Level II Ultrasound

cbandjp

I am having a level II ultrasound done in November.  This is when they will measure the baby's organs and body parts and we will find out the sex.  My ob office doesn't do them, so I have to go to an ultrasound place.  I made my appointment and they told me my husband will wait in the lobby while they measure all the parts (20-30 minutes) and then they will come and get him if we want to find out the sex.  It caught me off guard so canceled the appointment and I called 3 other places and they have the same policy.  I'm not thrilled with this because my last pregnancy ended in a miscarriage and I found out during an ultrasound.  I get nervous for ultrasound and it just scares me to think something could be wrong and I would find out without my husband being in there with me.  Has anyone else ever had to get a level II ultrasound alone?  

dunvilles

My DH, mom, & dad came with me to mine... I'm sorry that's their policy! That stinks!!! Dad should be involved too! GL!

beachbum0084

Im honestly not sure what a level 2 is but I had mine done and know they measured all those things in mine but they allowed my hubby and my mom in there! she just did all the measurements first while we were quiet!

BABYGIRL023

I had two and both times DH was in the room. I had to go to another place as well because the doctors office didnt do it. You should call a specialist office like a perinatologist. They specialize in stuff like this and I would just explain to them you are concerned because of past history. Its worth a try.

MrsRebecca

I have a friend who goes to a different practice than I do and her husband is not allowed in the room at any ultrasounds. I feel really bad for her because it has been an amazing experience for me to have my husband in there.

Maybe it's because it's a level II?

jennifershamrock

That's horrible.  Your hubby should totally be allowed to go with you.  I love seeing my baby for any amount of time and having my husband there to smile at and share that moment with.  I would keep calling around until I found a place that would let him come in, even if I had to drive a little out of the way. I hope you are able to find a place that will let him come in too. 

rhannan

I am an US tech.

Many places, especially places that do Level II US (where there are more measurements taken and more images required) will keep DH and family/friends out until after they get the images they need.  That's not unusual, I have worked at several hospitals/imaging centers that do this. It is not to scare you, it is to HELP the tech. Try to think of this as a good thing, as it means that the tech is serious about giving you the best images and her undivided attention.  When there are others in the room it is SO distracting and we don't want to risk missing anything.  Level II US's require a lot of concentration and attention to detail.  Don't worry, as soon as the tech gets the measurements she needs she will invite DH in and show you and him all the cute little pictures and have some fun with you.  

beachbum0084

rhannan:

I am an US tech.

Many places, especially places that do Level II US (where there are more measurements taken and more images required) will keep DH and family/friends out until after they get the images they need.  That's not unusual, I have worked at several hospitals/imaging centers that do this. It is not to scare you, it is to HELP the tech. Try to think of this as a good thing, as it means that the tech is serious about giving you the best images and her undivided attention.  When there are others in the room it is SO distracting and we don't want to risk missing anything.  Level II US's require a lot of concentration and attention to detail.  Don't worry, as soon as the tech gets the measurements she needs she will invite DH in and show you and him all the cute little pictures and have some fun with you.  

 

what is the difference between reg and level 2? and do you love your job? im actually changing my major to sonography i think but would love to know how much you love or hate your job lol!

MrsWindyCity

I haven't had my Level II yet, but it's scheduled in about 3 weeks. I mentioned something about bringing DH (because I wasn't sure if he needed to come to my OB's office after the u/s, like I do) and she said just for him to come to the u/s and didn't mention anything about him not being allowed in...so hopefully that is the case!

rhannan

beachbum0084:

rhannan:

I am an US tech.

Many places, especially places that do Level II US (where there are more measurements taken and more images required) will keep DH and family/friends out until after they get the images they need.  That's not unusual, I have worked at several hospitals/imaging centers that do this. It is not to scare you, it is to HELP the tech. Try to think of this as a good thing, as it means that the tech is serious about giving you the best images and her undivided attention.  When there are others in the room it is SO distracting and we don't want to risk missing anything.  Level II US's require a lot of concentration and attention to detail.  Don't worry, as soon as the tech gets the measurements she needs she will invite DH in and show you and him all the cute little pictures and have some fun with you.  

 

what is the difference between reg and level 2? and do you love your job? im actually changing my major to sonography i think but would love to know how much you love or hate your job lol!

Level II is done for more detailed scans: high risk, perinatology patients, sometimes for multiples, history of preg problems prior, anomalies seen in the regular "big US", etc.  They are very detailed and look at organs from multiple views.  Meaurements are also taken of different structures that are not always measured during the "big US".  That's why i was saying that it is actually better (from our and the dr's perspective) to have only the patient in the room while we get those pictures. I see why she is stressed, but she will honestly get a better scan without DH in there. And like I also said, there is plenty of time at the end to bring in DH and have some fun looking at baby as we want parents to enjoy and bond with baby.

I love my job as an US tech! We love to help give the dr and patients a chance to know baby is OK and to allow this chance to have parents bond with baby. It's so fun for us to see the parents' reactions to seeing LO. We also do a lot of other scans besides baby, including abdomen, GYN, vascular, breast, heart, etc.  It's nice to have a variety and you can never get bored. That's great that you want to get into it!! Do know that because not every US is normal and you will find sad diagnoses that it can be very emotionally draining. FYI: ONLY go to a program that is ACCREDITED. You can't sit for your board exams otherwise and then you have a useless degree as no one will hire you without being able to be registered. (sadly unaccredited schools don't always tell you that). GL!! PM me if you have more questions

adriennevla

They let my boyfriend in for the entire thing, and it took about an hour.  I haven't heard of them not allowing one adult with you.  I thought most places just didn't allow lots of people, or kids.  The ultrasound tech seemed to have ABSOLUTELY NO difficulty getting the proper measurements with him in the room.  I don't see why having an adult there would make any difference as to how "good" the measurements are.

 Edit: Yes, it was a level II; otherwise I'd have had it done at the OB office, but they didn't have the proper ultrasound machine.  I had some testing come back kind of bad which is why they had me go out of the office and get the level II.

cbandjp

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.  I called all the ultrasound places in Southern NJ and they all have the same policy.  I told them for personal reasons I really want him with me and they still said no.  The reason is the tech needs to concentrate.  I promised we wouldn't talk, but they all still said no. I called my ob and she said I could go out of state, but their is a high chance that the insurance wouldn't pay for it and it's very expensive.  My ob said I don't have to get it done, but if something is wrong, they won't have the appropriate drs at the delivery.  My ob said the tech doesn't talk or explain anything because all they do is measure and if they are off then I'd have to a longer ultrasound.  They also don't show you the screen.  She said when my husband comes in than the tech will explain where everything is and tell us the sex.  I'm still not thrilled, but it's for our baby.  He's been to every one and I'm not going to see anything he isn't going to.  I was just curious if anyone else experienced it.  Thanks again!

Leoane Gago

beachbum0084:

rhannan:

I am an US tech.

Many places, especially places that do Level II US (where there are more measurements taken and more images required) will keep DH and family/friends out until after they get the images they need.  That's not unusual, I have worked at several hospitals/imaging centers that do this. It is not to scare you, it is to HELP the tech. Try to think of this as a good thing, as it means that the tech is serious about giving you the best images and her undivided attention.  When there are others in the room it is SO distracting and we don't want to risk missing anything.  Level II US's require a lot of concentration and attention to detail.  Don't worry, as soon as the tech gets the measurements she needs she will invite DH in and show you and him all the cute little pictures and have some fun with you.  

 

what is the difference between reg and level 2? and do you love your job? im actually changing my major to sonography i think but would love to know how much you love or hate your job lol!

 Anatomy Scan

rhannan

adriennevla:

They let my boyfriend in for the entire thing, and it took about an hour.  I haven't heard of them not allowing one adult with you.  I thought most places just didn't allow lots of people, or kids.  The ultrasound tech seemed to have ABSOLUTELY NO difficulty getting the proper measurements with him in the room.  I don't see why having an adult there would make any difference as to how "good" the measurements are.

 Edit: Yes, it was a level II; otherwise I'd have had it done at the OB office, but they didn't have the proper ultrasound machine.  I had some testing come back kind of bad which is why they had me go out of the office and get the level II.

I regret the miswording I used earlier. You are right, we will always make sure we get "Good" measurements. If the baby doesn't cooperate as many other posts mention you often will come back another time to re-do them. A good tech wouldn't make it appear to "have any difficulty" in getting the images as we want you to enjoy yourselves and stay calm--we know we'd worry you  (usually unnessarily!) if it looked like we were having trouble. What I meant by that is that especially Level II US often don't allow DH until the end so we are able to concentrate on everthing we need to get. This often is not our doing--it is usually a policy made by the facility/doctors and we just follow it (so when pp suggested "demanding" DH be in there, it often will do no good. We have to follow policy) Not every place will require this, but some do. I have worked at places that do and some that don't.  I personally am ok with having DH's in the room the whole time, but I have to do whatever the center policy is. These US are done to make sure the baby is healthy and are very important and so our concentration is required.  We know that parents don't always like it, and we hate to upset you. We DO want you and DH to see the baby and know all is OK and to have a great experience!!  That is why we bring him in after the measurements and that is when we and the parents really get to have fun and have bonding time.

GL with your US and I'm sure everything will be ok!