Potentially dumb question re: ultrasounds

funkymonkeyohyeahhh · May 2011

As I prepare to TTC again, I have started to really focus on finding a doctor/midwife (something about researching and fully convincing myself I will have a healthy pregnancy that I need to prepare for, helps me. Is that crazy? Ha.).

This might be a dumb question, but are there ultrasounds involved when you have a midwife that just does home visits/home births? I've gotten a good rec for a local midwife and am very interested, but it's really important to me to confirm that I am having a viable pregnancy early on. What about with using a birth center?

I would love to hear your experiences so I better know what to look for.

Sorry if this is dumb, just something I've been wondering TIA!

marriedtoeric · May 2011

First, I'm so sorry for your losses.

We use a birth center, and were using one throughout our first miscarriage. The first pregnancy, they didn't offer early ultrasound since we were charting and knew pretty exact dates. Once we lost the first baby and got pregnant again, they offered the early ultrasound, blood work, etc. right away, including an appointment with a midwife asap after we called to tell them I was pregnant again. I was impressed that they were very proactive the second time around, despite having a culture of low interventions whenever possible. Our birth center doesn't have ultrasound available on-site, so we do have to go to a local hospital anytime we need one.

Not sure about home birth midwives, though.

checkrdtop · May 2011

I can't speak for all experiences with MW's, but my MW based out of a birth center only does an u/s at 10 weeks and an anatomy scan at 20 weeks. I ended up going to my OB for a dating u/s and will transfer to my MW care at 10 weeks.

InfamousQBert · May 2011

the birthing center we're using does ultrasounds, but not until 12 weeks. i just went to my regular ObGyn (who did our IUIs) for the initial checkups. we're going again to him on tuesday and i have to figure out how to tell him that we're using the birthing center. not looking forward to that.

darmca · May 2011

My midwife did a dating ultrasound at 7 weeks because we didn't know when we conceived. The next ultrasound we had was the NT scan at 12 weeks.

MrsJuicy2B · May 2011

Our homebirth midwife writes referrals for ultrasounds. She said that she could do them in house, but her patient load isn't large enough to justify the cost of the equipment.

MustanGTbaby13 · May 2011

MrsJuicy2B:
Our homebirth midwife writes referrals for ultrasounds. She said that she could do them in house, but her patient load isn't large enough to justify the cost of the equipment.

Same excpet I am in Canada so she isn't just a HB or CNM MW

superned · May 2011

I'm sorry for your losses.

I also had an ectopic. Once you've had one, you're at a higher risk of having another. Because an ectopic pregnancy is life-threatening if left untreated, I would 100% want to be monitored with betas and u/s until a viable uterine pregnancy is confirmed. That can really be done by 7 weeks though, which is before a lot of providers would even see you for your first appointment.

I'd check with the midwife to see what she says, but definitely be sure you are monitored as soon as you get a positive home test.

GL with TTC. I hope you have a sticky baby soon.

LindseyJW · May 2011

i have had prenatal care with CNMs who do birth center and home births and with a CPM who does only homebirths. Both sets of MWs gave me a referral to a local clinic for ultrasounds.

flyer23 · May 2011

I switched to my homebirth midwife at 36 weeks, so obviously, viability ultrasounds were not a concern at that point Smile But I know she typically refers patients who want a 20w ultrasound out to an external place. I assume she'll do the same if I were to get pregnant again and want a viability u/s.

In general, her care is so incredibly personalized that I trust completely that she'll understand any fears/baggage that I bring into the pregnancy, and adjust her care accordingly. I talked to one woman who used her after a loss as well, and she had weekly appointments throughout the first trimester, because that was what she needed to feel comfortable/confident. And my midwife had no problem doing that.

I would talk to the midwife ahead of time, explain your situation, let her know exactly what you'll want testing-wise after you see that second pink line again, and see what she has to say.

laurasuzanne2006 · May 2011

I see a CPM and she doesn't do any u/s. However she has a backup doctor who does them. I only saw him and had a 20 week u/s. I would imagine all MWs would have a backup OB to see, I would hope. you could also see an OB and than switch to a mw for a homebirth after the pregnancy was a bit further along with less risks.

alliejoe · May 2011

(I mostly lurk on here, but I wanted to but in....)

This might not be a popular opinion, but I see nothing wrong with going to an OB who will do all the early scans, bw, etc. you need/want and then switching to a MW for the remainder of your pregnancy once everything is confirmed.

The birthing center I was going to before I moved didn't want to see me till 10-12 weeks even though I had just had a miscarriage 2 months previous. I really needed some assurance and I didn't want to wait till 10 weeks to find out it was all for naught.

I won't lie- I found a very technical savvy practice that I would never deliver with- but they had all the tech in office and were all about some testing.

backinpgh · May 2011

Most birth centers have a partnership of some kind with a nearby hospital for their testing needs, ultrasounds, emergencies and transfers, etc. The midwife will write a prescription for an ultrasound and you (or they) will schedule it with the hospitals ultrasound dept.

kathleen02 · May 2011

I went with a birth center and they usually only need to do one at around 20 weeks. Since I didn't know when I conceived I got a 9 week U/S. I also opted for the testing at 12 weeks and then I had the anatomy scan at 20. I then ended up getting another at 39 weeks because I was measuring small and they were concerned with my fluid levels. They worked with the hospital next door so I went to a different clinic for these and met with an u/s doctor who reviewed them each time.

funkymonkeyohyeahhh · May 2011

Thanks for all the replies everyone! I was apparently having a major brain fart and didn't even realize the possibility of seeing an OB in the beginning and then transferring once a viable pregnancy is confirmed. This is something I will probably pursue as I really liked the way my OB handled my ectopic pregnancy, but I've recently learned that he favors inductions and commonly does c-sections so I'm obviously having major hesitations about using him fully. Again, thank you all!

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