are scans safe for you and baby?

[juice]

i had my 12 week scan yesterday. i also had one at 8 weeks as had slight bleed and to make sure everything was ok. i have been offered a 20 week scan too, but have heard too many scans are not safe. can someone please tell if they are or not, thanks very much

I had four scans with DS and will have at least three with this baby (early ones with him, at least one growth scan plus dating and 20-week with this baby).

Nearly all women have at least one and more often two or more scans in pregnancy. Please don't worry. The 20-week scan is important IMO as it is a detailed one that looks at organ development.

I had 3 scans with my dd and everything was fine.

I had a 12 week, 20 week and one at 26 for a sex scan.

There was a piece in the newspaper about repeated scans they can damage delopvement, but the 3 or 4 that most people have are fine. Apparently Tom Cruise has brought a scanner and scans his girlfriend EVERY day and that is dangerous. I had to have weekly scans from 30 weeks with my kids, and they are fine.

Hi,

you can try looking on the AIMS site for information. Their articles section has information about ultrasound research, and as far as I recall they are mostly referenced back to the original studies, so you can go back to the original research yourself. I think the honest answer at the moment is that it is not definitely known that ultrasound is completely safe, though I guess we have to assume that any effects are minor as it has now been used for about 30 years.

fwiw, If I were in your position I would have the 20 week scan, as that is the anomaly scan. If I only had 1 scan the 20 wk would be the one I'd choose. That's just me, though. I know of several friends who choose to have no scans at all as they think (for them) the cons outweigh the pros.

hth

I am 36 weeks pregnant and have had scans at 6,8,12,13,15,20,28,32 weeks and another next week and my baby is fine!

Had 8 scans and dd now a strapping 8 month old lass. Would go with 20 week scan because they can see so much and ID problems which can be sorted now / shortly after birth.

not had a problem with scans at all.
With ds had a scan at 8wks,12wks,20wks,23wks and 42wks. He is a happy healthy bouncy 2 yr old.
With this baby I have had scans at 8wks,20wks and 36wks. Am having baby in 13days and am sure there is nothign wrong with this one either. IF anything the scans can highlight potential problems rather than cause any. Of course it is completely up to you whether to have them or not.

Noone can be 100% about the affect scans on unborn babies or to possible long term babies. To reassure you when I was pregnant I was scanned at 6,8,10,12,14,16,18,21 weeks. Due to mc history my consultant and us wanted to ensure all was ok with our dd. Our dd was born 7 months ago at 9lb 4oz and is a very healthy baby.

At the end of the day scans are there for reasurrance and to check that all is developing with the baby as it should be.
Good luck with the pregnancy.

forgot to say, also had a 3d/4d scan at 28 weeks.

I had more than 12 scans (several of them internal) in my pg with ds - the three that are standard in Germany, privately paid-for ones at 16 and 24 weeks, several for episodes of bleeding and later for effacing cervix, and a couple in late pg to check for size as there was a question about whether I should go for an elective cs. ds was born at 38 weeks, just over 6lb (but that's definitely genetic) and very healthy.
I can't find the book now, but Lesley Regan wrote on this subject in her book about miscarriage, and says she considers scans to be very safe.