Frequent ultrasound - concerns

knottieb730562552cfaa7b · February 2018

I read all this research linking the heat produced by ultrasound (esp. Doppler) to development impact (such as autism) - and I think it is a much clearer connection than 'vaccines' given both the steady increase early ultrasound practice and the steady increase in rates of autism...

So, I was determined not to have any in the first trimester. But then:
A) I started bleeding at 5w0d, and continue spotting till now (8w0d) - scary

my obstetrician requested a dating ultrasound to be done before a formal referral is made. Because of the bleeding/spotting I gave in - did want to make sure it wasn't ectopic at least - though had no pains associated with it. Resulting due date was just 2 days off from what I calculated myself... did see heartbeat though and ensured it's implanted in the right spot!

But now I am concerned... Does it mean my obstetrician will be overusing ultrasounds throughout, if they didn't even accept a referral without it? (Official medical stance on ultrasound is only when medically necessary, with standard of 2 per pregnancy) Should I look into alternatives such as midwife/birthing centre already? The obstetrician had no knowledge of spotting when making that request.
Or should I wait to see what the doctor's approach will be going forward?..

kiwi2628 · February 2018

Correlation does not equal causation, and I would strongly caution the use of any 'research' done on the internet in 24 hours on your couch over the months, years, and decades of research that medical professionals and scientists have done as their entire careers. Ultrasounds have been shown over decades to be exceedingly safe during pregnancy, or for any other reason.

Using an ultrasound to confirm dating, non-ectopic status or causes of bleeding during early pregnancy are all legitimate reasons to do early/multiple ultrasounds and does not sound like your doctor is 'overusing' them.

If you are uncomfortable with your doctor, do not hesitate to switch, but coming onto a board of pregnant women with inflammatory/wrong information that could distress others for no reason is a bit alarmist. Also, I recommend changing your screenname so its easier for people to recognize/tag you.

olivemomma · February 2018

@kiwi2628 great response! I was getting ready to grab my popcorn at the mention of vaccines and autism in the same sentence first month in

offtoneverland · February 2018

*lurking while waiting for the Nov BMB to open up*

kiwi2628 said:

Correlation does not equal causation, and I would strongly caution the use of any 'research' done on the internet in 24 hours on your couch over the months, years, and decades of research that medical professionals and scientists have done as their entire careers. Ultrasounds have been shown over decades to be exceedingly safe during pregnancy, or for any other reason.

zwink1 · February 2018

What @kiwi2628 said. Correlation =/= causation. If you're concerned or uncomfortable, certainly feel free to switch OBs. For various reasons, I'll have 3 u/s before we hit 12 weeks, so one dating u/s isn't extreme. Also completely anecdotally, a close friend had an u/s at every prenatal visit with her first, and he was larger at birth than her 2nd son, who had significantly fewer u/s. Neither has autism...

Though a tiny bit dated, a 2004 randomized, controlled research trial conducted by the University of Western Australia followed 2,042 children through 8 years of age and found no long-term affect on speech, language, behavior, or neurological development caused by multiple ultrasounds as compared to those children who only had one.

cdepperschmidt · February 2018

Also here to add, that vaccine cause autism crap is just simply that, crap. The doctor who published that study lied and lost his license. People who believe that are literally perpetuating falsified studies.

You can find a “study” on the internet to support anything.

Finally, in the grand scheme of things, having a healthy, but autistic child is not the worst thing.

princessandthegator · February 2018

Echoing what all the other ladies have said. If you’re not comfortable with your OB, now is the time to change. That being said with DD I got pregnant right after a D&C, so had a dating US at 10 weeks (they thought it was 8), then another at 12, 16, 18, 20, 28, and 34. She’s fine. I realize anecdotal evidence doesn’t always help reassure people but where I live that isn’t even considered an excessive amount of US. That’s routine. Women who are high risk get many more.

kiwi2628 · February 2018

I would like to point this out, as I do think it's interesting. It's about if/how vaccines cause autism.

https://howdovaccinescauseautism.com

jengibre_zorro · February 2018

@kiwi2628 - that might be my new favorite site ever.

linssears4 · February 2018

I think this person posted questions feeling like this was a safe place to do so. No need to attack for her questions and concerns. Many will have different options and concerns. And we’ve all read something out there on the web that has scared us. Good info in your responses, thanks! Just think of of the replies are a little harsh. We are here to support each other only.

Gizmo1231 · February 2018

I think only you can decide if this makes your uncomfortable or not. Plenty of women have 10-30 ultrasounds a pregnancy due to high risks that make them deemed necessary and have healthy/happy babies.

Kate437 · February 2018

Edit.

kiwi2628 · February 2018

@linssears4 I didn't see anyone be mean or attack. I actually thought this thread was SUPER nice compared to how a lot of threads on TB go. Personally, I will always refute opinions and fear-mongering that parade as 'facts'.

zwink1 · February 2018

I see that I should have saved my gif for a few posts later and busted out my bingo card on this thread.

linssears4 · February 2018

I agree... we have enough to worry and stress about as it is. Bummer to know these threads can get out of hand.

olivemomma · February 2018

This is definitely the tamest BMB I have ever been a part of. And yes, the idea should be that we are all here to support one another (and I see no evidence that this thread didn’t do that), you also need to be aware what you are posting. when you are worried about a completely safe and routine part of most every pregnancy in the developed world it is going to be met with some eyerolls and possibly some snark. It may also cause complete unnecessary worry in other mothers who needed multiple early ultrasounds due to complications or rub those the wrong way that are anxiously awaiting and hoping for the same good news the poster received. Questions that just simply contradict decades of medical practice generally don’t go over well and I don’t see that changing.

krzyriver · February 2018

If you’re uncomfortable, switch. But your doctor is certainly not overusing ultrasounds. Every pregnancy, I have 4-5 scans in my first trimester. By the time DS was born, I had about 30. There are risks involving everything, but considering everything is digital nowadays, it’s minimal. Heck even with X-rays. I work at a dentist office, we have digital X-rays, and you’re exposured to more radiation using your cell phone than you are when we take a full set of X-rays. Your baby will be fine. Don’t stress over something you don’t need to.

zwink1 · February 2018

@Kate437, you might want to double check your video. I don't think it's the one you meant to post!

kiwi2628 · February 2018

Beautifully put @olivemomma . If someone is spouting weird/non-scientific/possibly dangerous opinions as facts, they need some snark in their lives.

twinpeaksmama · February 2018

If it makes you feel any better, I had over 12 ultrasounds with my first pregnancy due to being high risk, and my daughter is now a very healthy and intelligent 19 month old.
As everyone else has said correlation does not equal causation. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor about it as well. It may ease your mind to speak with a medical professional.

wildtot · February 2018

**lurking from July**

with DS i has an ultrasound every week or two my entire pregnancy due to being high risk. He’s now a healthy 22 months. I also have a home Doppler that i probably used a few time before i could feel movement. I agree with the other ladies that if you don’t feel comfortable with your doctor don’t hesitate to change. I personally go with what my doctor suggests during my pregnancy because they are the experts and saved my DS. Best thing you can do is advocate for yourself and ask questions, and a second opinion if you feel you must.

sliztee · February 2018

jennybean80 · February 2018

My oldest was born at 27 weeks, I had 2 u/s during that pregnancy. My next was twins and I had u/s at 7, 12, 20, 22 (started seeing cervical shortening), 24, 26, 28, and 30 weeks when I was admitted for hospital bedrest as I was 3cm dilated. I delivered them at 33 weeks.
With this pregnancy I’ll have one at 7 weeks, then around 12, and then every 2 weeks until I deliver. Because I’m more worried about the effects of profound prematurity than having an otherwise healthy kid with autism. Also from a correlation standpoint, the rise in autism almost perfectly matches the rise in Organic food consumption. Correlation =/= causation.

stothi · February 2018

kiwi2628 said:

I would like to point this out, as I do think it's interesting. It's about if/how vaccines cause autism.

https://howdovaccinescauseautism.com

*Lurking from Sept*
Your posts on this thread are perfection.

christina4436 · February 2018

True that after reading OP knowing I had about 3,500 ultrasounds with my last high risk pregnancy and will likely have more this time Bc she was preemie started to worry me. The responses are making me feel better. Regardless I would get them bc I’d rather know everything is physically ok...

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