Seeking Advise on Having an Ultrasound

It sounds like you're confusing ultrasound risk with amniocentesis risk. Ultrasound uses sound waves to transmit images. Think of it as echolocation like dolphins use, but for babies.

Studies for increased incidences of miscarriage are associated with amniocentesis, for you're actually compromising the protective layer around the baby. Very different.

Hi C.,
I understand what you are going through being a first time mom. I to am about to be a first time mom in the next few days, And I had my concerns about ultrasounds, until I had to have one about every week until I was about 16 weeks. I am so glad that I did only beacuse I got to see my little baby grow. And At 8 Weeks you will be able to see the heart beat and everything inside of you will be filled with joy, it is the most amazing experience that you will go through. I hope that this helps you. Best of luck

I am 9 months pregnant with my second child and have avoided ultrasounds with both pregnancies. I have not regretted that decision at all. Read these books if you are interested - they helped me a lot in making my decisions throughout pregnancy!!
The Thinking Woman's Guide to Better Birthing by Henci Goer
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
Birthing From Within by Pamela England

Congratulations, and keep questioning!!!

Ultrasounds in diagnostic settings (such as to view your baby) are set at lower limits. The ultrasound is a high frequency sound that passes through tissue at variable rates which then gives you back a picture per this variation. The amount of time that your baby will be exposed to ultrasounds is minimal and according to current medical studies, poses no harm.

If you are concerned about the ultrasound, make sure that your doctor is using current equipment and spends a short time viewing your baby.

The two month visit is usually short and is mainly used for confirming pregnancy, visualizing the heart beat, identifying the number of fetuses and to make sure everything is where it is supposed to be.

Wikipedia has great information for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasound

I was comfortable with the quick ultrasounds. When I had the ultrasound of my first pregnancy the doctor showed me that at 8 weeks we had lost the heart beat. I didn't miscarry and would not have known if I didn't have the ultrasound. I still didn't miscarry a week later. I went back for a second ultrasound to make sure there wasn't a heartbeat, and again there wasn't one. We had to do a D&C to remove the fetus. (I'm not trying to scare you, you will be fine!!!!) My second pregnancy we saw the heartbeat right away and I looked forward to each ultrasound visit as I got to take a peak at my little girl. :)

Ultimately do what makes you comfortable keeping the baby and your safety in mind. Congratulations!!!!

I had the same fear that you do. But the doctor reassured me that most ultrasounds are perfectly safe for mother and baby. If you are planning to go to do an ultra sound that they offer at picture places, you might want to check their credentials and equipment take that to your doctor and make sure it is a safe place.

Ultrasounds are perfectly safe. I had one during every prenatal checkup, which is standard in Germany. Because I had a previous miscarriage, the ultrasounds were very reassuring as I watched my son (now age 9) grow and develop in utero. If you don't want to find out the baby's gender, let the doctor (or technician) know before the ultrasound. I wanted my baby's gender to be a surprise, so the doctor skipped over the report on the development of his "private parts."

C., you are a wise lady to question all things. In my opinion, ultrasound has a very good place in pregnancy managment. Used correctly it can alert your birthing team to problems. Now, I know I am way beyond birthing age. But, I did not havr ultrasound available to me with my babies. We had someone's old, old grandmother who was always sure of what sex your baby would be. The rest was trial and error. My oldest son, born in 1966 (he has gray hair now!) had the cord wrapped around his neck...and of course no one had that info until he was almost out....my dr. wasn't sure he would survive. He did, but I was so frighted.....it would have been so different now. Appreciate modern science, but question, question, question...
Good luck and happy parenting!

Hi C.,
I had my baby when I was 39 so I had many ultrasounds (at least 7)with absolutely no problem. Since you are only 28, you will most likely only have a couple that are needed to check on the position of the baby, etc. I loved having them because it gave me the opportunity to see the baby.

YOu don't have anything to worry about! Good luck!

Do some research on ultrasounds, you'll find that they use sound waves and are no harm to the baby. I definitely get them, I'm pregnant with my second and 18 weeks. I'll be having my 3rd ultrasound on 12/23, to make sure everything is developing the correct way. There are a lot of things that can be seen on an ultrasound, problems that can be corrected or anticipated in the birth, giving your baby the best chance of survival. If I wouldn't have had an ultrasound with my first, we may never have known she was breech, that would have been catastrophic for me and the baby. Good luck deciding, but I think you should go for it, it's the coolest thing!

I read an article (I believe it was from a medical journal) a few years ago about possible dangers of ultrasound. It was the first time I had ever heard that there might be a question of the safety of ultrasound. At the time, I was about 35 weeks pregnant with my first baby and had already had a few ultrasounds, unfortunately.

It has been a few years since I read the article, but I will share with you what I can remember: The article was not stating definitive findings on the dangers, but more about the possibility of unknown dangers. The sound waves emitted during an ultrasound cause certain cells and tissues to expand during exposure to that sound. The problem is, we don't really know (yet) what that might do to a person. There appears to be no significant harm at this point, but again, it is an unknown.

Something that I also consider is that ultrasounds have not been around for all that long (maybe 40 years or so, I think?) so we don't really know about any long terms effects or consequences. Who knows, maybe 50 years from now we will find out that a prenatal ultrasound causes some terrible health problems that don't manifest until that baby is 60 or 70 years old. Just my own personal speculation (and I'm not a medical professional or anything). My personal view on medical procedures, interventions, etc. is "the fewer, the better."

I believe our bodies are designed to funcion best when allowed to work in their natural processes. Advances in medicine have opened up doors for lengthening and improving life when something goes drastically wrong, that our bodies are not able to manage naturally, but we have also turned many things into medical issues that, I think, may be better handled naturally. Pregnancy and childbirth is one of those areas where I think we have turned it into a medical procedure when, in 97% of all pregnancies, we are better off letting things go the natural course. For the other 3%, medical help is invaluable and can save lives and offer hope, but that is really a very small number of the cases.

Sorry if this is much more than you bargained for! I think I got on my soap box for a minute! If you are interested in the specific article that I mentioned here, let me know and I will see if I can dig it up somewhere.

Congratulations on your first baby!

I have had 3 babies and numerous ultrasounds and none have ever caused any harm to the baby. I have heard that if the xrays are to strong it can harm a fetus, but the technicians know what they are doing. The Ultrasounds aren't just to find out the sex of your baby, they need to measure the baby and make sure it is growing properly. The positives largely outweigh the possible negative. Good luck with your baby,have fun!

As some other ladies have already told you, ultrasounds are SOUND waves and are completely safe to a developing fetus. That being said, make sure that you only have ultrasounds done upon your doctor's advice and at your doctor's office or another doctor-prescribed location. Don't do the ones at the mall for vanity's sake. The danger there lies in the interpretation of the data. very important information is gathered by an ultrasound and it's vital to your baby's health that the findings are interpreted by a qualified and trained technician.
I had a high-risk pregnancy and therefore had monthly ultrasounds for much of my pregnancy. My son is perfectly normal and very healthy, and it was reassuring to me and my husband to have my doctor keep such close watch on his development in utero. Good luck!

I had two ultrasounds during my pregnancy. One was a vaginal, the other regular. I have a healthy, happy 7 month old girl. Whatever you choose, I had no problems with mine. One thing to keep in mind...At your 18-22 week ultrasound where they check to make sure everything looks right with the baby, in my opinion, is one you should get. Usually if they detect something wrong at this ultrasound, they can go in and fix things before the baby is ever born. Just a thought. Congrats on your pregnancy!

Hi C.,

Thank you for thinking about your baby's health. All too often these days we women tend to go along with whatever "normally" happens during pregnancy dr visits, without asking for the risks. In fact years ago women were routinely given certain drugs during pregnancy for nauseasa and they then found out it was causing many babies to be born without limbs. Any time something occurs to our bodies that would not normally happen, there may be side effects. The problem with ultrasound is that there has not been many studies done on it with the effect on an infant. (I say infant instead of fetus, since that is what I regard it as). Some research has shown that lab rats exposed to high doses of ultrasound have been shown to have brain cells rearrainged. This is probably so high of doses compared to the ultrasound they give you, but I don't know. A recent study did in fact show that babies inside the womb are bothered by the high frequency sound waves used. The babies are shown to move more, which the parents like to see, but it is caused by the high frequencies that we can not hear, but they can.
Ultrasound can be used sparingly to see if there is any complications, if you would like to know that. If there is something that needs to be monitored because of a medical condition, it would be considered safer to do the ultrasounds, than to not allow the dr's to monitor and possibly treat it if possible.
Throughout your pregnancy and birth, keep asking questions! You have the legal right to be completly informed, and most Dr's do not always give you all the information, so keep asking! I am a childbirth educator and I make sure all my clients know their rights and are empowered to take control of their own birth and pregnancy. It is your body and your baby and you have the right to decise what you want to have happen to it.
Good luck, and you can always write me with any questions you may have.

lets see i had 2 requiered by my dr (one on my first appt and then to determine the sex and to make sure the baby is growing right). then i did the 3d and 4d untlra sounds (i had to go back like 5 times because she wouldnt show her face). my daughter came out just fine :). if your worried talk to your dr and only do the ones that needed :) good luck!!

I don't know if ultrasounds cause problems but my son hated it when I would go to the Dr. When she tried to listen to his heart beat he would run the other way-even when he was 9mo along. I was 19 weeks along before we heard his heart because he simply wouldn't stand for it.(Yes, the microphone they use to hear the heart earlier uses ultrasound) After our first actual picture ultrasound he squirmed a lot for several hours, we had to have a second one to double check his heart and that was the worst! He didn't stop for 3 days straight. I felt bruised and beaten inside. The next month he went crazy again after she listened to his heart. She said I was imagining things and then another Dr. said she had heard of this happening but it was thought to be just "freaked out moms" not a real thing.
All I can tell you is that I stopped it right then and there. They had to use traditional stethoscopes from then on and guess what-no more episodes of crazy over active baby.
I probably wouldn't have thought about it except he reacted so badly.
Good Luck with everything.

I had quite a few when pregnant with my daughter, starting at 6 weeks because I did IVF and they do them that early. My RE said his own wife was so paranoid that she insisted on almost weekly ultrasounds. I'm almost 23 weeks pg with twins and have had 6 (I think?) and also a 2D u/s because I'm going to a perinatologist. Certainly doesn't seem to be any harm and it is very reassuring to me to see the babies at each appointment.

I havn't heard about the regular ultrasounds I did them with my children out of 7 children only two don't have ADD of some kind, and one had childhood cancer. I'm not sure why this happened, but it is very important to be careful about these decisions you make about your unborn baby. My daughter took DHA (fish oil) for her baby while she was pregnant and her baby is so calm and smart.

Good job for being so careful. I would NEVER do the 3D or 4D ultrasound I heard they are very bad for the baby. People will not know until there children are older and the damage it has done to there nervous systems. Good luck ! Marjore R

C.... I wouldn't worry about ultrasounds. I had some concern for repeated ultrasounds because I had to have several during my pregnancy. However, my doctor reassured me that they have been doing ultrasounds for 40 years... if there was a problem, it would be known. Again, I had several for both boys and they are both very healthy kiddos. I will tell you this, I have a friend who decided not to have an ultrasound (not even the one that they do at 5 months to make sure the baby is developing normal) anyway...she had a baby with several different health problems including a hole in her heart. Had she gone forward with the ultrasound, she would have found out and prepared herself better.
Good luck and congrats!!

Ultrasounds are soundwaves. The aren't radioactive. I am sure the infant will be bothered, but, what long term effects could occur? I'd think about it before you make a decision either way. Personally, I wanted to know about development. Especially w/ my 1st. And my 3rd was a high risk pregnancy. There were all kinds of problems, from anemia to 3 heart chambers. But, she was fine, and mental health was too. I would do what you feel comfortable with.

Doctors wouldn't do ultrasounds if they weren't safe. You need to have them to make sure that everything's alright with the baby.

http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_p...
Weighing the Risks: What You Should Know about Ultrasound
By Sarah Buckley
Issue 102, September/October 2000

Mothering Magazine published an article in 2000. Do a search online for mothering.com & ultrasound and the article will pop up.

After becoming aware of this issue and reading the information, I chose not to have a routine ultrasound for my second baby (born in 2004). I was 35.

I asked my SIL (whose son was born in 1990) if she had one. She said no, because it was not routine at the time. The only reason to have one is if the doctor really felt it was needed. But it seems that now parents expect it (and most want to know the sex,) so it's routine. That was very eye-opening to me. (3D Ultrasounds are all the rage now and heavily advertised and people assume it's safe. I would not do that if it were free.)

FDA Cautions Against Ultrasound 'Keepsake' Images
http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/2004/104_images.html

I also did not allow my midwife (I had a homebirth) to use the electronic doppler during exams. She was OK with that. She used a non-electronic one. I did allow the electronic doppler during the birth if she felt she wanted to. I think she did at one point. But my goal was to MINIMIZE any exposure to EMF (electromagnetic fields) that could potentially harm my baby.

Often women who have had multiple miscarriages want ultrasounds to give them peace of mind. The problem occurs if they are done "too early" say before 20 weeks. Often another miscarriage will happen. This is what I've read of from online accounts. Nobody knows what happened. I would argue the too early ultrasound did not help. It would be great if someone did a study to eliminate that possibility.

Both my children (8.5 yr old boy and 4.5 yr old girl) are healthy and smart, but my daughter (at this age) is smarter than her peers.

Read the article and make your own decision.

Hi C.,
From my own research I have learned that basic, 2D doctor-office ultrasounds are fine when your doctor feels you need one (generally one to two max during your entire pregnancy if you and baby are healthy). I would stay away from the boutique 3D or 4D shopping mall varieties; the American Pediatric Association says they should be avoided as there are no longterm studies which prove them safe for babies. In general, an ultrasound should only be given when a doctor specifically asks for one. I hope that helps and congratulations!!!

C.,
I also had concerns with the number of ultrasounds i had during my first pregnancy. I had heard that it was not good for a development of the baby but i did not have any real evidence. I work for people who are developmentally disabled and this kind of stuff freaked me on a daily basis. My husband and I agreed that we would have only 3 ultrasounds the entire pregnancy. We had the initial, one at 4 months, and then a 4D ultrasound (we limited the time for this one). The doctor's office tried to have us do more but we advocated not to have them. I recommend taking a Bradley Method class, here is where I learned the things that would greatly effect my baby. Good luck!

Hi Candace, I think altrasounds are failry safe, I had one with my daughter to determin how far a long I was, as she's 19 and fine. I did hear about 20 years ago that to many altrasounds during pregnancy can affect the baby's hearing, how ever I have never heard of a case. Most doctors do ultrasounds to determin how far a long you are, or if the suspect a problem, or is requestwed by the parents to find out what they are having. Ultrasounds how come along way, you and your baby will be fine. J. L.

Oh sweet C. have as many ultasounds as you want! When I was pregnant with my first I was the VP of an Imaging company with several offices in Belleve,WA and I looked at that baby with the ultrasound every week for nine mos! He is now a healthy and very mouthy ten year old. Go ahead and get a 3 D one at the mall!! ENJOY!

As with anything that is a test you have to weigh whether you really need it or not and what are you going to do if there is something else found because of the test. In regards to the test itself, there is the concern with any kind of electronic or radioactive materials 'scrambling' your cells.

With what I know now I would take Magnesium, Vitamin C twice a day on an empty stomach, Selenium, all antioxidants, to help with the free radical damage that could be caused.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!! More importantly on your decision to stay home with your baby.

While you are awaiting the birth of your baby, please read and research about what you are going to do in regards to vaccinations. You have plenty of time to do this and will be much more comfortable when the time comes as to what the best choice will be for your child. Here are some places to start:

The Vaccine Book, Dr. Robert Sears
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Childrens Vaccinations, Dr. Stephanie Cave
Evidence of Harm, David Kirby (investigative reporter)

www.909shot.org
www.tacanow.org go to Vaccines listed on the right
www.generationrescue.com

My first ultrasound was an amazing experience! I talked about my fears with my Doc and she immediately explained how it works with the levels and so forth.

I will never forget the first time I heard my son's heartbeat...and after that I looked forward to every single time.

Good Luck and Congrats!

There are plenty of moms who have home births who never have a single ultrasound. They are not necessary. Remember that when many of us were in utero, there was no such thing and we all made it out safe and sound! Often they find problems that aren't there. In my case they we're concerned about the size of the baby, the state of the placenta, etc. All needless worry that led to an unnecessary induction and c-section...and countless other problems. Listen to your gut and don't do it if it doesn't feel right to you!

Hi Candace-

I also have had several ultrasounds and my kid's are now healthy 9 & 12 year olds. I have had several miscarriages as well and found the ultrasounds to be reassuring and helpful. Because of my miscarriage history, the doctor's really explained what I was seeing and why things were inportant.

Good Luck and Congratulations!

Hi C.,
Congratulations on your news! I had ultrasounds every week with my daughter (high-risk pregnancy supposedly) and she's perfect! I have a friend with a perfect, healthy two year old and she got ultra sounds every other week.
So I think it's fine!
Best,
S.

I have never heard anything negative about an ultrasound but I have heard of it helping. I think you are fine to limit the number that you get but I would get at least the routine 20 week one to make sure there are no complications. I have a good friend who's placenta was in the wrong place and so she had to have a c-section. She was a high risk pregnancy anyway and the ultrasounds helped the doctors deliver her baby safe and sound and keep her healthy too. They can also help you avoid a c-section if your baby is positioned wrong- then the doctor knows to try to turn the baby. I feel that knowledge is power when it comes to giving birth and it helps you and the baby to stay safe and healthy. Ultimately it is your decision and you will do what's best for you and your family.

You need to have an ultrasound so that your dr. can make sure the baby is developing properly. They do not know if there are really any risks to ultrasound, but the possible risks do not outweigh the benefits. Dr.'s will only do about three during a pregnancy, but they are necessary. I've had three children and 3-4 ultrasounds with each and they are all wondeful, extremely intelligent children, so I would not worry if I were you. Congrats!

I am a biodynamic craniosacral therapist and have studied pre and post natal trauma and psychology and I would only have an ultra sound if were extremely necessary. The fetus is affected by everything, sounds,arguments, etc.If you really need it, have it. limit the amountof time. And if you don't need it, skip it. Best of luck

HI C.!!

I actually know someone with a child who has hearing/speach issues that the drs think are from multiple ultrasounds during pregnancy. The thing about it is that one or two ultrasounds over the course of your pregnancy is probably not going to have any consequence in you child. However, this person was a high risk pregnancy and the drs ultrasounded her repeatedly, at least 2 times a month, throughout her pregnancy. This kind of over exposure can lead to some problems. But, for most people, in most pregnancies, ultrasounds are fine. Usually you don't have them more than once per trimester, and as you can see from the responses here, most people don't have any harmful effects from them.

I, myself, had two with my daughter, and she has some hearing loss, but I have no clue whether that could be attributed to the ultrasounds she received... I'm not that concerned about it because her hearing loss is minimal and is interpretted by her teachers as selective hearing as opposed to a serious hearing problem.

When it comes down to it, you should always do what you feel comfortable with, especially in regards to raising your child. This applies to most anything you come in contact with, not just ultrasounds...

Huggles!!
~S.~

OB doc's do ultrasounds on themselves while pregnant ALL the time! My mom was concerned when I was getting frequent ultrasounds, so I researched it... the only possible concern I could find was if you do one that takes a very long time, then maybe the ultrasound wavelengths could warm things up inside, but I think it would have to be like an hour long or something and most ultrasounds are no more than 20 minutes.

In my 1st pregnancy, I had weekly ultrasounds my entire 1st trimester for "high-risk monitoring"--standard procedure w/fertility treatment; I had the 20 week one to look for proper growth measurements (and the sex); I also had 1-2x/weekly non-stress test ultrasounds 7.5-9months along to monitor my baby (b/c she was very small), and everything came out perfect! . The advantage is that you and the doctor can be more proactive if they see anything out of the ordinary. With my 2nd pregnancy (now 33 weeks), I've had 2 so far--the 20 week and one at 28 weeks also b/c the 1st time Dr. saw my placenta was too low for a vaginal birth, so we did another one and it had moved up (yay!) so now we know we can have a vaginal birth rather than planning on a c-section. As another mom mentioned, it can help prepare YOU & Doc. for whatever comes...

Hi C.! I personally have never heard any negative things about ultrasounds! Ultrasounds let you and your doctor see the development of your baby!If you are really greatly concerned you should discuss this with your doctor so he or she can put your mind at ease! Remember everyone is going to have something to say to you about your pregnancy! It seems everyone also is an expert! But the only ones you should listen to is your body and your doctor! You chose him or her for a reason! And you want to feel comfortable to trust and discuss all your concerns! You will be with him or her for 10 months! Good Luck and try not to stress out to much!It is the best! I have 3 beautiful children!

I konow it's hard being a first time parent people are giving you all sorts of advice, take my advice don't listen to most of it!!!! Listen to your DOC or you will make yourself crazy. Ultrasounds are SAFE! And are good tools to help make sure that your baby is developing and doing well. and it's a beautiful and powerful experience for you and your husband to view it. You probably will only need one. The ultrasound is something to look foward to and enjoy, not to stress out about. Good Luck.

In my opinion the Ultrasound disturbs the baby. They may be a great way to monitor growth, etc., but if you don't need them I wouldn't get them. I had only 3 during my pregnancy and only because I was having twins and needed to know where they were for procedures. They do not HURT the baby but they do disturb them.

C., i dont think if ultrsounds harmed the baby, that the doctors would do ultrasounds on any women. i was in the hospital for 3 months with son and i had about 2 ultrasounds a week when i was first admitted, and now my son is a big && healthy 10 month old. dont worry, you'll be fine. also ultrasounds are neat because you can see your baby :].. i enjoyed them

Ultrasounds are not without risks, just like any procedure during pregnancy. However, the risk is really really small (or we wouldn't get them at all during pregnancy). In some cases, u/s are over-used. You are allowed to say no to anything your doc wants you to do. If you are having a healthy pregnancy, you don't really need one, but most moms want at least one during the pregnancy. Usually that's the one where you find out the sex! Unless you're like my husband and I...

I don't know where you're located, but if you're anywhere near a stand-alone birth center, I would recommend going to one. Care is so much better and more personal from midwives at birth centers, and they won't advise you to read things like the "What to Expect" books, which cause lots of anxiety and panic when it comes to pregnancy, birth and parenting. You can openly ask questions and have them answered completely.

There's a center in Redlands and another in Irvine, so if you're anywhere near those two, I'd recommend looking them up! I had Kaiser with my first child and did the U.S. traditional route of birth and care from doctors. This time around I decided to give it a more natural feel and not treat pregnancy and birth like sickness. I'm never going back to an OB unless I have serious risk factors!