Has anyone declined additional growth scans?

[Herecomethesun121]

I've been offered extra scans as my previous babies were small. Just wondering if anyone else has declined them and how you felt about it and what your reasons were for declining? Or maybe someone has had them found them really useful? Or does anyone work in maternity services? Do you find these scans useful? Or do they tend to lead to unnecessary inductions etc?

Reasons I might decline is:

1. don't want a fuss about having a small baby- I make small babies. They are within normal range but at lower end. They've all continued to growth along the percentile they were born on. I don't see any evidence of placenta issues that the doctors are suggesting they are just naturally small.
   
   
2. accuracy of the scans - I know there's a 10-20% accuracy range on the estimate when they estimate baby's weight like this. I'm not happy to induce early on the basis of a scan with this level of accuracy. With small babies I think it's even more important to let them stay in as long as they need to
   
   
3. safety of scan & the general anxiety It's causing - ive seen some research that suggests having lots of scans is linked to a higher rate issues such as dyslexia later in life and these scans are already making me feel anxious so I'm wondering if it's worth it if im sure there was no placenta issue in first place.
   
   Any thoughts?

[Caper86]

I felt the same as you, after speaking with my consultant we came to a compromise and I agreed to 2 extra rather than the additional 4. I had read the same studies and also just felt like the hospital were getting too involved when there was really no reason (which incidentally did lead to an induction, which led to an emergency csec) In some countries they don't scan at all because the long term effects aren't known - this got to me a bit. Go with your gut, and maybe book in some of the extras but not all to keep your mind at ease?

[MrsHulk]

Do you have any links for those studies? We had extra scans with our first (gestational diabetes) and likely to be asked to have extra scans this time, so would like to look into this.

[Herecomethesun121]

caper this is exactly how I feel about them. It's hard to turn them down tho as I have all these 'what if' scenarios going through my head!

MrsHulk cant find the exact article I read but these articles also advise caution. The one I read made the point that altho scans have been performed for many years and deemed safe the majority only have 2 scans so there's very little research on the effect of having these additional scans and it talked about a study that did find a potential link with some neurological issues later in life. They are mild issues like dyslexia tho

www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/ultrasoundwagner.asp

www.nhs.uk/news/2010/02February/Pages/Warning-over-souvenir-baby-scans.aspx

www.drmomma.org/2010/05/who-says-ultrasound-is-safe.html?m=1

There's more of you google 'are ultrasounds safe?'

[PrincessOG16]

Why would you? They are trying to do the best for you and your baby. Let them.

[Caper86]

The FDA advise against excess scanning because the heat can damage tissues and long term effects aren't monitored. When I spoke to my Dr about it he said this was the case but it was protocol to do that many scans, so basically one size fits all. I guess most people don't question it and assume it's completely safe. It's always your choice though!

[Sharptic]

I haven't researched into the long term effects of ultrasound on the baby, but I have been looking into research into growth scans.

There's a good round up of some very recent research, partly funded by SANDS into the benefits of introducing routine growth scans for every pregnancy. I can send u a link but I don't know if u wanted to read this kind of research. It's a sensitive subject and I don't want to cause u any further worry.

One thing the research did point out was that the abdominal circumference of the baby (plotted onto a growth chart) may highlight a genetically small baby compared to a growth restricted one. The growth scans are highly accurate when it comes to the specific measurements taken, but not so accurate with estimating the babie's weight. Routine growth scans in the study nearly tripled the detection of growth restricted babies, so they do have a positive effect in that regard, but for parents who have genetically smaller babies, anxiety was increased, understandably.

Hope that helps

[Losingtheplod]

I had a look at the articles you have linked to, as I was concerned, having had several growth scans with my DS. There is nothing there that would stop me having extra scans if I had another child. The NHS article seems to advise against having extra scans privately, just to see the baby, or for reassurance, but there is nothing that seems to say there is a risk from scans done for medical reasons. Personally I would not want to take the risk of placental failure, no matter how remote.

[Herecomethesun121]

Sharptic could you post that link? I think it would be really helpful. I think it's important I really understand if I'm considering declining these scans

[Sharptic]

Here it is, there's also a link to the journal article on the webpage

www.uk-sands.org/research/current-projects/sands-funded-projects/study-scanning-third-trimester

[Sharptic]

Sorry, wrong link! Brain is mush after trying to do this assignment today (I'm writing about fetal growth scans!)

www.uk-sands.org/research/current-projects/sands-funded-projects/pregnancy-outcome-prediction-pop-study-0

[Sharptic]

And it is very sensitive, discussing stillbirth, just wanted tell u before u click on the links.

[Herecomethesun121]

Thanks for the link Sharptic and thanks for the warning about the sensitivity. I found it very useful. It does sound like they are useful and can differentiate between small babies and those that are in danger which is very reassuring.

[ChocolateForAll]

Scans cost money and hospitals don't do them without reason. The scan is to keep you and your baby safe and I would definitely have it. If something was wrong and the scan could've prevented a horrible outcome... doesn't bear thinking about.

[GlitteryFluff]

I'd have the scans.

However this will now stay in the back of my mind - DS has speech delay and possibly autism or dyspraxia. I had 5 scans. Normal at 12 weeks but they couldn't get a measurement so went back at 15 weeks, then 20 weeks. Then I paid to have a 3D scan at around 30 weeks but we couldn't see him so had to go back at around 33 weeks.
His issues probably aren't related to this but I'll always wonder..