anyone else concerned about ultrasound safety?

[londonlou]

I've been reading a few things which have put me off having early scans unless medically indicated. Wondered if anyone else is thinking the same.

Also, I'm wondering how reliable the nuchal scan is and how to weigh up the odds. I'm 35 years old, almost 36.

Thanks

I don't think that ultrasounds aren't safe, I think that overusing them isn't a good idea though. I'm 16 weeks and I've had three.

I read some research on this ~ the link came from apparently more babies are left handed, than not, having been scanned. I think the benefits far outweigh the risks. There are some things than can only be picked up on in scans, and are treatable...

I know this is purely anecdotal, but with ds2 I had 38 scans and he was born at 36 weeks, found out I was pg around 4 weeks so 38 scans in 32 weeks. And he is fine. Just my experience, hth

I would agree that the benefits far outweigh any theoretical risk. I wouldn't have a scan just for the sake of it though and I actually found the scans quite nerve-wracking in case there was something wrong. The NHS would certainly not be providing scans during pregnancy if there were not a clear medical benefit.

in my case there's a serious risk of spina bifida in my family so i think it's important to know in advance so the doctors can prepare in advance for a condition that requires immediate medical assistance after birth. and in the case of conditions like placenta praevia and tangled cords it can save the babies life.

HI Londonlou again
posted on aug thread but
saw this and realised you are very concerned.

I am Australian and we invented the ultrasound, so I am biased but They are SAFE my dh had one of the first as a babe in 1971, invented 1969 i think.

The only scientific proven risk is if you have alot more than 8, i think low birth weight and even then no real long term problems.

AS for the nuchal i don't find them that helpful as i think you still need an amnio to tell if down's is definate. At 35 you would not have that much chance. I normally have one just coz i like to see the baby!!!!!

londonlou, I am the same as threelittle gifts for my first pg (due to probs) I ahd in excess of 30scans and dd was born by c-section at 36weeks. Due to pg probs not scans. She is one of the healthiest children you could meet. With my second pg I had a 12week scan then 20week then after 20weeks, I was scanned every 4weeks just to make sure that the probs werent happening again. Luckily they didnt.
I am 9weeks pg today and will be having a 12week scan, one at 20weeks, one at 32weeks then one at 40weeks. these scans are all standard in Germany. My consultant may want to do more because of first pg to check placenta. (dopplers)
I personally am happy to have the scans as I get to see the babs more. But I do believe it is a personal choice..
Hope this helps. good luck

I had lots of scans becauuse I had a latish missed miscarriage before - I had one every 2 weeks in the first trimester and every 3 weeks afterwards.

I took the view that it can not possibly be good for the baby if I am permanently freaked out. Plus I did lots of research and apart to the left handedness (and why is this a problem?) found no evidence that it could do any harm.

Ds was born at 41 weeks and so far is a perfectly healthy, happpy child. Too early to say if he is lefthanded.

ment to say that dd (scanned over 30times ) is right handed!!!.

I am left handed though and mam had no scans with me!!

the problem with early scans IMO, not that they are unsafe or harmful.....but a scan before 7 - 8 weeks can often leave you in limbo- ie no heartbeat to be seen, have to wait a week to return for another scan etc....

i know a couple of people personally who have had the nuchal fold scan and found it was a comfort , and others who have left it all in the hands of fate.

nothing except amnio can tell you definitively, as has been said, but it depends if blood tests / scans will give you comfort or more cause for concern.....

the anomaly scan at 20 weeks can tell you a lot.....you know what you are comfortable with, more or less information.....

don't see how scans determine whether a child is left or right handed !!!! link please!!!

Isn't the reason why people get fretful about the increased left-handedness NOT because left-handedness is in any way a problem, but because it implies that ultrasound does create changes in brain patterns/development - perhaps also in other ways of which we are not aware.
As far as I'm aware there wasn't any systematic testing of ultrasound safety before it was introduced, but it has now been used for 30 years, so perhaps that's testing enough . I do wonder a bit about whether the routine scanning of everyone really does identify that many problems that something can be done about.
I used to think I wouldn't want to have scans, but after two miscarriages and a very nervous time this pregnancy, I know which way the balance tilts for me, and I've had 4 scans so far (24 weeks).

I had squillions of scans with ds (pg after mc, bleeding, later on cervical thinning) and he's fine. He's only 19mo but from what we can tell he seems right-handed.

Hi All,

I know I'm just being a loopy pregnant woman, but was especially worried about having to have a pre 12 week scan because of the IVF. A couple of articles I'd read here and here have studies in them.

I spoke with my IVF consultant this morning who is trying to convince me of the safety issues. Like they need to rule out ectopic and that I wouldn't necessary feel anything until it was too late? I need to have a think about it.

L

Lulu - I think the research suggests that babies who have been scanned are more likely to turn out to be left-handed, rather than the scan picking it up. At least, that's how I read it.

Might have read your post wrongly Lulu - am I being particularly dense tonight??!

Yes, I think I was definitely being dense. Note to self: think before you post Twinkle!

I am another one in favour of ultrasound. So many women have them in very early pg these days.

As for the nuchal fold scan, I didn't bother as I would never have an amnio (let alone anything else) so didn't see the point in worrying myself.

Uki - I dispute your claim that Australia invented the ultrasound - it was developed in Scotland:

In 1955, Glasgow obstetrician Ian Donald realised that the machine that dockyard workers were using to detect cracks in the hull of a submarine could be used to detect tumours. It did not take long before this technique was used to examine the contents of a woman's uterus.

Londonlou - I can understand your concern as no-one truly knows how safe ultrasound is when used frequently. It certainly has beneficial uses though. As a midwife I didn't want too much scanning but I developed antibodies and need scanned monthly with my last 2 pregnancies. What I would say is that scanning where necessary outweighs the risk. Scanning for scanning's sake, and in that I include mothers listening into their babies with privately bought doptones, shouldn't be encouraged. It is the overuse of scanning rather than the scanning itself which has raised concern.

Meant to put a in uki

Londonlou, I have heard that studies are being done as to whether ultrasound has side-effects. However, I really think that the benefits of having a couple of scans in pregnancy outweigh any "risks". If nothing else, they can put your mind at rest (which has value in itself), and don't forget that in addition to aiding in the detection of conditions such as downs syndrome and spina bifida, they can also help identify other issues e.g. placenta previa.
If carried out by an expert, I had heard that the nuchal test is about 80% reliable. If that is correct, then it is a pretty good diagnostic tool as long as you are being seen by an expert. But, it does seem to me that if I was planning to go through with a pregnancy regardless of the outcome of the nuchal scan, then I might ask not to have the fold measurements taken. You could have a scan to just confirm dates, presence of a heartbeat etc instead. HTH.

I wouldn't worry about them. Look how many women have scans every year and then go on to have healthy babies. I went privatly and had a scan close to every three weeks and my dd eas just fine.