Normal Ultrasound Timeline

In my experience you only get multiple ultrasounds if something is wrong. Generally the routine ultrasound is done at about 20 weeks. And generally you hear the heartbeat at about 10 week or so. With my normal pregnancies I've only gotten the one ultrasound at 20 weeks. With my two pregnancies that I've had bleeding problems, I got an ultrasound while I was bleeding to see if the baby was still living or if I was miscarrying (they were both fine and are now healthy happy children) and then the routine ultrasound at 20 weeks. :)

they always listened for my baby's heartbeat. Every visit. Even at 12 weeks. ultrasound is usually later.

Fairly recent (within the last two years) studies indicate that it's best for the baby to minimize ultrasounds - it has an effect on brain development - so docs may be using it a bit less. And that's probably good for you baby!

Unless there are complications or other pressing reasons, most doctors only performa an ultrasound at the beginning, at around 20-weeks and then toward the end to make sure the baby's head is down and turned the right way.

If you really want an ultrasound early, there are "baby's first photo" kind of places where you can get one and possibly find out the sex on your own.

L.,

You are early enough on in your pregnancy that if you've got other docs in your area switching around and looking for one that is doing u/s earlier would be a great idea. Discussing having an u/s because of your worries with your current doc is a great idea too. I've switched docs in the middle of a pregnancy before and it was worth the guilt I felt, which was only slight. He was a great doc, but he wasn't a great doc for me!! And I've got one now that listens to my concerns and seems invested in my health and pregnancies. Do what is best for you.

V.

My ultrasounds were always at 20 weeks- however, they listened to the heartbeat at every visit. I am surprised they haven't done that yet for you. Feeling great doesn't mean there is a problem, some women are just luckier than others! At 14 weeks you are now past the typical time for morning sickness anyway- the 2nd trimester is most commonly the most comfortable. Also, getting past 12 weeks is generally a good sign, as miscarriages tend to happen by the 12th week. -Not that there are guarentees, of course, but odds are much higher of a healthy, normal pregnancy at this point for you. I would definitely ask about listening to the hearbeat, though! Congratulations on the pregnancy!

I am also 14 weeks and my first visit to my new Dr they did one at 10 weeks to hear the heart beat and we got to see it move around. Im not sure where you are located but I am going to the new IMC hospital.
They are great there

Im 21 weeks pregnant and I would be finding a new doctor. I had my first vaginal ultrasound at 8 weeks. They have to do a vag since it is soo small it magnifies it like by 100 times then i go to the doctors every 4 weeks so at 12 and 16 weeks they do a doppler which verifies the heartbeat. You would think they would do that by now so you can get a baseline for the babys heartbeat. It should start out very fast and get slower as the baby gets older. Mine was 178 and 160 at my 2 appts. I will go back next week for my week 20 and they will now be able to hear the heartbeat with just a stethoscope which they will do then the following week, week 21 i will have my sex determining ultrasound. I would express your concerns to your doctor and tell him being your first baby youre very nervous and stressed and maybe he'll be a little more interactive with you.

I did not have an ultrasound until around 20 weeks. It was the only one I got also. I think some places just do it differently. Oh, I had my baby last January.
I think you should be hearing the heartbeat now. Do they do the thing on your tummy and listen? That is the heartbeat. You can hear it at 14 weeks. Perhaps they are just not communicating with you well.
I have 2 kids, the first I had some nausea and overall yuckyness. My second, I felt great, just tired. I never got sick and it was a real easy pregnancy. first was a girl, second a boy. I too wondered at times with my 2nd if all was well because I was so 'not feeling pregnant'. All was good though.
Also, with my first kid, my doctor was amazing. When it was my appointment, I felt it was my time. He sat down, did his doctor thing, than sat there. He asked me if I had questions and then waited to here them and actually answered them. My second doctor, was in and out. I didn't feel like I was important. I felt like he was just thinking about the next appointment, not me. Since it was my second and I had already been through it, I just stuck with him.
If it had been my first I would not have been happy. Remember, you can switch doctors. Make sure you are comfortable and happy with your dr. You will have a lond road with them and it is so important, you don't want this experience tainted by a dr that you don't love.
Good luck to you. Remember, all pregnancies are different. Also, trust your gut!

Normally ultrasounds aren't done until about 20 weeks, unless there is some concern. But he should have listened for the heartbeat. OBs have a sonogram (or something) that picks up sounds like that really easily and you can hear the heartbeat (a swooshing sound) and the doctor generally checks the rate.

If you don't like your doctor, feel like he's not paying attention to you or giving you the care you need, if he's not answering your questions or concerns, I would suggest shopping around for another doctor. You want to really be comfortable with the doc you will be seeing regularly for the next 6 months and who will be delivering your baby.

I will not repeat the same advice about the ultrasound or the heartbeat. But as for looking for some reassurance from your doctor, i will say, check and see if there is a nurse-midwife on staff at your hospital. midwives are so much more reassuring than OB's. especially if she is a mother. what do men know about pregnancy? most OB's are men, not assuming that yours is.
if you do go with a nures-midwife, the Ob still has to do the ultrasound.
good luck.

I wouldn't stress about not having an ultrasound until week 20. But you should be able to hear the heartbeat with a doppler. I see midwives and they always have let me hear the heartbeat by 14 weeks or right around there. Ask your doctor to do it for sure by the next visit.

I found if you complain about any pain and/or spotting they usually do an ultrasound. As long as everything is going normal with no complaints usually you only need one ultrasound. Sometimes insurance companies need a reason like one of these to cover an ultrasound. Just tell your doctor you are concerned from your lack of symptoms and just want to do an ultrasound to make sure all is well. Maybe this would be reason enough to do one. Ususally they do one within the first trimester to check for a heartbeat, so I am very surprised you have not had one. I had one for both my pregnancies to check for heartbeat, but I had some complications with both. If everything is going well they will maybe just wait until 20 weeks.

I had one ultrasound when I first went to my OB/GYN to try to determine how far along I was. Then for the neural tube defects. At my 15 week appt (supposed to be 16, but I am off a week) we did the heartbeat, and will do another ultrasound at 20 weeks. The first may have been because I didn't have a due date, and if you don't do the testing, I can see that you may not have had one yet. At your next appointment, ask to hear the heartbeat if it isn't part of the appt. You need to be encouraged and able to talk to your doctor. If you don't feel supported, find another one. You aren't stuck with who you have.

Early in pregnancy, the doc usually listens to the heart witha doppler (sometimes as early as 6 weeks). Ultrasounds are usually delayed until 20 weeks (or later). The sex of the baby cannot be checked until then, many insurances will only pay for 1, there are subtle risks with ultrasounds, so multiple is not the best idea--unless it's high risk. Your doc sounds right on track to me.
A.
www.breastandbottlefeeding.com

Congrats on the pregnancy! Have you thought about using a midwife? If you would like more time with a health professional and more ultrasounds you should look into using one. I just had my fourth baby 12 days ago and i had him at home with a midwife. It was by far my best experience with pregnancy and delivery. Midwives usually schedule an hour visit every three weeks and several of them have their own ultrasound machines that you can use every visit or not at all. Its a huge difference between doctors who try to get you in and out with very little care and a midwife who wants to build a relationship with you. Good luck with everything.

First of all, you just tell your doc that you want an ultrasound. Also, he/she should check the heartbeat EVERY TIME you are there. If you are not getting this from your doc, then you should find a new one. Your first pregnancy needs to be a great experience not torture.

All that being said, I was not sick with my first one, nor did I have many symptoms. I wouldn't worry about it, everyone has a different experience and you may be the lucky one that gets to cruise through it. Remember, the baby can feel you and your emotions, so try not to stress, try to enjoy and relax. It's a great ride!!!!

Good luck and congrats on your first one!

I think it is still pretty typical to get your first ultrasound at 18-20 weeks unless it is a high-risk pregnancy. However, around 12 weeks, my doctor would listen for a heartbeat with a sound device (no visual) he had in the office. He said they don't always hear the hearbeat that early with that device, but I always did. He would do that at every subsequent visit.

Everything is probably okay. If you start bleeding and cramping, then you should be concerned. If not, count yourself lucky for not being sick! But I would ask to hear the heartbeat. It is always reassuring! As far as ultrasounds are concerned, there has been a wave of popularity to have one every time you visit the doctor.I don't agree with this. Ultra sounds send high frequency waves into your uterus. Not so great for the baby to be doing this all the time. So one at about 20 weeks is just fine, unless you need one further along for medical reasons. If the don't find the heartbeat, then an ultrasound is needed for medical reasons. If you are going overdue, they may do an ultrasound for medical reasons to check fluid level and baby, etc.

unless there is something wrong like cramping or bleeding people usually get just one ultrasound between 20 and 22 weeks. I had no morning sickness or nausea with my first either and had the best pregnancy ever! However now with my second I had the morning sickness, fatigue, and had to had two ultrasounds. One to see when I got pregnant and the other was the regular at 22 weeks. As long as they are finding the heart beat your are good. I also didn't feel movement til 17 weeks with my first so if you hadn't felt movement try not to worry about that. I know it is hard to feel like you are pregnant when you haven't felt anything and haven't seen anything, but trust me that is a good thing cause your bill will be cheaper too! Good luck!

I would not be concerned about not having an ultrasound. I'm pregnant with my 7th and for most of them have never had an ultrasound before 20 weeks. What does concern me is the fact that it sounds like the doc didn't even use the doppler to hear the baby's heartbeat. At 14 weeks, my doc/midwives were always listening for the baby's heartbeat. You should talk to the doc about your concern. Maybe their policy is different than other places. If you are not comfortable with the way things are done there, you should look for another OB. This person is going to help you through your pregnancy and deliver your child. If you're not happy, look for someone else. Also don't be afraid to ask questions. If you think or want something to be done you need to bring it up. Your doc is there to help you and guide you. Any question or concern needs to be brought up to him/her. Congradulations and good luck with your pregnancy.

C.

Wow! I can't believe most women didn't have their 1st ultrasound until they were 20 weeks! For all 3 of my children I had my 1st ultrasound at around 8 weeks. It was reassuring to see the start of all my children and the little heart beating. I was never sick throughout my pregnancies and never had bleeding or cramping. Being pregnant can be stressful as it is, I just can't believe that they're making you wait until 20 weeks. I would ask your doctor about it. I actually asked for another ultrasound at 30 weeks with my first because of something that happened to my sister during her pregnancy and they were more than willing to do it. We also started listening to the heartbeat at 12 weeks with all my children. You can see a lot on an ultrasound at 14 weeks. I actually found out the sex of 2 of my children around that time with an ultrasound. Good luck to you!

If I were you, I would call and ask. They should have heard the heartbeat. Maybe it was overlooked or forgotten. Let them know you want to hear the heartbeat rather than waiting until your next appointment. Which is usually in 4 weeks. If they don't get you back in, switch doctors. As far as an ultrasound, it usually takes place around 20 weeks, that's when they can see it's gender. My doctor didn't have an ultrasound machine in his office so it was always a seperate trip to an imaging center.

Normal ultrasounds don't usually happen until 20 weeks. If you have a healthy pregnancy with no indication of concern, there is a good chance your insurance company won't pay for one before then...or after the first one for that matter. If things are going well there is really no reason for an ultrasound. If you have a difficult pregnancy or have had a history of difficult pregnancies or there is some real reason for concern, then you could have one before 20 weeks and sometimes after to make sure things are going well.

Ultrasounds are fun for the parents, but what your dr has told you is totally normal. It means things are going well.

Every doctor and every office is different. With my first I didn't get an ultrasound until 20 weeks (which is the standard one). With my second (same office, different doctor) I got one at my first visit at 12 weeks -- but that is because I was measuring big and they wanted to rule out twins and confirm dates (early ultrasounds are better at helping determine due dates). I had friends at different drs offices that got an ultrasound every visit (and they were not high risk). Stop stressing out about it -- the stress hormones aren't good for the baby and just feel lucky that you don't feel so bad.
Congrats!

My first I had a doctor that only does one ultrasound, unfortunately and fortunately I had problems with my blood so I was getting ultrasounds once a month. Most doctors do 2-one in the beginning and one around 18-20 weeks. It is different with every doctor. My second daughter I was given two. Different doctor. But they usually did a quick check of the heartbeat every time.

As far as your not feeling sick-feel lucky. Everyone is different during pregnancy. I had a friend who had to take meds to keep her from vomiting constantly. You are pretty much past the point of morning sickness though.

If you have concerns-talk to your doctor. Ask to hear your baby's heart beat. If they are not willing to comply-find a new doctor!! I am very picky when it comes to ob's. I hated my first and LOVED my second. Good luck-I am sure everything will be fine.

I just had my 3rd boy 4 weeks ago...so it's pretty fresh in my memory! YOu don't get an ultrasound (usually only 1) til about 20 weeks... but he should listen to the heart beat every time... mine did from the start at 8 weeks...some wait til 12 weeks.?? Ask him to listen next time if he doesn't...if you don't love your DR., its okay to change,its early enough you could. And be glad you feel so good... i was a lucky one too, to not get too sick! good luck!

I wasn't supposed to have an ultrasound until the big 20 week one, but on my first appointment my doctor couldn't hear the heartbeat so I went back in the next day for an ultrasound. If your doctor doesn't take a heartbeat how does she know everything is okay? I would really consider finding a new doctor who takes a heartbeat at every appointment. The new doctor I am going to go to takes an ultrasound at every appointment. so they are all different, but I think a heartbeat at every appointment is a must.

I'm surprised you didn't have one already to date the pregnancy. I'm currently 20 weeks and had my first one at 6 weeks to confirm pregnancy and to date it. I've since had a few complications so I've had more then the average ultrasounds, but with my first - which was completely healthy and normal - I only had 2 ultrasounds - one at about 8 weeks to date the pregnancy and then the 20 week one. But at every visit with both my first and current pregnancy the doctor has used the doppler to check the heart rate. I'm not sure what your insurance coverage is and if that has an effect on what the doctor does but I think you should at least be hearing the heartbeat at each visit. If you can, it might be worth it to change doctors.

Congratulations!
For a 1 child pregnancy you have 1 ultrasound around 20 weeks, that's when you decide if you want to know what you are having or not. That is your only ultrasound unless you end up having complications. I am surprised that you haven't heard the heartbeat yet, and if you go in before the 20 week check-up I would just ask the doctor if you could hear the heartbeat. The doctor's don't mind. Usually for your appointments you will be measured to see if your belly is growing at the rate it should be. Some doctors may push a little on your tummy to see if they could feel the baby or not, and you always pee in a cup. Later around 28 weeks I believe, they have to do the glucose test where you drink a sugary drink and then take your blood. If you pass you keep going if you don't pass then you have to stay there for a half day and drink the glucose drink and they take your blood every so many hours. Towards the end of your pregnancy the doctor will still measure you and he/she will also check to see how effaced and how dilated you are, they should tell you. Some doctors will scrape the membranes to get the delivery process going sooner.....sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Hopefully this will ease your anxiety and enjoy your pregnancy.

I am a sonographer (ultrasound tech) and the typical ultrasounds that you get during pregnancy are around 6-8 weeks and then again at 20 weeks. The earlier of the two ultrasounds is typically done if you are unsure of your last menstrual period, as the pregnancy is best to date during the first 12 weeks. The latter of the two scans is done at 20 weeks and this is to check out all the fetal anatomy to make sure every part is present and measuring appropriate for growth. Unless you have complicating issues, these are the only scans you should expect to have. Now there is a little portable doppler machine where the doctor can listen to the baby's heart rate, but it doesnt show an image, just sound. This can be done any time after approximately 10 weeks. Good luck...

My OB does only one ultrasound if everyting is going perfect at 20-22 weeks. If things are not going perfect or they just need to check on the baby, you may have more (I had LOTS with my first son...at the beginning due to bleeding and at the end to check size and fluid level and to see if he was transverse). So it depends on your OB's policies and lots of times will try not to do too many because your insurance often does NOT pay for ultrasounds at all (I got lucky that mine did...)! Hope that helps!

I didn't get my 1st ultrasound until I was 20 weeks - and she didn't really try to listen for the heartbeat until around then either. Typically, unless there is a reason to do an early ultrasound, many doctors wont do it because insurance wont cover it. An you only get so many in a typical pregnancy; with most insurance companies its one unless medically required.

If you are upset, talk to your doctor about it and see what they can do for you. They can at least look for the heart beat using the Doppler, and let you know when they will schedule the ultrasound.

Good luck to you and your new little family!

At 14 weeks there isn't a really good reason to do an ultrasound, but your doctor definitely should have listened to the baby's heartbeat with a doppler. I don't think it would be unreasonable to call the receptionist, explain your concerns and ask for a short visit. I think the doc dropped the ball, so they should be happy to help you.

Most women (under 35) only have one ultrasound during a healthy pregnancy - 18-20 weeks. Some women have one at 8 weeks just to confirm a heartbeat, as at that point, the baby is too small to detect using the microphone thing (can't remember the technical term :)). I'm surprised your doctor didn't check the heartbeat, again, as that was routine at each of my checkups. But, really, don't worry. If you are under 35, healthy and of average weight, your clinic visits are going to be 5 minutes long and very anti-climatic.

My personal opinion is that ultrasounds have to do with your insurance. I talked with women who went to the same OB that I did. They got vaginal ultrasounds early on or multiple ultrasounds, and they were younger than me with no risk factors (I was 38). My first visit at about 6 wks - doc did nothing to confirm pregnancy. The following month he listened for a heartbeat, and continued to do that monthly. I had one ultrasound that should have been at 20 wks but came early due to a concern. It was too early to tell sex, and they never did another one. It seems to me that listening to heart beat is fairly standard by 14 wks. BTW, I felt great my whole pregnancy (except for fatigue). Had a beautiful baby!

At 14 weeks you should hear the heartbeat with doppler. I'm surprised they didn't at least try. Ultrasounds are around 20 weeks (18-22) unless there are other indicators. That is one fun thing about being high-risk -- lots of ultrasounds. Depending on your insurance, you can usually have as many appointments as you want, within reason, so you might call the office and tell them you had expected to hear the heartbeat and see what their procedure is on that. I don't remember exactly, but with my twin pregnancy, I had heard the heartbeats many times before my ultrasound at 17 weeks. Congratulations!

I had my first ultrasound at 8wks pregnant and I will have another one done in a few days for my 20 wk and then that's it. They didn't start listening the heart beat until my 16 wk ultrasound. All doctor's offices are different though.... like with my first child my first ultrasound was done at 14 wks. the second was at 8 wks and now on my third pregnancy it was at 8 wks again.

I only had ultrasounds at 20 weeks. I did however get to hear the baby's heart beat every visit after 10-12 weeks.

I'm 25 weeks pregnant now and had my first ultrasound at 8 weeks, during my first appointment with the midwife. I had my second when I went for routine testing at 12 weeks (a different perinatal office). Then I had the big/anatomy ultrasound at 20 weeks. Every doctor seems to be different, though.

I have a number of friends who are pregnant now and each has had ultrasounds at different times. One friend didn't have her first until 18 weeks! Like you, I felt pretty good all throughout my first trimester, so it was definitely reassuring to have those ultrasounds. Before you can feel the baby move, you just have to assume everything's all right in there.

I'm no expert, but if you're not having any cramping or bleeding, you're probably doing just fine. Definitely ask your doc what his/her policy for ultrasounds is, though, and express your desire for one. Good luck!

I just went to my Dr today and he doesn’t want to do my first ultrasound until I am about 18 to 20 weeks either. This is my second child. The first time around I had an ultrasound at my first visit so I was in shock when he said my first ultrasound wouldn’t be until way later in this pregnancy. He said that I was perfectly healthy and that there wasn't a need for one at this time. But of course if I had any complications before 18 to 20 weeks we would do one earlier. I am about six weeks and fives days today. Some other reasons why he said it wasn't necessary was that I had a great first pregnancy and I know the exact date of my LMP, my symptoms only include being really tired and some nausea. I am glad I not the only one who’s Dr wants to wait:)

Strange you have not had one yet to me. I work at an OB office and we do one the first visit (around 7 or 8 weeks) simply to confirm viablity (hear the heartbeat) and take a few pics of the little one for mom and dad. It looks like a little jelly bean but it makes everyone happy and puts minds at ease. You dont really need one till you are 20 weeks, that is called the Fetal Survey and it covers all the babys organs and bones... and you get to see them move around. They should be using the doppler to check for the heartbeat at least every visit though.... you should come see us :o) *wink*

Hi L.,

Don't stress out - you are different from all other women! You feel great, well that's great! Pregnancy is a wonderful time :)
Rule of thumb, when hearing what other women have to say about their pregnancies, prenatal care, birth, etc. - listen and remember, it is THEIR experience! Yours will be uniquely yours!
Having ultrasounds are not always necessary, babies heartbeats can be heard with a fetoscope. I did not have any ultrasounds with my daughter (now 13 months) - I did not feel it was necessary to unnecessarily expose her to ultrasound.
It is important you decide if something is right for you and your baby, not what everyone else is doing or what your doctor says is "routine" and "perfectly safe".
Have you considered a Midwife? You will receive much more personal care and appointments that last closer to an hour vs. 10 minutes...
All the best to you.

Warmly,
J.
Doula, Breastfeeding Counsellor & Student Midwife

ps. Here is some more info for your reading pleasure :)

http://www.greenhealthwatch.com/newsstories/newslatest/la...

I saw this interchange on Facebook today with some of my favourite teachers in the birth field. Carla Hartley is the owner of “Ancient Art Midwifery Institute” and L. Janel Martin produced the film “The Other Side of the Glass” about the experience of fathers at birth. Here’s what they had to say (along with others) about ultrasound, 3D ultrasound and Doppler heart monitors:

Carla Hartley There is evidence that the exposure of pregnant mice and nonhuman primates to ultrasound waves may affect the behavior of their exposed offspring. Additionally, studies have shown that the frequent exposure of the human fetus to ultrasound waves is associated with a decrease in newborn body weight, an increase in the frequency of left-handedness, and delayed speech.

L. Janel Martin

At the birth conference here in Columbia, MO in 2005 a high-risk OB speaking to the mostly natural birth supporters got frustrated with the barrage of comments and questions about safety of ultrasound. Finally, he just said, “Well, if I thought it was unsafe I would not have sonogrammed my own daughter 17 times.” There was a collective gasp and then… silence. No one said anything more … what’s to say? It illustrates something very important to remember … that I learned/observed in my ex’s indoctrination in OB residency… and that is that they really do believe it … so much so that they do it themselves or to their family.

Carla Hartley

Frightening….that is why I work so hard to try to remind midwives not to be co-opted by technology or go the way of the OBs….what happened to FIRST DO

NO HARM?

Kristina Kruzan

I have seen women get ultrasounds (myself included) and every single time without FAIL the baby moves away from it and the parents or tech note that the baby ‘doesn’t like it’ as if it’s adorable. I don’t know what to say; I don’t know the answer to situations like mine where a woman is high risk, on medications that could mean risk for the babe- etc. How to safely check on babe in that situation? Help me understand this and know what the options are.

Carla Hartley

Well, it depends on what you need to or want to do with the info and how much of a risk you are willing to expose the baby to for that info….I have always believed that the risk of ultrasound is 100%….some damage….some irritation to the baby…….have you tried standing near an oncoming subway train? so if I were to ever be in favor of an ultrasound it would have to be because I felt the info was absolutely necessary to the well being of the baby…..not the curiosity of anyone….not even the mother…..we all want and expect too much….too many guarantees….here is the thing….a baby can be perfectly healthy according to an ultrasound one day and then NOT the next day….I have said this to hundreds of women over the past 30 something years: one day’s assurance is not another day’s promise…..

I want women to read EVERYTHING about ultrasounds and dopplers…..and if they find compelling data that suggests even 1% risk for their baby….they say no….we will wait and see….not going to ADD to the possible compromise the baby might be in by shooting wound waves at the baby….I mean really can any of us honestly think that there is MORE a of a chance that ultrasound does NO harm than that it has the potential for GREAT harm…..I don’t think women intend to put their babies at risk….but they are going to follow your suggestions……be brave….stand up for the babies….speak up for the babies….just in case…..we once thought x-rays were safe, too….
Erin Rothe Kannon

In my case I opted for only 3 scans through my entire twin pregnancy though it could easily have been 10 - 15 scans! I went back and forth over each decision for each of those scans and in my case, the benefits outweighed the risks. A friend of mine is 8 weeks pregnant with twins and has already had FIVE scans! Why? to see if Baby B (not developing well) will do OK or not. Ugh. She’s losing Baby B. No wonder so many twins are low birth weight!

Debby Sapp

Some doctors gave thalidomide or x-rays to their family members, too, because they thought they were safe. Just thinking doesn’t make it so.

Lynn Reed

I REALLY don’t like it when they say they gave or did it to a family member! We have a lot of doctors here in Augusta who give their wives cesarean sections…so does that make it right? Oy.

I almost am at the point of no return with doctors and refuse anything they “think” is good in their opinion!

L. Janel Martin

I hear ya, Lynn … then Creator gives me the opportunity to see the miracle they can do with Baby Megan … AND still the family sees the typical, unnecessary stuff being done … and they can’t stop it. She was born at home … midwife didn’t make it in time. Third homeborn baby. I was at the previous birth .. got there four minutes before the midwife who came in, gloved up, and caught the baby. So, of course, people — friends and family– started trying to blame homebirth for Baby Megan’s heart condition. As with many women, people in her environment are almost happy to prove homebirth wrong. NO, she didn’t have medical “prenatal care” and didn’t have a sonogram that MIGHT have picked up the anomaly, but she would have done nothing differently. She minimized her contact with medical caregivers and relies upon midwives, as many women are learning to do to have true prenatal and health care, rather than medical care. She is very health conscious and had very good prenatal self care. Another rant of mine: It almost hurts physically when I hear about programs and government pushing more “prenatal” visits in the medical system. In three decades (my four pregnancies) prenatal visits with the doctor were worthless to me. I can take my own blood pressure any day, I can weigh myself (we were chastised for gaining over 20#). I AM the one who will eat correctly and is able to learn to deal with my stress … all of this is PRENATAL CARE … it is WHAT a WOMAN DOES and HOW she LIVES. Can we PLEEEEEASE give medical care visits a more accurate name!?!? And make a distinction? “Lacks access to prenatal care” makes me want to scream. Baby Megan’s mother is glad she didn’t know about the serious heart condition (abortion is not an option for her) and she didn’t add that worry and fret to her baby’s prenatal imprinting/formation. Very few outside of my field consider that — the impact of every moment of mother’s life to the development of the baby and of putting mother through unnecessary worry. The true impact of medical care in the prenatal period is totally ignored. The DNA of baby is just a blueprint. How the mother is in and perceives HER environment is the building tools, and baby will live with that forever. We have to start thinking, as a society, about the full impact of everything on the developing human being and to see the huge denial going on in the medical field — that they can do whatever they want anytime for any reason because it doesn’t impact the baby.

L. Janel Martin

Carla, well said. So, it’s illogical to have baby with higher risks (high risk pregnancy is the language that helps us do things without regard. I am on a mission to change the language to reflect a human being is involved. It’s a baby, not a pregnancy. Phrases like, mother gives birth not gets delivered.) ..so, it’s illogical to then sonogram that high risk baby thus putting it at higher risk? And, what can we say and do to convince women of this when most of the people who are sonogrammed seem to be unaffected? What is the impact??

Only my last/4th baby was sonogrammed once because she was highly likely down’s syndrome and I was refusing to do an amino, and the arguments were “so that you can make your decision.” I’d made my decision. Agreed to sonogram FOR THEM … they thought she was not as far along as we thought making the blood test unreliable. I KNOW when she was conceived and just let them change her “due date” to later weeks. It seems absurd to me to continue to repeatedly sonogram truly high risk babies making them more at risk. But Carla, WHAT is the risk? We don’t see the damage do we? Even when it is right before our eyes every day? As a society we don’t make the connections … the shifts in the disorders, dysfunctions, behavior issues .. to what we did to the human being prenatally and what we do to babies — the abuses done to babies in the first seconds, minute, and hour of life.

Two things come to me: the reaction, inner reaction of guilt or shame or denial, for women who have chosen sonograms … for whatever reason. We women know deep within us that we made this baby, and anything less than perfect becomes fodder for maternal guilt. And, second, how resilient we are as humans … that we actually survive and overcome and evolve because of it. A baby kitten whose mother doesn’t lick his umbilicus and him repeatedly, he will become a psycho cat …if his mother dies before he is weaned he will likely be a clingy, annoying cat who has weird behaviors like trying too hard to attach, nursing behaviors as an adult, or be weird in many other ways. They just get tolerated, abused, or put down, and have short lives. Humans have to FUNCTION in society and live long lives .. a horrid set of systems have been established and are now entrenched as businesses to deal with the impact to humans of disrupting birth. Psychology, psychiatry, every possible program to help children in multiple areas of life, and prisons are full of them. What are the consequences of excessive sonogramming, drugs, interventions etc? Low academic achievement in the US? High criminal behavior? ADHD? Autism? Behavioral issues that are now drugged? Who knows, BECAUSE the powers-that-be who FUND research, who benefit from the continued use of them, will not consider that what they do to a prenate and newborn matters. It is unbelievable to me. HOW IS THIS? How are women so brainwashed that they do not know this, do not, and actually fear trusting their own body? The one that conceived that baby. As a society we continue down the path of denial that what is done during the primal period is foundational.

A dude watching some of my clips and arguing about birth wrote “Once again you’re right and millions and millions of others are wrong. Spoken like a true fascist. According to your paranoid theories we should all be crazy since all of us have been brainwashed and mutilated the second we enter this world. Thank God it’s not true and 95% of us who are born in hospitals turn out to be just fine. Trust me this will be my last “rant” because I’m getting dumber by the minute.”

I responded, “I am not the only one saying it … uhm, take a look at the world around ya, dude. It’s a little crazy … and yes, no one looks at the violation of the baby in the first moments of life. yes, we are .. “just fine” aren’t we? Are you fine?” and “Why on earth would you be so resistant and angry about the presentation of the idea to use medical technology respectfully and only when needed? .. to see mother-child reconnection as vital? My premise, should you wish to try to understand, (from watching family at homebirth vs. family at hospital), is merely to treat the newborn baby with utmost regard, gentle touch, protecting baby’s experience that imprints the brain.”

Sorry, so long and so much …. so much to say. So much to do. LOVE YOUR WORK.

Carla Hartley

we need a documentary on this topic!!! thanks for your respected opinion on this….I always look forward to seeing what you have added.

L. Janel Martin

a documentary? Hmm…..