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Natural Birth
Is it weird that I feel this way?
My OB told me she wanted me to have another ultrasound in three weeks. She literally said that it's not really necessary but since our baby was measuring a little big she thought she would order it. I would love to be able to see our DS again, but I feel like ultrasounds shouldnt happen unless medically necessary. I know they are considered "safe" but something inside of me doesn't like the idea of some machine shooting rays at my baby.
Have you ever felt this way or heard about ultrasounds being possibly dangerous or questionable? Plus they are kind of new. My mom never had any ultrasounds 20 years ago. Just seems like unnecessary intervention.
ETA: I've already had 2 ultrasounds. One at around 12 weeks and one at 20 weeks.
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Re: Is it weird that I feel this way?
I just read this yesterday, might help. #5 is the ultrasounds.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/what-to-reject-when-you-re-expecting/index.htm
It's true that ultrasounds are used more frequently than ever before and we don't really know if there are any side effects from cumulative exposure. That said, they've been in use long enough (decades, even) that we can take some comfort that they're generally safe for therapeutic purposes. And three ultrasounds isn't a large number; my DD had a heart condition that we monitored every six weeks -- I think I had about 10 ultrasounds when all was said and done. So it's really up to you about how you want to proceed but maybe ask you doctor to explain more about the "big baby" implications.
Ultrasounds are notorious for being off when it comes to measuring the baby's size later in a pregnancy. Many women are told they have large babies and are therefore induced, only to find out after the baby is born that the baby was a normal size. It can happen the other way around too - my sister in law was told that her twins were abnormally small and there was concern about their viability, causing a lot of stress on her and her husband. But then they were born at a perfectly healthy weight.
I would be most concerned about your OB wanting to induce you early based on an ultra sound's measurements.
In terms of safety, here's the most reliable information I found online about ultrasounds:
"Both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health agree that routine ultrasound testing during pregnancy has not been sufficiently evaluated to go unquestioned. There is strong disagreement on the effect of ultrasound waves on a fetus. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has declared that ?prenatal ultrasounds can?t be considered completely innocuous,? and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that casual use of ultrasound during pregnancy should be avoided."
You can of course google and find speculation about how ultrasounds can harm fetuses and can be linked to the increase in autism. But personally, I'm don't think those statements are backed up by facts based on solid research.
I asked a similar question last week. :-)
I chose to have the u/s because I am/was confident in my care providers' opinions and thought process.
My late term u/s was this morning and the concerns about baby's size and fluids were somewhere justified. Fluids measured in the high but normal range and baby measured at 81% for gestational age (at 85%, apparently they have to offer- NOT recommend- a C-sec).
My thoughts exactly!
I would wonder about this and ask questions as well. At my u/s I was told LO was measuring big so she gave an earlier EDD, but said my MW probably wouldn't change it from the one she has on file at this point. Another ultrasound at a later date wasn't suggested by the tech or my MW.
That was so interesting! Thanks for sharing. I would not have expected to see that in Consumer Reports.
I'm not sure about the safety, but I would definitely turn down a growth ultrasound, especially when you are this early along. Not only do babies grow at different rates and have spurts at different times, but the u/s's in general are pretty inaccurate when you consider that you/they use them to decide whether or not to induce early.
I'm glad my OB never suggested a growth u/s with DS even though I went 2 weeks late. It would have just added stress to me when I was already tired enough those last weeks.
I've had three, dating, a/s and follow up a/s to look at the heart and I am so done with them unless my midwife says it's really really important! I know that they're generally considered safe, but, I'm taking the less is more attitude. Plus, there have been studies recently suggesting that ultrasounds are incredibly loud for baby (https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1639-fetuses-can-hear-ultrasound-examinations.html) and I don't like the idea of exposing her to that!
I would say that baby measuring a little big is not a good enough reason personally.
Yeah, I heard of that too.
p.s. I love your LO's name. Kaia is one of my favorite names.
20 years ago was 1992...yes they existed then. I'm pretty sure they existed 30 years ago when my mom had me.
That aside, ditto PP's on asking if your MW wants to check for growth or something else. Measuring "a little big" means different things to different people. Since you seem really uncomfortable with it, unless she gives you a good medical reason for the ultrasound, you should probably just decline it.