First Trimester Ultrasound?

indiygoya · December 2013

Hi! I'm a 34 year old first time pregnant mama (whoa!) and was wondering if you think an ultrasound is neccessary during first trimester? I have my first appt on Dec 19th & am hoping to have as few US as possible. Any advice? Thanks!

MalLanning · December 2013

They have to make sure baby has a heartbeat. You may be high-risk because of your age and never have been pregnant. They can find hemorrhaging and multiples and measure the baby to see if your on track. You def want an U/S in your first trimester.

My OB has me coming every two weeks until 31 weeks and after 31 weeks, he has me coming every week.

indiygoya · December 2013

Ah. Ok, that makes sense then. I didn't realize that an U/S can do all that. I figured it would only be able to "see" something once the baby is bigger. I'm a little weirded out about being considered "high risk" due to my age. (pout) My mom had me when she was 42 and my sis had her daughter at 40. I like to think that my family is fertile beyond the "normal" age limits. Ha.

hchollister · December 2013

I was almost 34 when I had first daughter and only had one u/s at around 19/20 weeks. Though it would have put nerves to rest to see a heart beat really early, it really was fine to wait a while to hear it via doppler. This time I'll be near 36 and just went through a miscarriage, so the situation might be different, but I definitely wantg as few as possible as well. That Yale research article made me question it.
https://www.naturalchild.org/research/yale_ultrasound.html

ashtonblair123 · December 2013

I just want to say they don't have to see if the baby has a heartbeat on the ultrasound. A lot of times they make you wait until the anatomy scan for an U/S. They MIGHT count your age as advanced maternal age but since you aren't 35 thy might not and it would just depend on your office whether or not they will give multiple ultrasounds. After two losses, I still get the same amount of ultrasounds as everyone else at my OB office, I just got scheduled a little bit sooner. They will do an ultrasound if they feel like something is wrong, however.

cookieinva · December 2013

Just wanted to add that I was 34 with my first, no history of loss or anything, and was not treated any differently because of age. I think 34 is a little young for that, especially if there is no history. So I would not assume you will be getting anything more because of age. Make your wishes known to your ob and they should be able to help you avoid anything you don't want that isn't necessary.

1982Babies · December 2013

If you don't want to do it, don't. I have a friend who just had her third at 36 and she's never had an ultrasound with any of her four pregnancies.

nursecramer · December 2013

My OB said it wasn't necessary but offered it if I wanted one. I declined. I'll probably have only one for an anatomy scan 18 weeks.

flajewel · December 2013

My doctor calls advanced (at risk age 38) so you wouldn't be considered at risk at his office, think every doctor is different. I would want an u/s once during the first trimester and then not again until anatomy scan. They don't harm the baby, but I don't see the need for one every visit like some moms today do. Also, can't they just use a Doppler to hear the heartbeat ?

cyndelgrace · December 2013

MalLanning said:

They have to make sure baby has a heartbeat. You may be high-risk because of your age and never have been pregnant. They can find hemorrhaging and multiples and measure the baby to see if your on track. You def want an U/S in your first trimester. My OB has me coming every two weeks until 31 weeks and after 31 weeks, he has me coming every week.

There are other ways to get a heartbeat. Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool and not everyone "definitely wants an U/S" at anytime. If your doctor has a compelling reason to use this tool, that's something to discuss with them.

indiygoya · December 2013

Thanks for all the additional responses! We are trying to save money for our "bundle o' joy" and I've heard that U/S are very expensive/not covered under my health insurance. If there is a way to hear the heartbeat without an U/S I am fine with that. I have been robbed by doctors in the past with extra tests I didn't need, so I hate to admit it, but I worry that docs see dollar signs when they see I'm pregnant. Sad reality of the medical system we live in.

Lola825 · December 2013

MalLanning said:

They have to make sure baby has a heartbeat. You may be high-risk because of your age and never have been pregnant. They can find hemorrhaging and multiples and measure the baby to see if your on track. You def want an U/S in your first trimester. My OB has me coming every two weeks until 31 weeks and after 31 weeks, he has me coming every week.

I'm sorry but this is not very good advice. Unless you have a previous condition or a known condition, being seen every two weeks before you are 31 weeks is totally medically uncessary. A friend of mine was on bedrest her entire first pregnancy because her cervix was not thick enough to hold the baby in for the duration of her pregnancy. Now she is being monitored every two weeks with this pregnancy to make sure the cervix is ok, that is a good reason to be seen.

Also, they do not HAVE to make sure the baby has a heartbeat. Most offices will do the first u/s at the 18-20 week mark. It is wondeful if they offer to do the doppler, or if you can get an early u/s but it is not medically necessary.

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