Too many ultrasounds? Worried I'm harming the baby! Should I cancel them?

[July2015]

Ive had 9 scans so far (a reassurance one, 12+20 week scans, 1 to check for a medical condition, growth scans and three doppler scans).

After seeing my consultant, I am booked in for 3 more over the next two weeks (2 dopplers and 1 growth scan), meaning I'm going to have at least 12 before the pregnancy ends! I'm now starting to panic that I'm having too many. For some stupid, stupid reason, when I couldn't sleep last night I made the stupid mistake of googling if scans are safe, what happens if you have too many etc.

I am now in a right panic that I've caused/will cause my baby some harm, as the effects are really fully known, but there are some articles that link too many scans with autisim.

I just wondered what other peoples thoughts were, as I'm in a bit of a state and feeling rather anxious, and wondering if I should at least cancel the doppler scans, as I think I'm just having them for reassurance atm due to the baby being on the big size and reduced movements happen a lot.

[MissTwister]

I wouldn't worry too much. Have a chat with your consultant maybe but the hospital knows how many you have had and they're not worried so you shouldn't be. I've had seven - plenty of people have more

As for autism - there seems to be a theory for everything that causes it....

[goodnessgraciousgouda]

The websites linking scans to autism are probably by the same people that promote the ridiculous lie that vaccines do the same thing.

Unless you are lying there for literally hours for each scan, then you need to take a deep breath and calm down.

Over here in France we have quite a lot of scans. One every month with the gynecologist (in most cases), then a dating scan before then, emergency scans if you have bleeding/something is a bit off, scans to analyse bits of the baby if they think something might be a bit off or want to check something (heart, etc).

Miraculously the rate of autism here is no higher than other places.

[RockerMummy184]

First of all, STEP AWAY FROM GOOGLE! The reason ultrasound scans are used for unborn babies is that the risk is SO small. Google is not a medical professional, your consultant is. If they didn't think the benefits outweighed any risk they would not recommend it.
Secondly, if you were to refuse the scans due to what you have read on Google and something were then to happen to you or your baby, how would you feel?
I am pregnant with twins and have to have scans every 2/4 weeks. This means that by the time I give birth I could potentially have had 10 ultrasound scans, as well as them being listened to through a doppler several times. It has not even crossed my mind to be concerned about this, as I would rather know that my babies are ok than worry about 'what ifs'.
I also worry that there are far too many articles linking Autism with whatever medical procedure/treatment the author dislikes at the time (look at the MMR vaccination situation!)
Sorry if I've sounded harsh, but Dr Google seriously does have a lot to answer for!
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

[WinterOfOurDiscountTents15]

There are websites that will link autism to the colour of your hair and the phase of the fucking moon.
A lot of people are very stupid and or/completely bonkers. Why on earth would you pay any attention to these people instead of your very well trained health care professionals?
Don't you think if ultrasound scans caused anything at all someone (other than people in tinfoil hats) would have noticed over the last 3 decades or so?

[badg3r]

There is no scientific, peer-reviewed evidence that ultrasound scans in that (or any) quantity can damage unborn babies. You will both be absolutely fine. Google is not your friend in this case!

[happygojo]

I am heading for scan number 5 this week.

Autism isn't 'caused' by anything and if you have having scans then it is because they want to check on baby. I would rather have an autistic child than miss a scan that could potentially save their life (although I am sure you will be fine). It is the same with everything else that people say 'causes' autism. I would rather have an autistic child a million times over than have my child get sick or worse.

Stay away from google and give your baby a wave xxxx

[BoutrosBoutros]

I had loads of scans with DS, at least 9 I think. He's now 2 and is absolutely fine. They wouldn't recommend the scans etc if they didn't think they were needed, I don't think you should worry at all!

[villainousbroodmare]

Totally harmless. Stop annoying yourself!

[applecore0317]

I had eight internal scans, three growth scans, two regular and one private. There are so many things that have supposed links to autism, if we worried about them all we would be nervous wrecks.

[ginmakesitallok]

My friend is a midwife, and is due in November. She's been sneaking in loads of scans, which I'm sure she wouldn't do if they were going to cause any problems.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

There's a lot of autism in my family including my brother (we were both born before ultrasounds were routine) I'd rather have a child with autism than a child that dies from measles or comes to harm from not having had the recommended ultrasounds. Sorry if that sounds harsh I just personally don't regard autism as a fate worse than death.
I've yet to see a scientifically conducted study that proves any of this too.
There is a theory that autism is genetic at least in part. It could be that these babies are then given more scans for various reasons. For example, if you have no problems you get 2 scans, only those with potential issues get more (on the NHS) so the sample is already skewed.

[NickyEds]

Don't panic. Ultra sounds are perfectly fine. I've also had to have weekly scans with this pregnancy to check on my baby's growth. They are really necessary to check that she's growing at a reasonable rat, make an informed decision about induction, moniter the fluid around her.

Here's a graph linking organic food sales to autism. Google is 99% bollocks!
boingboing.net/2013/01/01/correlation-between-autism-dia.html

[NickyEds]

rat?? Rate. She's not a rat!

[BitterChocolate]

There are loads of crackpot theories about the causes of autism, but noticeably none with several solid clinical trials to back them up. Anecdotally, DS has ASD and his birth mum had no ante-natal care whatsoever, so definitely no scans.

[MistressMerryWeather]

I had lots of scans when I was pregnant with DS1, he has AS.

I also ate many, many tacos. Maybe they cause autism?

Seriously though, don't worry about it OP, trust your consultant.

Congratulations btw!

[Mulligrubs]

There is absolutely no scientific evidence linking scans to autism or any other health/medical conditions. By all means raise your concerns with your consultant but there is nothing to worry about

[batfish]

I hadn't even thought about it, I am 26 weeks and have had 6 so far, I see the doc every 4 weeks and I think that becomes more often towards the end. I live in the UAE and it's standard here and I don't know anyone whose babies have been harmed by the many scans so I'm sure all fine.

[Skiptonlass]

No, do not cancel them. You're having these scans for very good reasons to ensure the best possible care for you and your baby!

There is absolutely zero evidence that ultrasounds cause any damage AT ALL. I'm a scientist and I have had this argument before, which lead to me going into the primary literature for data (and having a massive ding dong with the anti vaccination idiot who was spouting all this rubbish at me...oh dear., I am a horrible person...) there's nothing, honestly. Have the scans and be reassured.

Autism is very probably 'caused' by an incredibly complex and subtle interplay between genetic factors and environmental influences. There's a strong genetic component but we just can't pinpoint it down to one or even several genes yet. One thing is for certain - it's not caused by any one 'thing' be that ultrasounds, stress in pregnancy etc.

The pps who say step away from google are correct - unless you're assessing the primary literature with a decent background in this stuff, you're likely to scare yourself shitless. There's just so much pseudoscientific crap out there.

Congratulations, by the way :)

[July2015]

Thank you very much for all your responses. I know I sound insane, I'm just struggling with anxiety a lot at the moment as it's been a high risk pregnancy with lots of scares, so I'm a bit of a wreck after the latest scare. I really do appreciate all the reassurance, thank you very much.

[Skiptonlass]

You don't sound insane at all - anxiety is a very normal response to a high risk pregnancy :)

[FirenzeRoma]

Your consultant knows what they are doing.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

I had loads of scans with DS (high risk) - ,well into double digits. DD had 2 scans and she's the one with ASD not him.

[newbian]

Even if ultrasounds caused autism - which they don't - in a high risk pregnancy it is more important to ensure the safety of your life and your baby's life. Cancelling scans because you are afraid of autism could lead to a potentially much worse outcome.

It seems that when people want to scaremonger in the internet they just write AUTISM next to some object or food or medicine. It's one of the most highly studied developmental disorders and has no clear environmental cause and yet everyone with a blog thinks that they have the answer.