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2nd Trimester
how many, is too many, with sonograms?
I am wondering when does too many sonograms become excessive? I've been hearing that there may be a link beteween songorams and autism and am wondering if any of you have heard that. I'm so worried because I'm having twins and have already had 5 sonograms at 13 weeks. They want me every 3-4 weeks to check the cervix length and the baby's progress. I'm feeling torn beteween making sure they're progressing properly and what the consequences might be from having about 10-12 sonograms by the end of my pregnancy. How many have you all had so far? What suggestions do you have? Has anyone else heard anything like this before?
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Re: how many, is too many, with sonograms?
Someone asked about the link between autism and u/s's the other day and no one could find anything stating there was a link between them. That being said, doctors do warn against unnecessary just for fun ultrasounds because the effects have not been studied enough. The just for fun kind use a higher amount of energy for a longer period of time.
While I definitely don't agree that just because the Dr. wants to do it, it means it's safe (it seems like we're always finding out that something that was once thought safe is actually harmful), I do agree that the Dr. is weighing the risks against the benefits and is deciding that the benefits are much greater. There are a lot of known complications that can occur with twins and watching out for them will give your babies a better chance of being ok. This is way more important than the possibility that u/s's could possibly cause some slight issues.
I'd heard about the link, too. I did some research with friends living in other countries about how many are "normal". It went from every appointment to every 6 weeks or so.
The studies that say they might be damaging stink of US insurance companies to me. It would be interesting to see who funded the studies.
Just because a doctor does something DOES NOT mean it is safe or the right course. They are NOT god, despite what a few of them may think and keep in mind... Doctors used to prescribe Thalidomide to pregnant women to stop morning sickness.....
The problem with studies and such is that you need long term studies to be done to see the cause and effect properly. If you don't need the ultrasound, don't do the ultrasound.?
I agree wholly with HeyyRed. In my last pregnancy, although my Dr. was u/s happy- she offered them every other appt- for a complication-free pregnancy!!- I refused all but the 20 week one. I think I had another at 26 b/c of placenta previa. Now, with twins, I am in your shoes, particularly since I have a small bleed and I had a m/c in October with a bleed. As much as the sight of my babies is miraculous, I'd rather wait until they are here. I am so upset at having to have them, but they better safeguard the babies and could potentially catch small problems that, if missed, could be fatal.
Basically everything that isn't twigs and berries causes autism and other neurological problems. Since working with families affected by autism for 15 years I have adopted a much more natural life style b/c I think a lot of what we assume is safe is genetically altering our brains over time to have more pathological problems. In this case, the unproven (and hopefully mild) affects (cost) are worth the benefit- potentially saving my children... you know?
HeyyRedd said it right... if you don't need the U/S, it's not worth the "risk", even though at this time, there appears to be none. The truth is, there are no long-term studies on ultrasound's effects on a fetus... after all, U/S was only invented 50 years ago, and brought into common obstetric diagnostic use much later than that.
That said, I've had five U/S so far, and I will have about four more. This is because I am high risk - I have a U/S every four weeks to look at & measure my uterine fibroid, as well as measure DS's choroid plexus cysts - he has two.
I have heard of pregnant women who have had more than that, and for non-diagnostic reasons (e.g., went to the place in the mall a few times, or, one that was a sonographer herself and gave herself a U/S weekly). I don't think 10-12 ultrasounds over the length of the pregnancy is excessive - I wouldn't worry about that. Every 4 weeks seems to be the going recommendation for ultrasound monitoring in multiple/high-risk/placenta previa/etc/etc/etc situations.
I agree with Heyyred as well. In the past ob's have done a lot of things that have turned out to be harmful. They used to do xrays too of the fetus. There was thalidomide and there were others too.
Now I am not saying ultrasounds are harmful. I honestly don't know if there are any harmful effects of them. I'll only be getting 2 ultrasounds--the NT scan (which is today) and the 20 wk one. But if I had a high risk pregnancy or if there was some reason my midwife wanted me to get one every month, I'm sure that I would.
I've had five but honestly they were all necessary and I'll have another one in two weeks to bring the total to six.
I'm sure there is a risk but everything is risky and I can't think about that stuff every day. Oh well.
I'm only scheduled to have one this Friday. According to my doc, since it is a test, it does pose a risk. She told me that unless they have reason to believe that something is wrong, they will do the full anatomy scan, and then let things be until delivery.
There have been a couple of studies that say they pose a risk to the baby(ies) because they do raise the temperature of the amniotic fluid. Supposedly prolonged exposure can potentially hinder certain cells from growing. (All the studies I found were done in mice, but with the intensity that they use on humans). I didn't find anything that suggested autism, but some people claim that they can cause a lower birth rate in babies.
Who knows? They have been used for over 40 years now with a really good track record. I would say if you feel uncomfortable, ask your doc to hold back, ultimately you have the choice to deny any prenatal test that you aren't comfortable with.
GL!
I've had seven and I'll continue to have them weekly until I give birth. I'm considered high risk.
Where is the link to the study that links sonograms to autism? I've never heard of that before.
... and bottom line is, we don't KNOW what causes autism. So it's pretty irresponsible to think that all these things (like sonograms and vaccinations) are the CAUSE when correlation does not imply causation.
I had 20 with DD and she is really bright! I was high risk the entire time and in the hospital twice and had placenta previa so I had on u/s every 2 weeks throughout the pregnancy.
I used to wonder the same thing but it is fine.