Too many ultrasounds bad for baby?

[perfectangels]

As the title says, are to many ultrasounds bad for baby?

I had one done at my 1st prenatal for dating scan. Was only 5/6weeks no hb yet. Went back two weeks later and was 7w and heard hb and this was also a dating scan. Those were at my drs. At 13w I went to a 4d ultrasound place to tell gender. Then at 15w I was offered a free ultrasound for training purposes from a anti-abortion clinic. They have made me another appointment this week at 16w since last time was so busy. On the 27 I won a free 3d/4d ultrasound and go to my drs for a anatomy scan on the 29th. So I will have had 7 of them by then end of May.

 

[Kittycat155]

Many will say any are fine or how they had xx amount and baby is fine but I think there could be some concerns. The fact ACOG does NOT recommend it for routine use is telling. It depends on the machine,how machine is maintained and the tech(taking to long in one spot and how skilled they are to get it over with).

 

[perfectangels]

The 4d ones I won their contest they were having and the antiabortion ones are for them to practice before they actually go out in the field.

 

[Kittycat155]

Personally I do not do ultrasound unless I suspect an issue or a medical need. I know I am the minority but just feel not to much is gained from them for the majority of women. Have you asked your Dr/MW their opinion on what is safe?

 

[perfectangels]

Not yet. I don't plan on getting anymore done until right before birth for measurements. I know a lot of people who were high risk and had to get a lot of ultrasounds done. Like more then ten.

 

[bumpbear]

I know we shouldn't google things too much, but I do rely on it quite a bit and evaluate what I find.

There is quite a lot of opinion out there that enough testing has not been done of the newer more powerful ultrasound machines or dopplers.

I don't personally feel the need to peek in at baby on a frequent basis so just stick to the minimum testing my OB recommends (8 weeks, 12 weeks, 20 weeks, 35 weeks).

I am not an anxious pregnant woman though so that probably sways my decision to err on the side of caution and go with medical need scans.

If my OB said I was high risk and needed more frequent testing, I would totally do it. I just don't do it for pure curiosity!

 

[lovenoel]

I had ultrasounds at 6/9/12 weeks, and then weekly from 14 weeks on.

I have a short cervix so they do a transvaginal to measure cervical length and always check the baby's heartbeat via an abdominal u/s first. When I go in tomorrow for my weekly check, I will have had 13 ultrasounds so far this pregnancy. I trust my doctors and am glad that we are being monitored so carefully.

 

[Kittycat155]

I just would be nervous about doing so many for non medical reasons. Curious though right before birth for measurements does that mean you still get the 20ish week major scan? Or are you getting that done AND doing an end of pregnancy scan?

To me having a high risk pregnancy where you are going in looking at some issue that is known is different then doing a ton of scans for no real reason. What happens if last few months you become high risk then you are talking about these 7 scans and whatever they give you then.

It is still fairly new and not long ago no one had any. No real long term studies just short term ones you can find online.

 

[Kittycat155]

lovenoel how long does each US take? Only asking cause I was under impression checking cervix would be a short US? Glad to hear cervix is currently ok.

 

[lovenoel]

lovenoel how long does each US take? Only asking cause I was under impression checking cervix would be a short US? Glad to hear cervix is currently ok.

The abdominal ultrasounds usually vary in length depending on which sonographer we get (there are 2 at maternal fetal medicine). One usually just finds the heartbeat and measures a few other things as she goes...the other spends more time checking out the LO and measures even more things (takes screenshots of stomach, heart, whatever seems to pop up). They are usually 5 minutes or so. The transvaginal they take around 5 minutes as well as they wait to see if there are any changes in the cervix as I'm laying there - they also apply pressure to my uterus to stimulate pressure when I stand up. All in all, I'd say each appointment is around 10-15 minutes of actually being scanned.

Thanks for the good thoughts! It's been nerve wracking and I can't wait for 24 weeks to come around. Hopefully my cervix is just short and strong like steel.

 

[Kittycat155]

I know we shouldn't google things too much, but I do rely on it quite a bit and evaluate what I find.

There is quite a lot of opinion out there that enough testing has not been done of the newer more powerful ultrasound machines or dopplers.

I don't personally feel the need to peek in at baby on a frequent basis so just stick to the minimum testing my OB recommends (8 weeks, 12 weeks, 20 weeks, 35 weeks).

I am not an anxious pregnant woman though so that probably sways my decision to err on the side of caution and go with medical need scans.

If my OB said I was high risk and needed more frequent testing, I would totally do it. I just don't do it for pure curiosity!

I agree with this. If I have issues come up in pregnancy and weekly US is needed then so be it but to go multiple times for basically fun I think it is to unknown.

The Doppler I have heard is about 30 minutes of US. I have read more then a few women on here say the tech or Dr. will not turn the Doppler on during early scans to hear HB as it is to risky.

Then factor in some who have thought MAYBE autism may be linked. I mean there have been many "possible links" so who knows.

 

[perfectangels]

I just would be nervous about doing so many for non medical reasons. Curious though right before birth for measurements does that mean you still get the 20ish week major scan? Or are you getting that done AND doing an end of pregnancy scan?

To me having a high risk pregnancy where you are going in looking at some issue that is known is different then doing a ton of scans for no real reason. What happens if last few months you become high risk then you are talking about these 7 scans and whatever they give you then.

It is still fairly new and not long ago no one had any. No real long term studies just short term ones you can find online.

Yes I would be getting an anatomy scan done at 20 weeks and one before birth to see how big baby is (measurments)

 

[Kittycat155]

Seems getting one last month or so is starting to take off as read of quite a few getting them done then. Thanks for the info

 

[Yo_Yo]

I've had about 32 ultrasounds so far between all my pregnancies.

It is not dangerous.

 

[Lolly1985]

Read the title and got worried as I need weekly scans for leaking amniotic fluid and baby's growth. Thanks for reassuring Yo-Yo xxx

 

[Unexpected212]

I had probably 10+ with my son including early scans, gender scan, anatomy scan, then growth scans and a 4D scan

This time I've had...8? already because I had a lot of early reassurance scans due to a miscarriage.

I'm genuinley not worried and don't think they cause any harm and I did a fair bit of research.

Only one I'm not having this time is a 4D scan as it's a lot of money and they focus on the babies face for a long time and I'd rather just wait to see her.

 

[Dodima1999]

I'm 23w pregnant with iVF twins and received fortnightly scans from 7w till 11w and then monthly from 13w to date. My consultant wants me to see him every 4 weeks for scans up to 30w and then I'll move to every 2 weeks and then weekly.
The hospital I attend only use a 2d machine so not sure if that makes a difference but I have read (in Ireland anyway) that it does not harm the baby in anyway since it uses sound waves and not radiation and even once baby can hear the sound waves are inaudible to people's ears so won't affect that either.
I have had no problems with babies as a result and they are kicking and dancing away in my tummy as I type.

 

[CastawayBride]

I would go by what a Dr says over articles on the internet...remember anyone can say anything on the WWW!!

I have scans every week to every other week albeit quick but we get a peak at our little nugget

 

[BigAl]

For me any medical reason would mean that any tiny risk would be outweighed by the benefits. However I wouldn't have one just to see the baby, as I see no benefit to outweigh the risk.

But that is for me personally. There are no proven risks though.

 

[teacup]

Isn't it only sound waves? I don't see how sound waves could cause any harm to baby. Also it wouldn't make sense for them to do them more frequently with 'high risk' pregnancies if there was a chance the ultrasound could cause harm. They have been used for yeeeears and I'm sure if there was any risk with ultrasounds we would know about it by now!