Worried About Too Many Ultrasounds

[redneckhippy]

I just had an ultrasound yesterday because of measuring behind at 39 weeks. The ultrasound took a long time, probably about 30-40 minutes and she seemed to spend a long time looking at the babies head. Now it's 4 am and I can't sleep because I'm having all this anxiety that I've had too many ultrasounds and it's not safe for the baby or it's been too much, especially spending so much time on the baby's head. In the first trimester I had a bunch of ultrasounds because of bleeding, then I had the normal 20 week anatomy scan, then a doplar ultrasound at 33 weeks to screen for placenta issues, and then this one. If you google ultrasounds, you read all these scary risks and some suggestions that maybe they contribute to autism among other things. I know I'm probably just freaking out, but I'm so worried I shouldn't have got the ultrasound yesterday or that I've done damage to my baby.

 

[summer2011]

I've had ultrasounds at least every 2-3 weeks throughout my pregnancy. I'm monitored by both my OB and a high risk Dr and I've specifically asked about multiple ultrasounds and their safety. Every doc I've spoken to say it's totally safe. I've also spoken with moms who've been monitored frequently and their children are fine even though they had regular ultrasounds. I wouldn't worry.

 

[mummytobe_93]

In my first pregnancy I probably had a dozen ultra sounds plus using my Doppler every day. She's normal and fine don't worry x

 

[redneckhippy]

Thank you for the replies. It helps to hear that because most people only have maybe 2 ultrasounds and I probably have had 11 or 12, three of which were long. Google can be such a scary thing, especially at 3 AM.

 

[calm81]

My doctor is sonogram happy. His office calls them "glamour shots" and EVERY appointment,"it's time for your glamour shots." Plus, I had a couple scares this pregnancy and have been sent off location to see specialist where MORE ultrasounds were taken, the same with my other pregnancy with same doctor and baby is PERFECT!! They wouldn't put our babies at risk, you're safe and your baby.

STAY AWAY FROM GOOGLE WHEN NERVOUS ABOUT HEALTH, DEATH, OR ANYTHING. Google is only safe if googling colors of flowers hahahaha.

 

[tjayne07]

Ive had scans every 4 weeks and bubs is doing just fine.

Im sure if they thought they would harm babies/mothers in any kind of way they wouldnt do them so often/long. x

 

[Feronia]

For all of you saying "my baby turned out just fine," sure it's easy to say that -- we don't know the long-term effects of ultrasound and it's impossible to know what sort of effect, if any, they have already had on your baby. They haven't been thoroughly studied since the late 80's and early 90's, and they've changed in strength since then. What we do know is that in that animal studies, they cause tissue to heat up (bone more than fluid and tissue) and can cause cell migration. So obviously they CAN have detrimental effects on your baby, but assessing these effects is extremely difficult. Just about every medical organization has advised against too many scans -- especially 3d/4d novelty scans -- and says you should ONLY do one in the event that there is a medical indication. Otherwise, ultrasounds do not improve health outcomes and should be avoided.

I had a few ultrasounds this time -- one at 6 weeks and one at 8 weeks due to a huge amount of bleeding. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had any. I haven't had one since 8 weeks though, but I would if something came up that needed assessing.

And it is totally not true that just because something is done often and for long periods of time that it's safe. X-rays were used on pregnant women for decades before they were found to be totally unsafe.

 

[lanet]

I've had several, the past month I've had 3 each week. One of my babies was found to have an extremely high heart rate which can cause heart failure and there's no choice but to monitor it and make sure its not continuing, and that there is no fluid build up, signs of heart failure.
I also have a monthly growth scan and they are long ultrasounds. I've also had 2 fetal echocardiograms.
I had several in the beginning to due to bleeding. Sometimes medical intervention is necessary.

 

[hairftsher]

For all of you saying "my baby turned out just fine," sure it's easy to say that -- we don't know the long-term effects of ultrasound and it's impossible to know what sort of effect, if any, they have already had on your baby. They haven't been thoroughly studied since the late 80's and early 90's, and they've changed in strength since then. What we do know is that in that animal studies, they cause tissue to heat up (bone more than fluid and tissue) and can cause cell migration. So obviously they CAN have detrimental effects on your baby, but assessing these effects is extremely difficult. Just about every medical organization has advised against too many scans -- especially 3d/4d novelty scans -- and says you should ONLY do one in the event that there is a medical indication. Otherwise, ultrasounds do not improve health outcomes and should be avoided.


I had a few ultrasounds this time -- one at 6 weeks and one at 8 weeks due to a huge amount of bleeding. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had any. I haven't had one since 8 weeks though, but I would if something came up that needed assessing.

And it is totally not true that just because something is done often and for long periods of time that it's safe. X-rays were used on pregnant women for decades before they were found to be totally unsafe.

Wow. Have you not heard of if you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything?
We don't know a lot of things but the general consensus is that it's not going to harm her baby. Let's just roll with that.

 

[MrsLemon]

they probably took a long time this scan as the later on in pregnancy the scan the harder they can be

 

[redneckhippy]

Thanks guys. Your responses helped me feel calmed down a lot. Everything seems so much worse when you wake up in the middle of the night, doesn't it? It's so hard not to worry about our little ones in there since they are totally dependent on us.

 

[LisaL79]

Your baby is fine. A lot of women have to get A LOT of ultrasounds done for various reasons and I've never NEVER heard of a complication arising b/c of all of the ultrasounds.
I had a lot of u/s with my first b/c I was seein an RE at first, then my regular OB, then diagnosed with GD so had to get an ultrasound every week at the end.
This time, I have GD once again and once again, ultrasounds every week in this last home stretch. Plus I had to have a lot during the middle to watch growth.

 

[SurpriseBub]

I wouldn't worry- they wouldn't have done a scan unless they felt it was necessary. I have worried about lots of things along the way including ultrasounds. As many people have said- some people (ie. High risk) have very regular scans, and I have never heard of those scans coming with any sort of risk warning. If there was an inkling that they caused issues, i am pretty confident that would have come to light by now. We never know everything in life, but evidence points pretty convincingly to all being well also- baby is pretty robust at this point (ie. Not building major systems etc any more)! I am having weekly scans now, and definitely feel that I prefer the knowledge they provide.

Go easy on yourself- don't feel guilty and don't worry.

 

[SarahBear]

I think you're right to be cautious with them. I personally have decided to only get medically indicated ultrasounds. Sometimes that results in getting no ultrasounds during a pregnancy and sometimes it results in a good number of them. While they are poorly studied and the risks aren't clearly understood, they are a good tool when used appropriately. I don't agree with the general opinion that they are without risk, but you're always going to have to balance benefits against risks. Parenting decisions are always going to be hard and many situations lay ahead of you where it won't be clear. You can't beat yourself up about it though. We can just do the best we can, and move forward.

 

[Feronia]

For all of you saying "my baby turned out just fine," sure it's easy to say that -- we don't know the long-term effects of ultrasound and it's impossible to know what sort of effect, if any, they have already had on your baby. They haven't been thoroughly studied since the late 80's and early 90's, and they've changed in strength since then. What we do know is that in that animal studies, they cause tissue to heat up (bone more than fluid and tissue) and can cause cell migration. So obviously they CAN have detrimental effects on your baby, but assessing these effects is extremely difficult. Just about every medical organization has advised against too many scans -- especially 3d/4d novelty scans -- and says you should ONLY do one in the event that there is a medical indication. Otherwise, ultrasounds do not improve health outcomes and should be avoided.


I had a few ultrasounds this time -- one at 6 weeks and one at 8 weeks due to a huge amount of bleeding. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had any. I haven't had one since 8 weeks though, but I would if something came up that needed assessing.

And it is totally not true that just because something is done often and for long periods of time that it's safe. X-rays were used on pregnant women for decades before they were found to be totally unsafe.

Wow. Have you not heard of if you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything?
We don't know a lot of things but the general consensus is that it's not going to harm her baby. Let's just roll with that.

What I said isn't "mean" in any way. I think it's good to be wary of medical technology that isn't well tested or studied, but yes, sometimes the benefits do outweigh the risks. I wouldn't lose sleep over what's been done though.

 

[CamoQueen]

I wouldn't listen to anything that suggested they cause autism, that sounds like total garbage to me.

Case in point? My oldest son (first pregnancy) has high-functioning autism. He only ever had his usual ultrasounds (8 week and 20 week), and a 3d ultrasound at 29 weeks. My youngest son (second pregnancy) is neurotypical and had TONS of ultrasounds due to a heart murmur that was diagnosed in-utero at 16 weeks. I'd say we probably had at least 10-12 ultrasounds with him in total. He was born fat and healthy, the heart murmur healed on its own at 4 months, and he's a totally normal talkative little boy.

Ultrasounds have not been shown to have any ill effect on children in any scientific, peer-reviewed study or paper (that I am aware of). Your baby will be fine!

 

[ttc126]

Hi Hon, I just wanted to say try not to worry too much. I counted and I had 18 ultrasounds with my new little guy. Most were very specialized scans of his middle cerebral artery in his brain. Im very wary of them, but he had to be monitored and that was the least invasive way.

I think many times we have to just make the best choice we can as parents and go from there. sometimes there is only the "better" choice...I certainly wouldn't risk 18 ultrasounds if they were unnecessary.

It's scary when we don't know if things are 100% safe, but I bet your baby is ok. Hugs to you though as I know how that worry feels.

 

[PregnantKitty]

I've had 5 xrays, a CT scan, and 3 USs this pregnancy and so far LO is doing great.

I wouldnt worry too much. *Hugs*

 

[mel28nicole]

I had 6 ultrasounds. DD is 5 months and doing great.

I think stuff like this is just another excuse people make as to why something is wrong with their child. Just like the foods we eat or vaccinations. People want a reason why children are born a certain way and people just can't grasp the fact that some brains are wired differently. There has not been enough evidence to prove ultrasounds cause more harm than good.

They say cell phones cause cancer, you don't see everyone stopping their cell phone use.

 

[redneckhippy]

Ahhhh. My MW just called (8 PM at night) and said that although they told her when they called her after my ultrasound they said everything was good, but on the report she got today it said the baby's bladder was distended (I do remember her mentioning during the ultrasound that his bladder was full the whole time, which was like 45 min) so she wants me to come in tomorrow for ANOTHER scan. I'm so stressed about this. I don't want another scan, but of course if there is a problem, I don't want to ignore it. I'm 39 weeks 1 day, so I'm praying maybe he will come tonight and solve the problem for me. I just don't know what to do.