PgAL Question about Ultrasounds

tiffmatt

With the first pregnancy the doctor said the first u/s would be around 8-10 weeks during my first appointment.  Now she is saying (by way of the nurses, I have not spoken directly with her yet) that once my betas are high enough we can do some imagine, prior to my first appointment.

My husband wants to do minimal u/s so I was hoping to find out from other Pgal ladies how many/how often your doc is doing u/s and what the reasoning is for each of them.  Did you have on prior to 8wks?  If so, was another completed at 8-10wks?  Where they for different reasons?  How many have you had total?

Any information is greatly appreciated.  I have done some research online but am having a hard time finding information about u/s when PgAL.  Thanks.

crystalknpp

I was seeing an RE when I got pregnant with this baby.  Because of my loss history and ectopic pregnancies I got several early u/s.  The first at 5ish weeks, the second a week later, then another at 8ish weeks and my final RE u/s was just over 10wks.  Then my first OB appointment and 12wks my gynecologist did another.  So I've had several and it's given me alot of comfort!

noah-bear

I've had 2 prior to 8 weeks, about 7/8 to date and will be getting one Wednesday, then the 23rd and several growth ultrasounds.

Minimum 15 this pregnancy is my guess. 

Edit to correct: I went back and wrote it all out, I've had 6 so far. 

luvinlifeMN

I had an u/s at 6 weeks to check for viability and date the pregnancy (even though I was sure when I ovulated) and baby was measuring about 5.5 weeks but had a strong heartbeat.  They scheduled me for another u/s for 8 weeks to make sure growth is on track and baby's heart is still going strong. If I 'pass' that u/s (meaning baby's heart still looks good and growth has been consistent) I don't think I'll have another u/s until the anatomy scan (20 weeks) or the NT scan (12-16 weeks) if I so choose.

Why is your husband against ultrasounds? 

mrsjenni

My doc only does 1 u/s the entire pregnancy, but due to my previous loss, I did get an early one.

I had my betas taken between 4 and 5 weeks.  Once we knew they doubled, my doc told me to schedule an ultrasound after the 7 week mark.  My first u/s was 7w1d and my next one will be between 18-20 weeks for the anatomy scan.

Due to my large babies, I'll also have a growth u/s (or two) later in my pregnancy (around 33-35 weeks) so the number of ultrasounds I expect to get this pregnancy is somewhere around 3-4 total.

hopefulmom81

I had one at 6, 8, 10, 13 (NT scan), and 20 weeks.  My thought is those initial ones are SO short, that the sound waves are blasting on the baby for no longer than 10 minutes.

At 6 weeks it was to make sure there was a fetus and a heartbeat, at 8 weeks it was to make sure it was growing (both of my losses were first trimester) at 10 weeks it was a surprise U/S because OB couldn't find the heartbeat with just the doppler and the other two were the NT and AS.

For me, it was HUGELY relieving to see LO was doing what she needed to do.

I am not electing to get a 3D ultrasound, because the idea of a 45 minute-1 hour ultrasound makes me nervous, but for those early weeks, I am glad I had them.

tiffmatt

luvinlifeMN:

I had an u/s at 6 weeks to check for viability and date the pregnancy (even though I was sure when I ovulated) and baby was measuring about 5.5 weeks but had a strong heartbeat.  They scheduled me for another u/s for 8 weeks to make sure growth is on track and baby's heart is still going strong. If I 'pass' that u/s (meaning baby's heart still looks good and growth has been consistent) I don't think I'll have another u/s until the anatomy scan (20 weeks) or the NT scan (12-16 weeks) if I so choose.

Why is your husband against ultrasounds? 

There are some safety concerns about excessive ultrasounds.  We agreed we would try and keep the number of u/s down, no 3D images, no extra u/s if LO didn't want to cooperate when trying to determine genders and such.  It's becoming apparent that PgAL warrants more u/s.  DH is not against, just wants to understand the reasoning for them.  We believe in listening to a doctors recommendation but also making thoughtful choices when it comes to our LO.

Hearing from others that the early u/s are usually very brief is good info.  DH will appreciate hearing that.

Andreabks

my dr keeps them short.  long enough to see that everything's still there, and do a HB count (which she doesn't tell as she doesn't want numbers to make me more nervous).  I'd say no longer than 5 min or so each.  i've had one at 6, 8, 10, 11 (got sick), 12, 13 (n/t), and will probably have another this week at 14 as that is when we technically lost our first baby. 

Even our N/T scan wasn't more than 15 minutes i don't think.  The tech moved quickly to get what she needed and show us a few things.

we probably won't get the ellective u/s other people are getting if my provider actually does the 3d scans.  if not we may, but i have a hard time paying $100 just to see the baby in 3D, when i get perfectly fine pictures from my dr.

piedpiper07

I've had 2, one at 10 weeks and one at 21 weeks. I won't be getting anymore unless something comes up.

erbarmywife

With this pregnancy, I had one as soon as my levels were high enough to see a heartbeat.  I was 6wks 1d.  I had another 2 weeks later to check on baby, make sure there was still a heartbeat.  I had another at 20wks (did not do the 12 week scan) and then 31 weeks, because of my size.  I have one more today (for 36wks) to check position and growth, and fluid.

tiffanysbride

Um so I have had 4 and 2 more are scheduled, so I can't speak to less u/s. We did one at 6.5 wks, 10 wks, 12 wks and 13 due to a bleeding episode. Then I am getting them once a month by order of the MFM who wanted to monitor a specific issue. U/s use should be determined by your history and doctor. 

chusum

In first tri I had 5 u/s. Not sure what is normal after one loss. There is research in both directions but most will tell you it is fine. I had a friend on hospital bedrest from 19-24 weeks and she had an u/s administered to her every single day while in the hospital. They assured her the waves are minimal and do not hurt the baby (or in her case babies).

HBaylies

If it wasn't for the heavy bleeding episodes I was having in the beginning, my office would have done one to date the pregnancy at 8-10weeks, the optional 1st tri screen around week 12, the anatomy scan at week 18, and a growth scan at around week 34.  That's the standard for my office for anyone.  I ended up with 4 extra u/s in the beginning to try to figure out the bleeding issue, so I'll end up with about 8 all together.

OwlSLP

I have had 5.  One at 7 weeks to confirm, one at 11 when LO couldn't be found with the doppler, the NT scan at 12, the A/S at 20, and an emergency U/S at 30 weeks after some spotting (they ended up basically doing a growth scan and checking all pertinent structures).  We decided against an elective 3d/4d ultrasound since they are expensive.  To me though, the ones done in perinatal testing centers and doctors offices are pretty short and the benefits outweigh the minimal risks.  I'm not sure the research on the risks of multiple ultrasounds has not been very conclusive, so you might want to bring it up with your doctor.   

katmacwv

I've ended up with extra u/s for a variety of reasons (car accident, not being able to catch the heartbeat with the doppler at 11.5 weeks), but my first u/s was at 7.1 weeks.  With my second pregnancy, I had one at 5.2 weeks which gave me false hope because the sac was there just as it should have been.  It was at 8.2 weeks that we learned I had a blighted ovum, so I waited until I know LO should have a heartbeat before having an u/s this time around. 

RedRose84

I have had three already, and I'm only 6 1/2 weeks.  I plan on having ultrasounds every two weeks until I'm 12 weeks.  Not sure how many there will be after that.  I find getting the ultra sounds very comforting since I had a missed miscarriage and the baby was already gone for almost 4 weeks.  I really think it's whatever you're most comfortable with.

LoveOfMikesLife

I have an U/S at my apt every two weeks. Starting at 7weeeks. Once I get further along I will probably have one every week along with several growth scans. So all together I will have upward of 18!

lex382

I had my first at 8 weeks, my next will be at 12 (NT scan), and then 19 weeks for gender and all of that.  Not sure what we'll ask for after that point...