2nd Trimester

Ultrasounds & autism

Hi everyone! My doctor does an ultrasound each time I go in. That is just how they do it at their practice for every patient. Anyways my sister in law told me today that I should request my doctor stop doing ultrasounds because there is new scientific evidence showing links between ultrasounds and autism. I was upset and feel like my doctors office obviously wouldn't do something to hundreds of patients if it was dangerous. Does anyone have any insight to this? Thanks.

Re: Ultrasounds & autism

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  • I have never heard of that
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    Me (40) DH (42).......Married 7/1/11......TTC 12/2013.......BFP #1 12/30/12........EDD 9/8/13
    Spotting,clot 2/15/13 all ok......2/21/13 no heartbeat 11 w 4 d missed miscarriage........2/22/13 DnC :(
    BFP # 2 10.10.13...........EDD 6.19.14



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  • Meery82Meery82 member
    edited February 2014
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  • Please trust your doctor and do not listen to your SIL. As others said, correlation does not equal causation.
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  • larkin220 said:
    You need to do your own research and decide for yourself. There are many theories floating around and you should ask your doctor to explain them to you. Again, correlation does not equal causation. But why is your doctor doing an u/s every visit? This is the question you should be asking. And are they covered by your insurance? Many plans only cover 2 u/s.
    @ larkin220
    I think it depends on your Dr, your situation, age maybe for how many US you get.  I have had one at 6 weeks, 7 weeks ( due to spotting, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks, and will have another one at 27 weeks ( due to low placenta)  I am also going to be 40 so that might be why as well.    I also had a freebee at 13 weeks since I was willing to help out the Drs office become accredited to perform NT scans so they asked if I would do an extra one at no charge.  

    I am guessing however. lol
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    Me (40) DH (42).......Married 7/1/11......TTC 12/2013.......BFP #1 12/30/12........EDD 9/8/13
    Spotting,clot 2/15/13 all ok......2/21/13 no heartbeat 11 w 4 d missed miscarriage........2/22/13 DnC :(
    BFP # 2 10.10.13...........EDD 6.19.14



      Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers

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  • I've heard that theory before, and find it about as difficult to swallow as all the other "cause of autism" theories. I'm also (newly) with Kaiser, and they've done u/s's every time so far, but I am going to decline the rest except one, just because it seems unnecessary to me. I'll give this LO a little privacy. :)
  • I'm an autism researcher. I haven't read that particular study but so far the closest "cause" of autism seems to be a gene mutation that is associated with five "disorders": depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder. If someone has this mutation they are more likely to develop one of those five, but then again they may not develop any kind if disorder. The real answer is no one knows what causes autism or even what it is. I wouldn't worry about it. Probably nothing you do could "cause" it.

    Yup. This sounds much more believable than all these goofy vaccine and ultrasound theories.
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  • Sounds like fear mongering to me
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  • it's still bizarre that they have time to US every patient everytime, but whatever about that. I like the autism researchers response most!!
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  • I'm not sure I believe it but I did come across this article last summer and am trying to limit the number of u/s I receive during my pregnancy. 

    https://www.thedailybeast.com/witw/articles/2013/04/29/are-ultrasounds-causing-autism-in-unborn-babies.html


  • There are LOTS of theories of what causes autism. I have never herd of ultrasounds causing it. I have my degree in child development and have done quiet a few research papers on autism. many people stop getting their children vaccinated because of autism theories and thats why theres a outbreak of measles and whooping cough.
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  • I have yet to read the other responses to your question, but here's my input.

    I had two ultrasounds when I was pregnant with my son. He is Autistic. Autism, in my opinion, is not caused by soundwaves. Autism is a neuro disorder that causes developmental delays and makes socializing hard. I have NEVER heard that ultrasounds cause any kind of significant damage to one's child or their child's brain. 

    However, the cause of Autism is still unknown, but from what I've read it seems like it's a cluster of genes and maybe a little environmental. 
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  • I've had multiple u/s this pregnancy, for spotting, and mostly monitoring for a high NT/cystic hygroma. I've met with a maternal fetal specialist, and a pediatric geneticist, as well as my OB. No one warned me about Autism as a risk of having all these tests done. And believe me, I've read every warning I have to sign for before taking tests.

    ITA with kaysa2 commenting on the 5 u/s vs 1 u/s comparisons. If it's not standard to get 5 u/s then those women are more likely to be screened for a reason. Were both groups of women having healthy pregnancies? Were they the same cohort? 


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  • Meery82 said:
    FFS. They try to blame autism on everything. SIL needs to do a little more research before she goes spreading bullshit.
    SIL needs to have a frakin seat and keep her "research" to her damn self.  Ugh.  
  • My dr does the same thing.  Everyone else I know only saw their baby a couple times before it was born by my fiance and I get to see it every couple of weeks.  It isn't bad for the baby.  The worst is that it probably annoys the baby because the dr or technician might squish it a bit but no worse than if you were poking at your stomach.  My dr likes to joke about this since the baby likes to turn away from the doppler and kick me.  

    Autism is genetic and the only thing that has been determined, as yet, to be linked to it is the age of the father (study out of Israel).  Even this is linked to an increase in the chance of autism occurring and not a guarantee of autism itself.
  • There is a study, but nothing is conclusive.  People want to find a cure/cause.  Some people won't get MMR shots because of a study linking them to Autism.  There are too many people who have ultrasounds with healthy babies to worry in my opinion.
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