Has anyone here refused to have an ultrasound?

[FairyLights2]

I was just wondering if anyone here has ever chosen to NOT have an ultrasound. Doctors instead used blood tests and a fetoscope to check the health of the baby.

Has anyone gone down that route? If so, how did it go?

Why would you decline an ultrasound?

I said I would if I have another child. They caused so much unnecessary worry because I had a common anomaly that causes no issues but freaked the inexperienced dr out

No, and I wouldn't but I'm curious as to what a fetoscope is and what it does.

@PurpleDaisies I came across this article: ingefleur.com/mother-baby/risks-of-ultrasounds/

@okiedokieme Yes, I think sometimes it can add unnecessary stress.

@elliejjtiny it helps you hear the baby's heart.

This tells you everything you need to know about the scientific credentials of the author of this article...

However, I’d do you a great injustice if I did not brutally honestly share with you what my day-to-day experience with ultrasounds is as a fertility homeopath.

I did read some years ago that ultrasound tests, or rather too many of them, could lead to problems with ears, the sort of issues that require grommets. I think it was anecdotal, and I certainly can't link to any peer reviewed papers or anything, but that was back in the day when you had a scan at 20 weeks, and would only have another one if there was a suspected problem. Coincidentally, the few babies I knew who were more frequently scanned did need grommets, which is why I remember it.
So yes, we had fewer scans and relied on blood tests more, and it was mainly fine.

Hey, no personal experience, couple of thoughts though - why do you want to avoid USS? Totally your choice of course but there are definitely things that are worth checking for on ultrasound, so depending on your reasons you could choose to just have one scan at a certain point, or none at all, if you see what I mean? Depends whether your motivation is that you prefer not to know anything until baby is born; or that you’re worried about safety of ultrasound; or as above pp that you’re worried about creating extra anxiety? Or something else?

Blood tests and fetoscipe can show certain things but don’t really give any information on baby’s anatomy. They also wouldn’t tell you (or at least not for sure) whether there is more than one baby in there! Ultrasound has definitely helped to lower mortality rates over the years, but I do agree with PP that It can sometimes cause unnecessary anxiety.
It’s a tricky balance - it can also sometimes pick up life threatening problems that can be treated if you know about them.
To consider - would you want a scan at 12 weeks, just to double check not twins, count limbs and skull and make sure no missed miscarriage? Would you want to know In advance to prepare for the birth of a baby with extra needs (eg a heart problem, or spina bifida, something like that) - that would need a scan at 20 weeks or so? Would you accept a scan to check baby’s condition if your midwife was worried (eg measurinn small or something?). Just examples to consider. Of course the majority of the time everything is totally fine and ultrasounds wouldn’t make a difference either way.
I’m not sure if that’s at all helpful?? Probably all things you’ve already thought about! Hopefully you’ll get some input from others with personal stories :)

If I hadn’t had ultrasounds, my placenta previa would have gone undiagnosed and I would have bled to death in labour, as did so many women in the old days. As it was, I was carefully monitored and had an ELCS which undoubtedly saved my life and that of my baby.

@TenThousandSpoons0 Thanks for sharing your thoughts so kindly on a sensitive subject.

I'm personally not against ultrasounds. I plan to have one myself. I just read that article and was curious if anyone chose that path.

I guess the same way some women are against epidural, there are those who prefer no ultrasounds as well. Just was new to me!

@Hungrypuffin Thank you for sharing the positives of an ultrasound.

Op I would really think very carefully about this. We have a child in our family with a serious medical condition that could have been detected by us.

Sadly his parents are now providing 24 hour care to a child with almost no cognitive awareness. They would have terminated had they had the choice because it is no life for her or for them.

Do you seriously think that is a credible research article op?

Hi OP, I had a LOT of scans with my eldest (nearly 5)
From 28 weeks I had a scan every Monday and Friday till her due date when she was born. (they nearly delivered her early due to an anomaly on the RI index being too high (blood flow in umbilical cord) I had ctgs every day too)
Shes absolutely fine, and a little chatter box!

@Onceuponatimethen - I was curious to hear other people's thoughts and experiences. It's not something I'm considering for myself.

@DamnShesaSexyChick No, it was very anecdotal but I wasn't presenting it as fact. I just cited it because that's what peaked my curiosity.

@FairyLights2 it isn’t just an idle query in our family though. It’s a lifetime of regret. There is very little support for extensively disabled children and their parents in our society.

I stopped reading after day-to-day experience with ultrasounds is as a fertility homeopath i’d rather place my trust in the Actual trained doctors and midwifes ( and i would happily have scans).

Goodluck

@Onceuponatimethen You've made a great point and highlighted the importance of using ultrasounds to track the baby's health, which I truly appreciate. I apologise if my post came across as an idle query.

OP, the author thinks, on no evidence, that ultrasounds cause autoimmune conditions and miscarriages, and claims to be a ‘fertility homeopath‘. You might as well take pregnancy health advice from the woman wearing seven hats at the bus stop who believes Shiva talks to her through her fillings.

@Nighttown hahaha!

There is a bit of difference between epidural and US though.

Refusing to have an epidural is about what the mum wants,what she can cope (or thinks she can cope) with and ultimately it makes no difference to the health of the baby if you don't have one.They're coming out anyways.

US though can detect serious issues with the pregnancy, the baby and risks for both baby and mum. Some conditions can be fatal(for mum,baby or both) if undetected. Some conditions are incompatible for life , and mum should have a choice.

I'd link it more with not wearing a seatbelt rather than epidurals. Millions of people would probably be completely fine not wearing one, millions have been before laws changed. However, when shit goes wrong, it can go horribly wrong.

Ah makes more sense, I’m glad you’re not actually planning to avoid USS OP - just assumed from your original post. Lots of non evidence based “woo” out there and that article is one of them I think.

I didn't need to read far into that article to decide that it is a load of quackery.

I think the author sounds like a nut job with some sort of an axe to grind. It gets dangerous if too many people start to take her seriously as problems with the pregnancy and the baby may not be picked up if she convinces them that ultrasound scanning is the root of all evil.

Millions and millions of people around the world were ultrasound scanned before birth. There's precious little evidence of it being harmful and the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks.

She seems like a loon to me, and perhaps some sort of conspiracy theorist.

This what the anti medicine/BigPharma movement brings us to, and they're not done yet.

Besides made up research, dangerous advice, preying on vulnerable or worried people(even worse the ones that had a bad experience with healthcare) they also do what they accuse the "other" side of. Which is making money from it. Terrify people,give them something to be concerned about and then give them a solution only you know of, that's either a product you profit from, or likes,clicks,views etc that are monetised.

It's just like the essential oils sellers that shriek about chemicals .

There's a massive industry now based on anti medicine, and it's not of the goodness of their hearts or for the public interest, it's all for the money.

Ultrasound is safe. Unequivocally.

Regarding issues detected. One of mine had a lung-related birth defect that was picked up on ultrasound. It meant we could prepare for the birth, and make sure he had the critical support and eventually the surgery required.

Sorry to be blunt, but you'd be a fucking idiot to not have one.