would you pay out of pocket for an ultrasound?

cmn222 · January 2010

So I found a place that does ultrasounds for about 86 dollars. I wont be able to get an ultrasound with my OB until 20 weeks and I just cant wait that long. My H isnt sure about it, but I am very nervous about all of this since I have had a m/c before. So what would you do? Pay 86 dollars or just wait it out?

jdubyadee · January 2010

wait. ?If you go ahead with it, make sure they are licensed or ask your doctor what their credentials should be. ?Ultrasounds can be dangerous if done incorrectly!

Shandie_725 · January 2010

Is this a 3D/4D u/s place or a regular 2D?

If it's 3D/4D, ladies on 2nd and 3rd tri will tell you to wait until 26+ weeks as that's when the fat accumulates on LO and will give you the best quality pictures.

Your OB should listen for a HB at every appt which should help put you at ease.

LemonLime10 · January 2010

Your doctor won't prescribe you an early u/s to put your mind at ease? I would call and ask. It can be very nerve recking especially if you've had a previous loss and they should recognize that!

cmn222 · January 2010

My OB told me they would not check for a HB until 12 wks and again I really dont want to wait that long. It is 2D. Getting a 3/4D now would be kind of pointless. But I will ask my OB when I see him on the 11th about easing my mind. My insurance wont cover an early u/s unless it is medically necessary.

IrishBrideND · January 2010

No. I don't see the point unless there is a medical reason.

You will get to hear the hb around 10 weeks. That helped me relax a bit.

Socialite.Dani · January 2010

the price is what puts me on alert. It seems inexpensive for the procedure (unless they only do 2D, maybe that's standard??).

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I'm sure you can find reasons for your doctor to have a need to check you out and make sure everything is going okay. Have you spotted at all? Lower back pain?

For me, light spotting (that I was completely confident was implantation bleeding) and back pain (a very regular issue of early pregnancy, but it was genuinely terrible enough for me to go to the doc) made my doc wanna be safe and check me out -- this led to me hearing my baby's very strong heartbeat and seeing him or her fluttering on the screen.

And the tech printed off some pics, too.... but those were unnecessary since my baby was little more than a speck. lol

cmn222 · January 2010

IrishBrideND:
No. I don't see the point unless there is a medical reason.

You will get to hear the hb around 10 weeks. That helped me relax a bit.

I wont get to hear the HB until about 12.

cmn222 · January 2010

mommy_dani:
the price is what puts me on alert. It seems inexpensive for the procedure (unless they only do 2D, maybe that's standard??).

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I'm sure you can find reasons for your doctor to have a need to check you out and make sure everything is going okay. Have you spotted at all? Lower back pain?

For me, light spotting (that I was completely confident was implantation bleeding) and back pain (a very regular issue of early pregnancy, but it was genuinely terrible enough for me to go to the doc) made my doc wanna be safe and check me out -- this led to me hearing my baby's very strong heartbeat and seeing him or her fluttering on the screen.

And the tech printed off some pics, too.... but those were unnecessary since my baby was little more than a speck. lol

No spotting and just some lower back pain but not a lot. I have been trying to think of something I could tell my OB so he would check me out but I dont want to lie to him. I also dont want to have a huge bill from my insurance because they didnt think it was medically necessary. Personally I do but hey it is my kid. TIA ladies. I think I am going to hold off until 20 weeks or just talk to my OB on the 11th.

mr&mrswelch · January 2010

If it's from a reputable place and the $ isn't a concern, I say do it.

Dobie_Mama · January 2010

I wouldn't.

LCB34 · January 2010

IrishBrideND:

No. I don't see the point unless there is a medical reason.

This.

LemonLime10 · January 2010

cmn222:
mommy_dani:
the price is what puts me on alert. It seems inexpensive for the procedure (unless they only do 2D, maybe that's standard??).
Personally, I wouldn't do it. I'm sure you can find reasons for your doctor to have a need to check you out and make sure everything is going okay. Have you spotted at all? Lower back pain?
For me, light spotting (that I was completely confident was implantation bleeding) and back pain (a very regular issue of early pregnancy, but it was genuinely terrible enough for me to go to the doc) made my doc wanna be safe and check me out -- this led to me hearing my baby's very strong heartbeat and seeing him or her fluttering on the screen.
And the tech printed off some pics, too.... but those were unnecessary since my baby was little more than a speck. lol
No spotting and just some lower back pain but not a lot. I have been trying to think of something I could tell my OB so he would check me out but I dont want to lie to him. I also dont want to have a huge bill from my insurance because they didnt think it was medically necessary. Personally I do but hey it is my kid. TIA ladies. I think I am going to hold off until 20 weeks or just talk to my OB on the 11th.

My OB will call it a 'dating' ultrasound if there is no problem or when I've been having a problem a 'viability' ultrasound. My insurance has paid for any I've gotten.

yodasmistress · January 2010

I dunno. Maybe. $86 is a lot to some and nothing to others. If you can afford the expense and it's "worth it" to YOU, then go for it.

nycteach · January 2010

I had 2 m/c prior to DD's birth and an early u/s at 6w + blood work which confirmed that I needed to be on progesterone supplements in the first trimester.

The u/s put my mind at ease and helped me to relax because like you, I was so nervous about having another m/c.

If anything, pregnancy taught me to trust my instincts so do what feels right to you and Good luck!

ColieJ · January 2010

cmn222:
So I found a place that does ultrasounds for about 86 dollars. I wont be able to get an ultrasound with my OB until 20 weeks and I just cant wait that long. My H isnt sure about it, but I am very nervous about all of this since I have had a m/c before. So what would you do? Pay 86 dollars or just wait it out?

Well, I would give different advice if I hadn't noticed you are only 6 weeks.

At 6 weeks you have 0% chance of having an elective ultrasound done at one of those 2d/3d/4d places. If you called and they said yes please post that because it would shock and surprise me.

All that I researched required that you already have had a dating u/s and been checked for abnormalities.
I tried to get one last week (at 10 weeks 4 days) and the earliest they would do one was 15 weeks.
at 6 weeks I haven't heard that anyone got an external and those places do not do internal (vaginal) u/s (that I know of).

If you were further along AND met the medical requirements of the elective then I would say go for it. I am more than willing to pay for one to put my mind at ease and tried. Now that I can actually find the HB with my at-home doppler the intense need and fear is pretty much gone.

G/L and H&H 9 months

chewychigozie · January 2010

I would say no, I heard from my doctors nurse, that it would cost a little over 200.00 Dollars just for an ultra sound alone. And with the problems of the economy and lots of people with out insurnace, its a pickle to decide something like that. If you have the money go for it, if not, then don't.

ColieJ · January 2010

chewychigozie:

I would say no, I heard from my doctors nurse, that it would cost a little over 200.00 Dollars just for an ultra sound alone. And with the problems of the economy and lots of people with out insurnace, its a pickle to decide something like that. If you have the money go for it, if not, then don't.

Well, at the one elective place near me a 2D is $99, 3D $159 and if you pay $259 you can come in for two separate 3Ds. This includes a CD with pics, a few printed pics, etc...

Andys_Candy · January 2010

My first OB didn't do an u/s until the NT scan at 12 weeks and that was also about the time they would check for hb via doppler. That was unacceptable to me so I switched OBs to someone who would do an early u/s just to make sure there was a hb. If switching doctors isn't an option, I'd definitely pay for an u/s!

SarahBukisi · January 2010

if you are that nervous why not just ask your OB for a script for a u/s. then whenever and whereever you go for your u/s you can see if your insurance will cover it since it was 'prescribed' by the dr...

CMSullivan326 · January 2010

I went for a regular 2D Gender Determination sonogram at 16weeks with a private place. I paid $70 for it and I really enjoyed it. The girl really knew what she was doing and took the time to give me a VERY clear and unquestionable answer on the babies sex, which they don't always do at a regular OB. It's totally up to you, but like you, I couldn't wait to see what it was and I wasn't getting an u/s at my Doc until 20 weeks. Personally, I loved it and I'd tell anyone who wanted to do it, to go for it.

teelaman · January 2010

I'm surprised that I'm saying this, because I wouldn't ever pay out of pocket for an additional ultrasound other than the ones I get already.....but in your case, I'd say do it. Here's why: ya, so you're only 7 weeks-ish - who cares? As long as you're well aware that if you go and pay for one...you're not going to get to see anything other than a little....worm-person - and your only expectation is to find out that the baby is okay - and nothing else (and to me that's what it seems like you're trying to do, for peace of mind) - then do it. The stress of worrying about the baby for the next 5 weeks until they check for a heartbeat isn't going to be good for either of you - so if what you need is an $86 ultrasound to put your mind at ease and relieve that stress - then do it.

618mom22boys · January 2010

I wouldn't go at 6 weeks because you wont see much. And like you I still have not heard the heart beat and wont until my next appointment at 13 weeks. My doc also does not do the 1st u/s until 22-24 weeks.

With that being said we are going to a 2D/3D u/s place at 16 weeks for sex determination. That is the earliest I would go when having to pay out of pocket for an u/s.

ETA: Our u/s place has packages starting at $99 and up. We are doing the $99 one.

MamaNikita · January 2010

i would suggest finding a different OB, unless this is not your first child and you are really attached to him/her. the fact that you have miscarried before should count for something a little sooner than 20 weeks. when i miscarried, my OB told me to call the minute i found out i was pregnant again so they could monitor everything much more closely. i got an ultrasound at 6 weeks and 8 weeks. like someone else said, they did bloodwork right away this time and she put me on progesterone as a preventative measure.

VampyAuthor · February 2010

MarcnShaun:
Is this a 3D/4D u/s place or a regular 2D?

If it's 3D/4D, ladies on 2nd and 3rd tri will tell you to wait until 26+ weeks as that's when the fat accumulates on LO and will give you the best quality pictures.

Your OB should listen for a HB at every appt which should help put you at ease.

Very much this.

K.a.T.e · February 2010

No

DuckyBear · February 2010

My husband was going nuts at wanting to see the baby when I hit 30 weeks because the first was 12 weeks and the 2nd ultrasound was at 19. We went down and spent the money for the 4D ultrasound so he could see the baby again, and it made him feel a lot better. If money isn't super tight then you should do what you think you have to. I could have waited to see the baby until I delivered, but it was making him insane. You have to do whats best for you.

littleanomaly · February 2010

I'm surprised that your doctor won't do one, with your history of mc. I'm only 9 weeks and I've already had 2 us done and 3 appts because last time we lost the baby at 8 wks. I might find a different doctor if I were you. My ob said that this time he wouldn't be surprised if I wanted to come in every week to make sure everything was going as it should and that his office is very understanding of women who are really nervous the next time around. There was a huge change between the 6 wk and 8 wk scans, and it really put my mind at ease to know that its growing on schedule.

mjlx207 · February 2010

No, I would not. Yes, it would be great to see the baby, but if something were to go wrong, I would much rather it be in the dr's office.

Also, I won't hear the heartbeat until 12 weeks either. That is normal. At your next appointment, talk to your doctor. I am sure that they will work with you to ease your fears.

KatB77 · February 2010

I would switch doctors. I know that it is normal to wait but in your circumstances I would def look around at other options. You want a OB who is going to be a lil more sensitive to your mc history.

Angelcake · February 2010

My Dr. did the same thing.. And I WASN"T HAVING IT!! LOL I had waited too long to find out what we were having so I paid for a private ultrasound. And.... still wasn't able to find out until our 20 week appt. He wasn't turned in a way that we could see his boy parts. LOL Soo... was it a waste of money? It was but... we have dvd of the ultrasound. It was worth $100 for that. If we wouldn't have gotten that, it totally wouldn't have been worth the money.

caressa87 · February 2010

do it, my drs office charges 600 dollars!!

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