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Natural Birth
kswestern
member
Need advice on how to refuse ultrasounds
kswestern
member
Hey Bumpies,
I'm newly pregnant (6w2d) with my first baby and have my first prenatal appointment in a week. I was raised by a mother who chose to go through natural birth with both her daughters and refused all ultrasounds and diagnostic tests. I plan to do the same, though since ultrasounds and diagnostics are "the norm" anymore, I'm wondering if anyone has advice on how to bring up the topic with my midwife. If I'm labeled high risk for some reason, I'll be open to ultrasounds, but otherwise I'm staunchly against having any.
Hoping it will be as simple as just telling my midwife I won't submit to these procedures, but I know that's probably not going to be the case! Has anyone gone through this, and what should I prepare myself for? I want the conversation to go as smoothly as possible.
Thanks!!
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Re: Need advice on how to refuse ultrasounds
I don't think it will be a problem. For every diagnostic test that was available, from the quad screen to gestational diabetes to GBS to ultrasounds, my midwife explained to me the process and why they are recommended and why some people choose to opt out, and then asked me for my thoughts. Some testing I agreed to (ultrasound was one of them), some of them I declined, and there was never any issue about it.
Of course you can opt out of them. They can't force you to do anything.
To the OP, I'd discuss carefully your concerns about u/s and other testing and why you don't want them with your MW. Ask why she thinks you should have them and make an informed decision.
I'd use caution about just giving a straight up NO to everything and just make a decision about each diagnostic/screening tool as it comes up based on your current circumstances.
I'd talk to your MW, you can opt out of pretty much everything (you'll just have to put your foot down) though I would recommend the 20 w anatomy scan just to make sure that everything is goin gthe way that it should and so you can make sure everything is ok.
With both kids that's all I've had done in the way of U/S.
I'm sure you can opt out of anything but just do your research and way the cons and pros.
I was in a very high week pregnancy that couldn't have been diagnosed without an ultrasound. After my diagnosis I received bi weekly ultrasounds an I'm so thankful for them because my LO would have been in extreme danger and could have been still born. To me, I had zero cons of an ultrasound and a 100 reasons to have them done.
In the time I've spent talking to my mom and many other moms, and in reading a lot of conflicting information, I came to a personal opinion that ultrasounds are painfully overused and should only be done when medically necessary. If it seems like there's a problem, I'll gladly accept an u/s. However, with so much still unknown about the effects of the sound waves on a fetus, I'd prefer to stay away from anything unnecessary if I even think there's a 1% chance it could cause an adverse reaction in my baby. You can definitely refuse anything you want, and most midwives can garner whatever information they need without doing a single ultrasound.
Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with the term... What is a "high week pregnancy"? And what were they doing in addition to the ultrasounds to make sure your baby was safe?
Just so you know, the amnio and CVS are not routine tests, so I wouldn't even worry about that. This is my 3rd pregnancy and they've never even been offered. There's a 16w AFP profile that doesn't require an u/s, and picks up markers for Downs. Generally if there's a problem with that test they'll offer the more invasive ones but there's no "routine" reason for doing them.
I would seriously urge you to reconsider your view on ultrasounds. A good friend of mine had funneling of her cervix and was placed on bedrest for the duration of her pregnancy. She had absolutely no other symptoms, and she would have likely had a micropreemie without the ultrasound.
As someone who had a 26-week preemie that came way to close to dying after a picture-perfect pregnancy, I will say that not all pregnancy problems have symptoms that present themselves. Many women with incompetent cervix get that diagnosis at the anatomy scan. Once you get that diagnosis, there are things you can do to prevent delivering early. And that's just one example of something that can be discovered at an ultrasound. The preemie board if full of moms whose ultrasounds diagnosed reverse cord flow, growth restrictions, and all sorts of other problems. Those babies would likely be dead if it weren't for the ultrasounds. I don't say that lightly. It's the truth.
I think people sometimes get caught up in the hype of revealing the gender at the anatomy scan, but there is a lot more involved in that test than just getting to see the baby. You get all sorts of measurements of the heart, etc. If your baby has a problem, you can develop a plan to deal with it. For example, if your baby has a heart problem at the anatomy scan, you can have the right pediatric cardiologists in the delivery room who can assist the baby ASAP.
Do whatever you want, but I think you're being unnecessarily stubborn on this one. I'm a big believer of avoiding unnecessary interventions (I had a med-free birth myself), but I don't think an ultrasound is really something that should be avoided.
9 angels in heaven-3 in my arms and 1 in the NICU
Mono/di twin girls: Josephine born to heaven and Evangeline born Earthside at 25w
hi kswestern,
i am also not planning any ultrasounds. i didn't expect to catch any flack from my midwife and i didn't. i just told her that we will not be doing any ultrasounds that we will also not be using a doppler. her reaction made me feel like i was not the first one to request this. she was very supportive. like you, we are staying open to things changing if something unexpected comes up down the way however i do not see it as part of our plan.
it's a very personal choice and i'm surprised by the lack of support for your decision on a natural birth board. i'm all for people getting ultrasounds (or whatever prenatal care they feel is best for them) and i appreciate when folks can offer the same amount of tolerance and respect for opinions and decisions that vary from their own.
good luck to you, mama!
My cousin-in-law is a naturopath and declined all ultrasounds and had a homebirth with midwives.
Well, until she delivered one baby and they realized it was twins in there. Then she had an emergency hospital transfer that involved being carried down her stairs on a sheet, on all fours, by firefighters.
I realize this is a crazy "friend of a friend" story, but I really do know her, and every time people tell me they don't want u/s, I think of her. She's lucky everyone came through okay, and she's agreed to one u/s this current pregnancy.
Anyway, if you have a compatible caregiver you should be able to talk it through. I would encourage you to listen to her side of why some testing is beneficial, and have a conversation.
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High risk! I was on my phone earlier which hates me. I had just a routine sonogram that discovered part of my placenta was dead and causing my baby's growth to slow dramatically. I had to be sent to a specialist and received sonograms twice a week to ensure that the placenta was functioning enough for my baby and his growth did not stop completely, which is what would have caused a still birth.
I would urge you, as other posters have, to talk to your MW about u/s and listen to what she has to say. If she fully supports you, then great!
I like to avoid unnecessary testing and interventions in pregnancy, and am also wary of the overuse of u/s. However I did agree to the 20 week u/s with all 3 LOs. I really do believe the risk of 1 quick u/s is minor, and is far more preferrable to the risk of going into labor not knowing you have placenta previa, or something like that that may be hard to diagnose without it.
Good luck!
You should have no problem discussing this with your midwife. She probably would want you to get one, but you probably won't be the first to refuse. No test is mandatory. Some MW/OB's may not take someone as a patient that refuses certain things, but I think it's more common with OB's.
We found out at 20 weeks that our son has bilateral clubfeet which happens in 1/1000 healthy pregnancies. Although in the spectrum of fetal abnormalities this is the one to get because it's almost always treatable I needed to grieve, do a TON of research and make sure we had a pediatric orthopedic surgeon that specialized in the treatment of clubfeet lined up. Luckily we have a fantastic one in our area, but people travel from all over the US to see him and you should be seen within 3 weeks. If I hadn't known not only would the bonding had been different and probably more difficult, but we might not have been able to make arrangements for treatment as quickly as advised and the treatment could be a lot more difficult and possibly less successful. Just offering you an opinion from someone that expected a 100% normal and healthy pregnancy. Good luck with your pregnancy!
Keegan Patrick - Bilateral Clubfeet found at Anatomy Scan.
www.facebook.com/portraitave
Keegan Patrick - Bilateral Clubfeet found at Anatomy Scan.
www.facebook.com/portraitave
My MW doesn't do ultrasounds in office, but refers me off-site. She's only requested one at 20 weeks and that is to see the placement of the placenta. Other than that she gave me info on recommended times to have additional ultrasounds if I choose to, and suggested I research the possible effects. She's been delivering for 29 years and aside from the one at 20 weeks, doesn't find them neccessary for ongoing prenatal care. I am not determined to be high risk, and if there were any special circumstances her policy is to transfer my primary care to an OB.
Do you have your contract? Before hiring my MW I reviewed hers and all of the fees were broken down for me and I could clearly see which services were optional and which were required.
I'm sorry but that's simply not true. Most midwives only recommend the 20-week scan. None of the midwifes I interviewed for this pregnancy required me to confirm my pregnancy via ultrasound.
Eleanor Noelle - 18/05/12 Claire Elisabeth - 16/-5/10
52 Choices For Better Health
this is nonsense. you don't need an ultrasound to confirm a viable pregnancy. and i don't know a single MW who requires one before she will take you on. granted i don't know every MW, but this sounds very contrary to the midwifery model of care, so i think it's safe to say this is wholly untrue.
OP - you have the right to decline anything you want. you have the right to have an unassisted birth and no prenatal care (not insinuating that no u/s is the same, just saying that it's your body and you can do whatever you want with it).
i measured the risks to benefits for each standard procedure and test during my 2nd pregnancy (my first i went along with whatever my CNM recommended) and consulted with my CPM for her opinion, since i very much value and respect her, before making a decision about anything. ultimately, we decided we would only do the 20 week anatomy scan. unfortunately, other u/s became medically necessary (heart abnormality discovered at a routine prenatal visit, car accident close to term), but our plan was to limit to the a/s at 20 weeks.
This. I never had an u/s before 20 weeks with my first pregnancy.
People, it's her body and her choice. Some of us might not make the same decisions, but meh. As long as someone isn't abusing her kid, I try not to judge.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
Honestly, I really feel that you should rethink at least the 20 week u/s. Limiting the use of u/s is great and I am all for it, but like previously mentioned there could potentially be issues that would not show up in symptoms and without having the 20 week u/s you wouldn't know about it.
The one thing that I would be most worried about would be placenta previa or a heart condition with the baby. A friend of mine went to her 20 week u/s and it was determined that the baby had a very large hole in his heart. With this knowledge they were able to work up a game plan with dr's and surgeons for when he arrived. He had surgery with in days of being born.
Before you make a final decision at least talk to your midwife and ask her the pros and cons of 20 week u/s and then make a decision.
That is the argument that is made in the medical community for all testing that is done. I find it completely bogus. My mw's (a cpm and a cnm) don't recommend u/s at all. There is some research that suggests u/s waves (doppler waves even) can be painful to the fetus because of limited body fat. OP, there is no need for any u/s's in my opinion and that of my medical help.
My baby is two!!! Baby girl 9/17/09
My other baby is still a baby! Baby Boy 11-30-11
But isn't that the same reason people use to demand that all births should be in the hospital? Or why all women need heplocks/IV access in labor? Or why women shouldn't be allowed to eat during labor (Etc., etc...)
The risks I'm willing to take with my pregnancy and labor may not be the same risks you're willing to take. It's not my job to shame and scold a woman who isn't doing what I would do during my pregnancy.
I totally agree with carlinlp - part of the "natural" birth movement is having less interventions - which means for some women, no u/s.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
totally agreed.
also, not all women approach "natural birth" because they have a desire to "experience the natural process of birthing a child." for many, it is an educated decision, made after measuring the risks to benefits of routine active management of labor procedures and medicines. for many women, planning a "natural birth" is what they arrive at after eliminating the things they don't want their baby or body to be exposed to.
Simply not true. I was never offered an u/s to confirm my pregnancy and was told right from the beginning that I could decline them all if I wanted. I think your MW will be more supportive than you think - and I am also surprised for the lack of support for your decision on this board!
I had a natural birth because I really believe it is scientifically and objectively the safest and best way to birth my child.
I had a couple of ultrasounds because I really believe them to be safe and the information they gave me was beneficial. Thankfully, my baby and I were fine, but I would have wanted to know about potentially serious conditions in my baby (and no, not to abort him) and things like placenta previa in me (which is rather strongly potentially fatal to me).
I don't see how these two opinions are at all exclusive. I like science and facts. I like using medicine and tools to my advantage. I mean, I had antibiotics after my birth. OMG, intervention!
I do think a mom has a right to make an informed choice to decline u/s, but she should weigh the information against the risk. It shouldn't just be a "well, I won't abort" decision.
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Thank you, Lindsey. You just gave the exact approach my husband and I are taking to natural pregnancy and natural childbirth. It was definitely not a decision taken lightly - in fact until about a year ago, I had always assumed I'd "take the drugs!!" as they say.
Then I watched my best friend go through labor with so much intervention that I truly believe caused her to need a c-section, and I was horrified. I started reading and talking to people and made an informed, personal decision to avoid as much intervention as possible, not just in labor but in pregnancy, as well.
Thank all of you ladies who have responded to this thread. I appreciate those of you who haven't tried to judge my decisions. I will discuss the 20 week u/s with my midwife and keep an open mind. And to those who questioned where I would be doing L&D, my midwife and entire OB practice are on staff in a birthing center that is actually inside a local hospital. Best of both world, IMHO - I get to choose my birthing plan as I see fit, but in a hospital in case anything goes wrong.
My MW doesn't require an u/s, and I am not opting for one unless it is deemed absolutely medically necessary. Honestly, they have little effect on the outcome of a birth. My mother only had one u/s in all of her 6 pregnancies (solely to see what the gender was), and her OB never hassled her about it.
At our initial appointment, my MW gave me the information on all the other diagnostics that could be given, and I had the choice to opt out of anything I didn't deem necessary. She doesn't routinely do them unless the mother requests them. Just share your thoughts and concerns and she how she responds. I respect the advice my MW shares with me, but I also respect that she is open to listening and considers my thoughts and concerns as well.
FYI.... I am another woman who was diagnosed with incompetent cervix, via ultrasound, then went on bed rest for 4 months. Wanna know how incompetent cervix is diagnosed?....ultrasound or second trimester loss. I didn't have any history or symptoms that would alert my doctors. Your cervix dilates painlessly once the baby starts gaining weight. It is not hereditary. I just had a hunch to push for an early ultrasound. I have 3 friends who also have this rare issue... Between our combined 8 pregnancies, there has been 1 loss in the 5th month and 1set of micro preemie twins born. We ALL required at least 1 cerclage to carry our babies to viability.
Im not trying to cause drama, just putting info out there for a reason why you should consider getting the 20 week anatomy scan. I know it's rare for something unusual to happen, but it happened to me...sometimes medical intervention is needed to save your babies life or prevent/delay a premature birth.
Exactly this.
I would talk to your MW. My MW actually asked if I wanted my 20 week (already had my 13 week when I saw her). I told her yes but didn't want any results for downs, even if positive. The only reason I wanted an u/s was to make sure that the placenta is properly placed for a vaginal birth, since we're delivering at home, and that there won't be any foreseeable reason to need medical care at the time of delivery.
This is a personal decision, that only you can make, but I do think that the diagnostic tools are worth it. I'm very excited to have a home birth but I wanted to make sure I took every precaution to make sure baby is healthy before delivering away from a NICU. Also, my MW does insist on an u/s if I go to 41 weeks to check amniotic fluid levels, especially since we're having baby at home.
I agree with you, but what does it matter to you if a woman does choose because she knows she won't abort? Why is your reasoning more valid than hers?
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
Because I'm super awesome.
Seriously, I just hate when abortion gets dragged into every prenatal care discussion. It makes abortion the issue rather than all the other information that can be gained from the test. One of my friends is having twins and one has mild spina bifida that was caught on the u/s, enabling her to seek the best care and birth for her special needs child. That is what can come from information - not just the choice to abort or not.
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Gotcha. I was playing devil's advocate, and I see what you're saying now.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)