at my 2nd trimester appt that was undetectable by doppler or palpitation. I was not in the at risk for placenta previa group, yet I had a complete.

 

[D'sMama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soso-lynn ... If you are at all on the fence and you do not feel it is vital for your sanity, I would recommend skipping it, if only to enjoy the shocked looks on people's faces when they find out you did not have an ultrasound. It's a classic. ...

:

My MIL asks me every single time I see her if "they" have done any ultrasounds and every time I say, no, I'm not getting any, at all. I don't really know what she wants - a picture, perhaps?

But, yeah, I chose not to do the 20 week u/s because I just don't feel it's necessary, it wouldn't change anything for me, and I don't need the stress. I choose to trust that everything is fine and if it turns out that it's not, then we'll deal.
Also, it's a little creepy thinking about the baby being invaded like that, looking at heart chambers and brain lobes and such. I would never get a full body scan of myself, "just to check" on everything, so I really can't imagine why I would subject my baby to it.

It's definitely a personal decision, but I feel like you should have a reason for doing it - even if the reason is peace of mind or reassurance, which is totally valid (although that can backfire, like you mentioned, and cause more stress).
Good luck deciding!

 

[BethSLP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soso-lynn If you are at all on the fence and you do not feel it is vital for your sanity, I would recommend skipping it, if only to enjoy the shocked looks on people's faces when they find out you did not have an ultrasound. It's a classic.

YES! I love this. Everyone is shocked when I tell them.

I also don't believe the risks are completely "undetermined." Studies show cell cavitation. Mice with a high level of u/s exposure are disorganized and show delays. I have suspicions about the huge increase in speech and language delays we have now in the schools. These results were compelling enough for restrictions to be placed and an emphasis on "medical necessity." Of course, nothing has been totally proven but if the vaccine controversy has shown us anything, I put my money on the fact that even if risks were clearly identified the results would be watered down, glossed over, and highly protected due to liability factors with those involved. The lack of safety testing in general is a huge concern.

More than anything else, I always hear people talk about relieving their anxiety with a u/s. But very often (as you can see on the MDC boards), people get bizarre readings which lead to tons of anxiety, confusion, more risky tests, etc.

With my first, I planned a homebirth (my body had other plans as i had to induce because of pre-eclampsia). I still chose no u/s because from the research I did, there was very little that could be done at a hospital vs. at home. It seemed like most of the conditions were either incompatible with life or would be operated in days or weeks following birth, not right away. PLEASE do your own research and don't just take my word for it, but thats what I remember from the searching I did in 2005 and my midwife was very comfortable not doing any u/s either so I felt good about the decision.

Certainly I would have one if something indicated the need. But otherwise, no.

XOXO
B

 

[jrabbit]

I chose to do nuchal fold screen because I'm 42 - and we're glad we did, BUT one thing that did happen was that they "found" marginal placenta previa at 17 weeks, and it made me super nervous. I researched it, and I couldn't find any evidence to tell me that there was a legitimate risk at that point, and a follow-up u/s would be needed to give me confidence. But it was in the back of my mind, and it made me nervous. We kept putting it off, though, and *finally* got it done last week at 38w. (no previa issues!

) Sadly though, the 38 week u/s wasn't as interesting to look at as earlier ones were.

All that said, I'd still probably do an u/s sometime after 20 weeks just to check on heart/other defects. I had a late u/s with DD2, and I think we were somewhat naive about it. I just don't think I can handle the complete unknown! But each one of us has to come to that decision for ourselves, not for the benefit of the MW or our parents or our peers.

--janis

 

[mamamolly1]

I can see why u/s cause some people stress. Just to pipe up a different POV, though, I'll say that u/s help to relieve me of stress. As someone who's had losses before and a very difficult time getting pregnant, and as someone whose prone to worry more than a little, seeing my babies in there doing well, wiggling around, really helps to put my mind at ease and greatly reduces my stress levels (for a little while at least). And I like to be armed with as much information as possible. So, there's no way I'm skipping my 20 week u/s. (Although having a variety of high-risk factors, I have had a zillion u/s already)

 

[Limabean1975]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soso-lynn if only to enjoy the shocked looks on people's faces when they find out you did not have an ultrasound. It's a classic.

I could have written the OP - but adding in that I have to keep reminding myself not to decide *against* the u/s just so I can call myself radical and/or shock people.

 

[Limabean1975]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewsMother I did and I always will because a PP was discovered at my 2nd trimester appt that was undetectable by doppler or palpitation. I was not in the at risk for placenta previa group, yet I had a complete.

Just curious (and seeking more info) - did you, later in the pregnancy, have any outward signs and symptoms of the previa? Any spotting, anything like that?

 

[Limabean1975]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rachel616 : My MIL asks me every single time I see her if "they" have done any ultrasounds and every time I say, no, I'm not getting any, at all. I don't really know what she wants - a picture, perhaps?

I love that my midwife just says "Are you at all interested in ultrasound?". It's a very surprising way to phrase the question given that nearly everyone does, PLUS it doesn't cost us anything out of pocket (covered by provinicial health care).

 

[annekh23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soso-lynn Seriously, though, it really is a very personal decision, for which you must not only consider the risks and benefits but also your philosophy towards pregnancy and health care.

I like this way of looking at it, I was saying similar to DH, that we are trying to do this as natural as possible, I have some issues that make me not quite low risk, but mostly that mean I seem to have quite difficult 3rd trimesters, I think how I feel about that is going to have a lot of influence on how I actually feel, so I want to do everything to feel the best I can feel.

I've definitely changed how I feel about things like homebirth, previously it was something that intellectually looked like it was a reasonable choice, so I aimed for it and didn't manage it and did feel a bit like it was my lack of belief that meant it was easy to drift off those plans. Now I've done more reading, more research and now I'm convicted that unless it's really needed, avoiding the hospital is very important, in part this is a shift from UK hospitals to US hospitals, interventions are less in the UK on average.

We had a midwife appointment today and we talked about this, what we've settled on is to not plan it, but if I get to when I would have it and start to feel that the chances of it relieving worry are greater than the chances of causing it unintentionally then we can always change our minds.