Why do they do early ultrasounds?

DaniGirl0517

As I've been reading the posts I seem to be getting more confused.  Is there a specific reason for doing early ultrasounds?  I'm going to request one at my first appointment and I'll be 7 weeks.  I wouldn't except that I am so freaking nervous.  I want to rule out ectopic and have peace of mind.  This is a Clomid baby but I had no monitoring during the cycle.

 I just read that one woman posted she is having weekly ultrasounds until week 8.  WHAAAAAA?  I assume that means there's cause for alarm and I'm so sorry for anyone that has to go through that!  I just don't know if I'm a risk or not.

mbs427

I'm getting them done because I'm under the care of my reproductive endocrinologist (RE) until I "graduate" to my OB at 10 weeks.  My first one was to check to make sure the little one implanted in the uterus (to make sure no ectopic pg) and to check for yolk sac.

jessr510

My OB doesn't do early ultrasounds for everyone, so I'm not sure that I'll have one this time around.  It usually means that there is a reason for them to want to double check and make sure everything's going as planned.

For example, I have an extensive medical history and they just wanted to make sure everything was ok with my 1st pregnancy, so I got one at 7 weeks.  My friend had erratic cycles so they were trying to nail down a due date for her.  She wound up having 1 at about 5 weeks at one at about 7.

I know peace of mind would be great, but if they don't want to give you one, take heart that it means that they're not concerned!  Good luck! 

skroops

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I am considered to be high risk because I have had unexplained RPL (recurrent pregnancy loss - 3 first tri losses).  Because of this, my doctor monitors me carefully in early pregnancy (betas, early u/s, etc)

I would think that if you were undergoing fertility treatments, your dr would agree to giving you an early u/s.  Good luck! 

hbkises

I get one at 6 weeks because I had a loss...that's the reason most of us have had them or are getting them early...or you start having complications like spotting...be happy you don't need one :-)...and it's not because your doctor doesn't want you to have one..most insurances won't pay unless there's a cause

DaniGirl0517

Oh well we're pretty much OOP anyway.  Thank you for the clarification though.  I just worry about ectopic because of having PCOS and having had a really badly ruptured appendix a few years ago.  If she won't do it that's fine, but I will demand Betas just to be sure everything's okay.  Thank you again for helping me understand

tigerali

It is really dependent upon the doctor and the situation of the mom-to-be.  If there is reason to be monitored, they will monitor you.  If you are not sure, check with your doctor.  My doctor has scheduled my first u/s at 7 weeks.  I have already been in once for confirmation and blood work, which led to me being prescribed prometrium for low progesterone.  I had the same situation with my first pregnancy.

lovemymr

Early ultrasounds are recommended for a variety of reasons.  In my case, my doctor wanted to make sure that everything is progressing normally since a) we tried for two years and b) the cycle we conceived on was (very surprisingly) an unmedicated cycle.  Because of the circumstances, my doc felt more comfortable doing a 6-week and 8-week u/s to make sure everything is normal.

nurseJK

Many of us have early U/S because of a prior loss. I wish I didn't have to go through all this, just have a happy "normal" pregnancy. Early U/S can lead to more testing unneccessarily and extra fear if your LMP doesn't match up with the scan. If your ovulation date, implantation etc are different they won't match and that is fine. There is no reason to fear an ectopic pregnancy unless you are having major pain, or miscarriage unless there is pain or bleeding. Extra worry is not good for you or your LO. That being said, I understand if this is your first pregnancy that you are nervous. We all are! Try to find ways to relax and not stress or worry.

ginger01604

My doctor doesn't schedule U/S until she gets the bloodwork back.  I am having my first U/S at about 7.5 weeks.

I can't wait!

krit119

This is my third and my third ob since we have  lived somewhere different each time.  I had two with my first but only because I was measuring off with Annalise.  This one will have on at my first apt and for me it will be for dating sine my kids are normally two weeks later than the normal dating should be.  I know my ob with my second had signs all over the place that said you would only get 2 ultrasounds.  One at the beginning and one at 20 weeks.

*kendrick*

I am having early u/s because it is SOP with my RE and because of a previous loss. Normally I don't think my insurance would cover this many.