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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

How many ultrasound during pregnancy???

63 replies

Amz26 · 06/03/2017 17:34

I'm 14weeks and have already had 3 scans.. I want to get one done again In 2 weeks time to find out the gender.. Will that be to much and how safe are they? There's very limited info online so it's hard to get the truth on this issue, thanks

OP posts:

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IMissGin · 06/03/2017 17:56

Why are you having so many scans? I don't think there's anything to suggest it's dangerous but seems excessive unless medically required- 2 is standard

katiegg · 06/03/2017 17:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 06/03/2017 17:59

Ultrasound scans don't use ionising radiation (which is the kind used in x-rays and CTs that is harmful in high doses). They are perfectly safe!

Amz26 · 06/03/2017 18:05

I had the early scan as I had a bleed at 6weeks and I wanted to make sure everything was ok.. I then had my NHS scan at 12weeks and then i hadcsome problems with my bloods so we just wanted to make sure the baby was ok yesterday.. I now wanna find out the gender so that's why I want another one in 2 weeks

OP posts:

Iamcheeseman · 06/03/2017 18:05

I think I ended up with 15. I had HG and kidney stones and was in and out of hospital and very ill.

Amz26 · 06/03/2017 18:06

Thanks ladies I just wasn't to sure!

I could do katiegg I'm just being inpatient!!

OP posts:

ScarletSienna · 06/03/2017 18:07

I had lots due to bleeding until 14 weeks and then an anterior placenta preventing me feeling movement. I think around 10 in total. Maybe a few more. Congratulations!

ScarlettFreestone · 06/03/2017 18:08

I had 10 I think (twin pregnancy). But they were medically indicated rather than by choice.

RueDeWakening · 06/03/2017 18:18

I had somewhere around 30 with DC2, who is a surviving triplet, including 6 in a single day...

The only side effect I was told about was that it makes the child slightly more likely to be left-handed (DC2 is right-handed but took a long time to decide and is fairly ambidextrous even now).

Hollyhop17 · 06/03/2017 18:18

I'm 20+5 and due to a variety of issues I have had 14. My baby is perfectly fine and this has been a mixture or belly and internal scans. My thoughts are they are perfectly safe!

SirNiallDementia · 06/03/2017 18:36

I lost count how many I had- lots of bleeding, short cervix, cervical stitch, obstetric cholastasis.......plus the normal scans as well. The drs said there was no risk to the baby but he is left handed so the previous poster might be right about that!

eurochick · 06/03/2017 18:39

I had many - bleeding in the first trip and problems with the placenta which meant I was scanned daily in the lead up to delivery.

I read everything I could find about the risks of lots of scans and the only reliable thing I could find was a study showing a tendency towards lefthandedness. My toddler is showing signs of being left handed, when no one else in the family is. That's fine. The scans helped to keep her safe.

eurochick · 06/03/2017 18:40

Tri, not trip.

Gerbilmum · 06/03/2017 18:50

They are perfectly safe. I had private scans at 8 and 10 weeks for reassurance. Then normal 12 week scan. A gender scan at 16 weeks, the machine broke halfway through so second gender scan at 17 weeks. Anomaly scan at 19 weeks but ds laid awkward so another scan at 20 weeks. He had a suspected club foot so scan with the consultant at 21 weeks. Then growth scans at 28 and 32 weeks so 10 in total.

Gerbilmum · 06/03/2017 18:54

Oh and a growth scan at 36 weeks so 11. No idea if ds is left handed yet as he's 6 weeks old.

reallyanotherone · 06/03/2017 18:56

There is research to show that ultrasound does cause changes in the foetal brain- statistically frequent scans increase the chance of left handedness.

There is other research that show changes, but as US is relatively recent, and it's not ethical to submit healthy babies to frequent scans just to see if it's damaging, there aren't any done to show long term effects.

Generally, any risk from US is outweighed by the benefits if medically indicated.

Make your own mind up. Is having extra scans by choice worth even a tiny risk to your child?

MissJC · 06/03/2017 18:56

I paid for numerous private scans purely because I enjoyed seeing my LO. This included gender and 4D scans, plus private scans are such a lovely experience, focused on baby and reassuring too as they always make sure baby/water level/growth is good before going into the enjoyment aspect of it. Yeah 2 is enough for medical reasons but no harm in paying for extra. I loved being pregnant and have tons of scan pictures and a DVD to remind me of a precious 9 months.

Its your choice OP xx

Chrisinthemorning · 06/03/2017 19:01

I had loads of scans- at least 12. DS was an ivf baby, botn after a tfmr, and i had placenta praevia. So all the scans but one were necessary- I had a 4d just to try and make me feel positive about the pregnancy.
He's absolutely fine.
Good luck

kikibo · 06/03/2017 19:01

Here in Germany gynaecologists offer to do scans every time you visit if you pay for the privilege. Insurance companies only pay for the three standard ones: at start of pregnancy usually internal to confirm a viable pregnancy and see if it's ectopic or not, then at 12 weeks or so and at 7 months to see if all organs are properly formed. If they weren't safe, they wouldn't offer them, IMO.
I'll be having them because my DH would like the pics, because there wasn't anything to see on the 12 week one (baby was facing my back) and because I feel poked about a little bit so it'll be a kind of reward for putting up with the intrusion (I don't like doctors).

Besides, they have to get their machine paid off.

Littlebelina · 06/03/2017 19:06

I'm up to 11 so far with this pregnancy due to both previous and current issues. Def will be have at least 2 more.

10storeylovesong · 06/03/2017 19:53

How interesting. I had a lot of scans with ds due to a huge blood clot. He's currently ambidextrous but seems to favour his left hand. He'd be the only leftie in the family.

harleysmammy · 07/03/2017 13:48

Down to health reasons, i had one every 2 weeks from 10 weeks until 20 weeks. Since 20 weeks ive had at least 9, i wouldnt worry x

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Hollyhop17 · 07/03/2017 14:15

The left handed thing is interesting
I'm left handed so going to ask my mum if she had lots of scans with me!

bingandabong · 07/03/2017 14:29

I had one every month, it's normal where I live ( not the uk) prob because it's private and you pay ..must say I did like the fact I got to see baby and it really helped with my anxiety to know I was being checked on, plus I keeping track of babies movements, I felt like I had all basis covered, Dc was born perfectly healthy

MrsPringles · 07/03/2017 14:34

I had 4 scans, the 2 NHS standard scans and 2 private, one at 17 weeks to find out the sex and one at around 32 weeks because we really wanted a 4d scan.

Coincidentally or not DS is now 2.5 and uses his left hand more. Maybe there is something in that?

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