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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want multiple pregnancy scans?

113 replies

Pregnantpolly · 02/06/2022 07:26

AIBU to decide to have a pregnancy scan every 4 or 5 weeks in 2nd half of pregnancy?

I'm a super anxious person and know the scan only shows you what's happening that day but I also have an anterior placenta so less likely to feel movement.

I have no more NHS scans so I'll foot the bill and have private ones. I'm not expecting DH to take time off work.

It's costly and the money can be better used preparing for baby. The money would be coming out of my account not the shared account. I don't buy clothes/bags/shoes or spend lavishly in general.

There's no studies showing ultrasounds contribute to defects or harm baby. I just think I'm being unreasonably and crazy now and want confirmation either way!

OP posts:
Testina · 02/06/2022 08:04

The money would be better spent on counselling for your anxiety, so you’re less likely to impact your child because of that.

mynameiscalypso · 02/06/2022 08:04

It doesn't work. It doesn't help the anxiety at all other than for about five minutes after the scan. For what it's worth, I also had an anterior placenta and although I didn't feel movements until 20+ weeks, I had no problem feeling them once they started pretty much constantly.

NiceTwin · 02/06/2022 08:05

Why not spend your money on addressing your anxiety instead?
Are you going to be this anxious about baby when that arrives? If you think yes, I would definitely look into counselling now rather than later.

Darbs76 · 02/06/2022 08:05

Why not if you can afford it. I had growth scans during my final pregnancy; wasn’t needed then but wish I’d had them with my 2nd as my DS2 had clearly stopped growing and no-one noticed despite me measuring weeks behind.

ittakes2 · 02/06/2022 08:06

Better go get a heart beat checker - when in hospital pre birth babies heart beats get checked everyday.

ForestFae · 02/06/2022 08:10

I paid for extra scans, I was also very anxious throughout my pregnancies. I am glad I did it and found it reassuring plus I did the 4D scans which was nice.

ShirleyPhallus · 02/06/2022 08:15

ittakes2 · 02/06/2022 08:06

Better go get a heart beat checker - when in hospital pre birth babies heart beats get checked everyday.

Do you mean like a Doppler? If so, please do not do this, this is really dangerous advice

GoldenEclipse · 02/06/2022 08:16

ittakes2 · 02/06/2022 08:06

Better go get a heart beat checker - when in hospital pre birth babies heart beats get checked everyday.

Dangerous and outdated advice. Do not do this.

Danikm151 · 02/06/2022 08:18

I was at the point of having scans each week due to baby’s growth but the further along- the less they can see.
in all honesty- the less you can see the more you may worry. I’d save the money for baby and the hospital may offer extra scans in the 3rd trimester anyway

Danikm151 · 02/06/2022 08:18

I was at the point of having scans each week due to baby’s growth but the further along- the less they can see.
in all honesty- the less you can see the more you may worry. I’d save the money for baby and the hospital may offer extra scans in the 3rd trimester anyway

Confrontayshunme · 02/06/2022 08:22

If you are anxious, you are bathing your baby in fight or flight hormones, which ARE statistically significant and will affect her long term, even if the USS doesn't. Pay for therapy and get a referral to your perinatal mental health service. You will more than likely need it.

MrsMikeWazowski · 02/06/2022 08:24

I agree with the suggestion of a scan at 34 weeks to check the placenta (I had one, but on the NHS because I had a low-lying placenta at my 20 week scan). They looked at the umbilical cord blood flow, the amount of amniotic fluid - it was very reassuring! They also checked my son's growth while they were there - he ended up being born only a few days later and in my case the measurements were very accurate.

MrsMikeWazowski · 02/06/2022 08:28

Posted too soon - I was very anxious during my pregnancy and I had a rocky start, so I understand. I concentrated on his usual movements. That's what was stressed to me at my midwife appointments. Keep yourself as well as you can and count kicks!

I also had support from the maternal mental health team, please ask your midwife and they can help you get support.

QuebecBagnet · 02/06/2022 08:29

Unless they’re doing a growth and Doppler scan (and I’m not sure private “fun scan” places do these) there’s very little benefit apart from reassuring you at that moment in time.

Turnthatoff · 02/06/2022 08:31

I bought a Doppler heartbeat monitor thingy. I can understand why people say it’s a bad idea, because you’ll panic if you can’t find the heartbeat. But I found it super easy to use. It was a comfort to me. She’s now almost 17 years old and currently grumpy with me. 🤭

BeeDavis · 02/06/2022 08:35

Honestly it will cost you a fortune and bring little benefit. I only had 2 NHS scans for my pregnancy, I get you’re anxious but you should focus on dealing with that rather than feeding it.

Hugasauras · 02/06/2022 08:36

It's not about panicking, it's about using it instead of seeking medical help. At 20 weeks on, movements become the indicator of baby's health. Having a doppler means that some people will use that to assure themselves baby is okay instead of seeking help if movements reduce. Finding a heartbeat doesn't necessarily mean your baby is safe and well.

Nightmanagerfan · 02/06/2022 08:38

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54527595.amp

please read the above article and don’t waste your money.

frangipani13 · 02/06/2022 08:42

How understanding is your community midwife? I had a lot of anxiety in my last pregnancy due to four previous losses and an anterior placenta meant I felt very little movement, so she agreed to see me and have a listen using her Doppler. She was able to hear the movements i couldn’t feel and it was so reassuring.

SundayTeatime · 02/06/2022 08:42

Doing this would feed your anxiety and won’t help it - it’ll become like an addiction. You will be damaging your baby. Please get help now for anxiety.

LittleFeet178 · 02/06/2022 08:44

I hear you. I hated pregnancy and found it really hard to manage anxiety.
I had the normal scans at 12 and 20 weeks then paid privately for further scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks. I found it reassuring.
I firmly believe it's your body and you should do whatever you feel would help you. Also consider telling your midwife how anxious you are and she will be able to put you in touch with the perinatal mental health team.
If it helps my anxiety evaporated the moment my babies were born - something about pregnancy just really doesn't agree with me from a mental health perspective! Hopefully yours will too

MountainClimber22 · 02/06/2022 08:45

I don't want to share my family story as it will likely fuel your anxiety but if you are worried just have the scans.

wishuponastar1988 · 02/06/2022 08:45

I had quite a few early pregnancy scans and thought I would never break the cycle/feel better but after 20 weeks I've only had one 4d one that I paid for (currently 31 weeks). My midwife knew I was anxious so listened in to heartbeat with a Doppler at 16 weeks (early but she knew I was worried) then again at 25 weeks and then I started to feel movement at 26 weeks. Midwife appointment at 28 weeks she listened in again with the Doppler and she will listen again on Monday when I go in. I don't feel the need to go and have loads of scans now - I have an anterior placenta and can feel baby moving around everyday. I have been in once for reduced movements and the hospital were great. Honestly private scans are alot of money and I would speak with your midwife to see what they can do to help. The Doppler checks come as standard from 25 weeks at every midwife appointment so would that not make you feel better? X

RedPlumbob · 02/06/2022 08:45

As someone who had to have weekly scans plus other monitoring due to a complicated pregnancy with placental abruption, waters leaking, plus other random things that I didn’t expect as a healthy 21 year old, you’re being silly.

The scans did nothing to comfort me; a few hours after one of them I started to bleed again.

They give medical staff more information (such as blood flow in and out the cord, levels of amniotic fluid), but they didn’t prevent any of the disasters that happened.

LittleFeet178 · 02/06/2022 08:47

Also if you're in London I can recommend an excellent private sonographer. Feel free to DM me x