Anyone else get extremely anxious between ultrasounds?

ashleyvictoria · August 2014

My last u/s was at 19 weeks and my next won't be until next week at 32 weeks. Everything has gone as expected so far, with no issues requiring additional ultrasounds, so I really have no justified reason to worry. I feel LO moving pretty regularly, so I can only assume all is well. But I am extremely anxious that it's been so long since I (or more importantly my doc) has been able to see LO. I think part of my worry is a result of my sister delivering her son stillborn at 39 weeks (about 7 years ago) and two people I know suffering 3rd tri losses last year. I know I really have no reason to worry, but feel more and more anxious with every day that passes since the last ultrasound.

golfingdarwinfish · August 2014

ashleyvictoria said:

My last u/s was at 19 weeks and my next won't be until next week at 32 weeks. Everything has gone as expected so far, with no issues requiring additional ultrasounds, so I really have no justified reason to worry. I feel LO moving pretty regularly, so I can only assume all is well. But I am extremely anxious that it's been so long since I (or more importantly my doc) has been able to see LO. I think part of my worry is a result of my sister delivering her son stillborn at 39 weeks (about 7 years ago) and two people I know suffering 3rd tri losses last year. I know I really have no reason to worry, but feel more and more anxious with every day that passes since the last ultrasound.

((internal paranoia increases, thanks OP))

Honestly, a woman can have weekly ultrasounds and the above can still occur - ultrasounds do not prevent or prohibit negative fetal outcomes. Do your best to reassure yourself that everything has been normal up to this point and that you have no reason to believe that this pregnancy will not continue to progress normally.

Anxiety is par for the course.

ETA: Forgot the word negative

Emerald27 · August 2014

What PP said. I have monthly ultrasounds and used to feel a bit anxious the day of or the day before, but at this point, with all his intense kicks and jabs, healthy HB measurements at MW appts, and consistent tummy growth measurements, I really don't feel anything but excitement to see him again now.

ashleyvictoria · August 2014

golfingdarwinfish said:

ashleyvictoria said:

My last u/s was at 19 weeks and my next won't be until next week at 32 weeks. Everything has gone as expected so far, with no issues requiring additional ultrasounds, so I really have no justified reason to worry. I feel LO moving pretty regularly, so I can only assume all is well. But I am extremely anxious that it's been so long since I (or more importantly my doc) has been able to see LO. I think part of my worry is a result of my sister delivering her son stillborn at 39 weeks (about 7 years ago) and two people I know suffering 3rd tri losses last year. I know I really have no reason to worry, but feel more and more anxious with every day that passes since the last ultrasound.

((internal paranoia increases, thanks OP))

Honestly, a woman can have weekly ultrasounds and the above can still occur - ultrasounds do not prevent or prohibit fetal outcomes. Do your best to reassure yourself that everything has been normal up to this point and that you have no reason to believe that this pregnancy will not continue to progress normally.

Anxiety is par for the course.

Well I'm glad I'm not completely alone here. I guess I'm just the kind of person who needs to see things to believe them. (Maybe one of the reasons I've always struggled with religion! ) Sorry if I increased your anxiety by bringing up my worries!

Thewizardofrhythm · August 2014

I feel you @ashleyvictoria. Anxiety is totally normal though. I struggle with it in life in general and it has come in waves with this pregnancy. I also think feeling an increase at the end makes sense because the baby will arrive soon and you just want everything to be ok! I've found that daily meditation is really helpful as well as talking to my midwife. She always makes me feel better.

MrsSarahRenee · August 2014

Normal. A lot of women don't get 32 week ultrasounds either so at least you are getting one to calm your fear...

golfingdarwinfish · August 2014

ashleyvictoria said:

ashleyvictoria said:

My last u/s was at 19 weeks and my next won't be until next week at 32 weeks. Everything has gone as expected so far, with no issues requiring additional ultrasounds, so I really have no justified reason to worry. I feel LO moving pretty regularly, so I can only assume all is well. But I am extremely anxious that it's been so long since I (or more importantly my doc) has been able to see LO. I think part of my worry is a result of my sister delivering her son stillborn at 39 weeks (about 7 years ago) and two people I know suffering 3rd tri losses last year. I know I really have no reason to worry, but feel more and more anxious with every day that passes since the last ultrasound.

((internal paranoia increases, thanks OP))

Honestly, a woman can have weekly ultrasounds and the above can still occur - ultrasounds do not prevent or prohibit fetal outcomes. Do your best to reassure yourself that everything has been normal up to this point and that you have no reason to believe that this pregnancy will not continue to progress normally.

Anxiety is par for the course.
Well I'm glad I'm not completely alone here. I guess I'm just the kind of person who needs to see things to believe them. (Maybe one of the reasons I've always struggled with religion! ) Sorry if I increased your anxiety by bringing up my worries!

I had an extremely negative outcome with my last pregnancy (which I won't detail here), so I spend every day in a relatively large amount of fear - no number of ultrasounds or NSTs will alleviate that fear or help the "fire" die down. Even "seeing" it doesn't help, because you're not "seeing" everything via ultrasound - despite having fetal MRI and other advances, we are relatively limited in our technology for monitoring pregnancies.

At some point you just have to appreciate each little movement and cross your fingers and hope for the best.

ashie0610 · August 2014

I have no ultrasounds scheduled for the remainder of this pregnancy. My last was at 19 weeks as well. I hear you, I get anxious sometimes, especially when I hear about others whose doctors ended up catching things during ultrasounds that they might not have known about otherwise.

I just try to remind myself to be grateful that I'm having an uneventful pregnancy. I'm glad there's nothing to follow up on this time! If something were to give them cause for concern that would lead to another ultrasound, I'd be even MORE anxious, worrying about whether or not the cause for concern would actually become a real issue.

I'm sorry about your nephew.

windwithfingers · August 2014

I get extremely anxious sometimes if I haven't felt the baby move in awhile. This started for me after my husband died though, so I think the worry stems from that. I haven't had an ultrasound since 20 weeks and I won't be getting another one according to my OB. I just look forward to hearing his heartbeat at my appointments and try to keep calm.

bitsybubbles7 · August 2014

Totally normal. I have had an u/s at every appt since 20 weeks and I still get anxious, especially if lo has been sleeping/not moving recently. Consistent, time-able braxton hicks don't help either.

Jennyc00 · August 2014

I guess we should all be thankful ob visits include more sonos than back when we were born!! My mom had the first sono to confirm pregnancy and that was it!!

DaniGrace89 · August 2014

I get incredibly anxious right before an ultrasound or appointment. Feeling her move helps, I know they when she is moving she is at least alive and hopefully well. Movement is very nice at this point.