Afraid of excessive ultrasounds

rmissasi

I am 32 yo and a 1st time mom. I loved the practice I am going to bc they don't believe in excessive ultrasounds or 3d imaging unless there is an issue that needs to be monitored.
I had bloodwork and my first ultrasound at 12 weeks. Right away they told me the baby appeared to be developing beautifully and couldn't see any markers for Down's syndrome. It was a "perfect ultrasound" and told me to keep doing what I was doing.
They called me a week later to tell me that my bloodwork showed some abnormalities and I needed to see a specialist. That's it. As I panicked and cried over the phone talking to receptionist at this specialists office I couldn't even imagine what would be wrong with my baby bc they didn't tell me over the phone what it was. I made an appointment that day and rushed out of work and drove 2.5 hours away to the office the specialist was in that day.
Now I was 13 weeks along and they told me they were going to do an ultrasound bc my bloodwork showed high levels of protein which is a sign of Down's syndrome. There's my 2nd ultrasound within a week. That looked good they said and sometimes it can be a false positive. We sat for over an hour talking to a genetic counselor as she explained everything that could be wrong with our baby.
At the end of that I only agreed to do another blood test (that I found out later cost $2,700). After 2 weeks of anxiety waiting for that to come back, they told me I was in the normal range for Down's syndrome and that was good news but still not a diagnosis.
They told me I needed to go back at 16 weeks for another ultrasound to check the development. Did that, they said everything was developing normally again but I still needed to go back at 20 weeks to look at things more closely. I had that done yesterday and again was told everything looks good.
Despite the "good news" from 4 ultrasounds, this specialist still wants me to go back in 4 weeks for yet another ultrasound bc of the high protein levels in my bloodwork from week 12. I don't understand. They can't give me a definitive thing that is wrong with my baby but I have to expose my developing child to all these ultrasounds. Oh, they also did a 3d image without even telling me.
I'm really not happy about all of this and don't know what to do. If they could tell me there was something wrong that needed to be monitored I could understand. I work so hard to be healthy during my pregnancy and can't stand to think that my child may have neurological impairments later in life bc he/she was exposed to so much radiation during my pregnancy.
I guess I just needed to vent and was wondering if anyone else has had this experience.

PlainJane8350

I see a high risk specialist so I get a lot of ultrasounds, but it doesn't concern me. What I've read, as far as people being concerned, are the "keep sake" ultrasounds, not what they do at your doctor's office. When you book a private scan "for fun," the appointment lasts a long time because they're trying to make it fun for you. At the doctors office, they do what they need to do and that's it. It's your baby, so by all means have your own opinions, but I would let them do what they think is necessary. Have you expressed your concerns with them? I've questioned my doctor before, on other things, but you have a right to do that and your doctor shouldn't be offended. I'm sorry you're having to do that, though, pregnancy can be so scary! I did the genetic blood test and the 20 week scan, the 20 week scan is normal in all pregnancies.

happywifemomofone

Ultrasounds create images using sound waves. There is no radiation, like with an X-ray. Maybe it might be best to consider an amino if you need to rule out Downs and other genetic disorders with certainty.

bsckgb7

Lurker here (will be High-risk once I get my BFP).  Does it matter if the baby it Down's?  Would you change your course of action?  If not, I'm not sure I would continue with the ultrasounds.  I don't think they are a big deal to have them repeatedly, but talk to them.  If they are doing them SOLEY for the purpose of Down's (and you don't care), I would stop them.  Maybe they are concerned about something else that could happen if it's Down's then ok keep getting them. 

NoSugarCoating

kgbbsc7 said:

Lurker here (will be High-risk once I get my BFP).  Does it matter if the baby it Down's?  Would you change your course of action?  If not, I'm not sure I would continue with the ultrasounds.  I don't think they are a big deal to have them repeatedly, but talk to them.  If they are doing them SOLEY for the purpose of Down's (and you don't care), I would stop them.  Maybe they are concerned about something else that could happen if it's Down's then ok keep getting them. 

Considering nearly half of babies with Down Syndrome have heart defects, some of which require surgery immediately after birth, um, yeah, it matters. 

kamio92

As happymotherwifeofone said - ultrasounds don't produce radiation. It is based on sound waves which are non-invasive. 3D images produced from ultrasounds are no different to regular ultrasounds. It's new technology that has advanced to display the sound waves as 3D instead of a flat image.

Though I do understand personal preference if you want to avoid them as much as possible

Just trying to ease your mind radiation/harm factor to baby wise.

I had all of the scans you've talked about and have had extra scans for high risk reasons every 2-4 weeks monitoring bubs growth.

I had bad readings for a few different levels at my 12 week blood test.

The only way to be 100% on Down syndrome or not is through an amniocentesis. I really struggled make the decision to go ahead with it. An amnio is about as invasive as it gets. A needle through your stomach, into your uterus and then piercing the amniotic sac around the baby. It does come with a 1/200 miscarriage risk and I did go into preterm labour as a result.

Bubs still here and cooking at 31 weeks though

I feel your worry though. They can never give you straight answers. I could have slapped my doctor when she told me after the amnio that my blood work could point to something else aka placenta insufficiency. Bubs been excelling on every scan except her last one at 28 weeks. So I may be induced come week 34.

Would have been nice to know before I did that!!!

Ask lots of questions and find out what proteins were low and ALL of the reasons it could be low.

biancakoz

I've had 6 ultrasounds this pregnancy after only 2 with my daughter.  This time I had one at 8 weeks to date the pregnancy (since we didn't know how far along I was), the normal one at 13, one at 18, one at 21 (MFM), one at 26 (growth scan) and finally one at 34 (another growth scan).  I am done for now (37+1) unless I go past my due date (then a BPP).  My doctor usually only does the NT scan at 12/13 weeks and the anatomy scan at 18 weeks.  My 2nd trimester blood work came back with an elevated AFP level indicating an increased risk for an open neural tube defect.  I then saw a MFM for an ultrasound and consult at 21 weeks.  They didn't see anything and offered an amnio, which we declined.  But because elevated AFP levels are also associated with placental problems and pre-eclampsia, the MFM wanted me to have 2 growth scans (at 26 and 34 weeks) to check to make sure there were no growth restrictions.  Ultrasounds are not unsafe, per se, and when the benefits outweigh the risks, it is best to have them.  The marker for Downs might be associated with other problems that might occur in the pregnancy (like mine did), so while your baby might not show signs of Downs, they may be making sure that there isn't another problem going on with the pregnancy.  As always, talk to your doctor about your concerns.  You are your own advocate, but keep in mind that the doctor is trying to do what's best for you and your baby.  Good luck!

knwilliams01

I had 38, yes 38, ultrasounds during my pregnancy with my 1 month old daughter. I was hospitalized from 29w5d until delivery via c section at 36 weeks for atypical pre-eclampsia, oligohydramnios or low amniotic fluid, and IUGR. Luckily bedrest allowed her to grow like a weed and outgrow the IUGR diagnosis at our 31 week growth scan. However, my low fluid required very very frequent BPPs since many babies go from healthy as can be to crashing very quickly with fluid levels as low as mine were.

I put my trust in my OB and MFM doctors to do what was best for my daughter. In the end I delivered a healthy little girl, and that is all I could have asked for!

wlbmom2013

I'm 11 weeks tomorrow and have already had 3 ultrasounds because I have low progesterone and i am allergic to the progesterone shots, so i can only take it orally. As previously posted, ultrasounds do not produce radiation. I've been in the medical field for 11 years.

tonilee80

I go in every 2 weeks for cervical length ultrasounds (I went 4 weeks early with my first baby and 6 weeks early with my 2nd) .  I've had about 7 ultrasounds done so far and I still have more a head of me.  I trust that they know what they are doing... I understand the uneasy feeling you are having but technology has come such a long way and things are a lot safer now than they once were.

Grassieta

X ray technicians wear protective suits to avoid exposure to radiation. U/s technicians, even pregnant ones, don't. U/s don't use radiation.

KarlaMCurry

I'm high-risk due to being Rh-sensitized, so three of my pregnancies entailed ultrasounds weekly and bi-weekly for half the pregnancy (basically, I lost count).  I refuse blood tests/genetic testing specifically because they can have ambiguous results and I'm not interested in terminating a pregnancy.  Currently pregnant with #4 and will be going through all of this again.  BTW all of my babies have been healthy.  

christina4436

Again- Ultrasounds don't have radiation. Would do all your research and ask your doctors. Obviously there may be a reason they are suggesting them. Better to be safe than sorry.

Knottie97536784

I'm confused. You're concerned about radiation?? From an ultrasound?? No need to worry about that! 

bboroski

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/comment/12582106#Comment_12582106

My DH likes to google... I am 9 weeks and have and will probably continue to haVe them everh 2/3 weeks. it seems it's not radiation so much as the sound waves themselves that people are worried about. If kept in one spot for too long US can generate extra heat. Which tends to happen in the "for fun" vanity sessions. It also depends on the frequency of the US. The higher the frequency the more "potential" is there for damage. Mine have all been fairly low resolution as well as very quick and to the point so I am not worried.
I have done a ton of research on this because my in laws are very vocal and opinionated (and LOVE to tell me I'm wrong and hurting my baby) Honestly, if you are high risk then the pros outweigh the cons.

Just food for thought for those that are confused why she would ask the question. High frequency US waves are used to break up scar tissue and are even being used in some countries to attack isolated cancer. Granted , what is used on a baby is much lower. But if used incorrectly there is potential for risk