Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Scared I've harmed baby by having too many ultrasounds

69 replies

Missnicolinda96 · 19/12/2021 19:34

Hi guys. I'm an ftm aged 25. By the time I have this baby I will have had 11 scans I think? 3 on the nhs and the rest private. They have varied in time from extremely quick (literally like 3 minutes) to 15 minutes. Baby seems fine so far at 17 weeks, but I keep.having intrusive thoughts that I've hurt my baby. I'm not high risk so I feel horribly guilty and scared . I feel so stupid that I could've put my precious baby at risk.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

littlebutterfly185 · 19/12/2021 19:35

I had over 15 scans with my LO. No harm at all

Comedycook · 19/12/2021 19:36

Why have you had so many?

GrazingSheep · 19/12/2021 19:37

Why so many ? Are they medically necessary?

Wolfiefan · 19/12/2021 19:37

You need to speak to your midwife about why you’ve had so many scans and why you are so anxious.

TriciaMcMillan · 19/12/2021 19:40

There is no evidence that ultrasound is harmful. It would be sensible to talk to your midwife or health professional as it sounds you could do with some support to manage your intrusive thoughts.

GrazingSheep · 19/12/2021 19:40

At 17 weeks pregnant you have had 11 scans. Are you exceptionally anxious about the pregnancy?

toomuchlaundry · 19/12/2021 19:43

Scans might not harm your baby, but a high level of anxiety in a pregnancy is not good for either you or the baby. Speak to the midwife

Woeismethischristmas · 19/12/2021 19:43

I had loads as well maybe 20ish. McDa twins so they like to keep a close eye on the placenta. Ultrasounds have been safely used for decades. I really wouldn’t worry.

myyellowcar · 19/12/2021 19:45

Are you feeling anxious OP? I know someone who is a sonographer who scanned herself constantly with no ill effects 10 years later

Whattodowithaminute · 19/12/2021 19:52

Ultrasound scans use sound waves not radiation and I’ve seen no evidence that would indicate they could cause harm to a fetus. If you are really worried do talk to someone about your anxiety though.

SRK16 · 19/12/2021 19:55

I think it’s really important you speak to your midwife or GP about your anxiety in this pregnancy, they will be able to support you with this and refer you on for more help if you need it. I don’t think the scans would be harmful, but I also don’t think the reassurance from us is going to help, in the same way you’re not feeling reassured for long after a scan. It will get easier but please seek support x

Imagineit · 19/12/2021 19:57

Hey there, hope you're ok OP. I'm not happy about some of the responses you've had here. Ultrasounds will not harm your baby, nor will anxiety (think about babies born in war times!) I had a baby on the back of a stillbirth and I was extremely anxious and so so many ultrasounds. He was born perfectly healthy and was such a calm and chilled out baby despite my constant worry that I would lose him too.

If you are struggling with your mental well-being please talk to your midwife or doctor for your own well-being, but please don't worry, your baby will be fine

Mama1980 · 19/12/2021 19:59

With ds2 I had a super high risk pregnancy, bled constantly and was scanned every 2 days from 20-24 weeks when i finally gave birth. Prior to that stage I had about 10 (can't remember exactly sorry) to monitor foetal development.
So no, the ultrasounds won't have harmed your baby, but this level of anxiety isn't good for either of you.
Have you spoken to your midwife?

allfurcoatnoknickers · 19/12/2021 20:01

God, I had loads. Probably well over 20 by the time my pregnant was done. DS was breech so they were scanning him right before I went in for my C-section. He's fine. Came out at 7.5lbs and has hit every milestone bang on time.

Betsyboo87 · 19/12/2021 20:02

I live abroad and it’s standard to have one every month and then every couple of weeks from around 7 months on. I also had extra in my first trimester due to bleeding. No idea how many I had in total but probably about 15.

Hope478 · 19/12/2021 20:04

11 scans by 17 weeks is a lot of scans. Is there a reason you've had so many?

I had quite a few scans with my little one for medical reasons. Ultrasounds don't do any harm to your baby, but I think too much checking up on the baby can start to harm your mental health. You spend all your time obsessing and waiting for the next scan - I know!

Try to relax. You're almost half way x

Bringonsummer19 · 19/12/2021 20:05

I had two miscarriages prior to DS and therefore with DD I lots until I could feel the baby move. I would say I was too anxious and it really impacted my health. A scan is just a point in time, as soon as you walk out you’ve lost the assurance.

Good luck Op

allofthecheese · 19/12/2021 20:08

I had an extremely complicated pregnancy and had in excess of 25 scans. Tbh may be more, I've lost count now. DC is absolutely fine and has suffered no ill effects. They were medically necessary though.

Trinacham · 19/12/2021 20:48

I will have had 11 scans in this pregnancy. 2 were private, so not necessary, but the rest were/are NHS, including growth scans.

Changingtheweather · 19/12/2021 20:59

Many moons ago, many many scans (complicated pregnancy) did lots of research on this.
Found a study suggesting a very slight possible increase in left handedness. Nothing more sinister.
Good luck with your pregnancy

Scautish · 19/12/2021 21:04

Please don’t worry - no harm whatsoever. Ultrasound is basically just vibrations - it’s totally different from electromagnetic radiation (which includes radio waves, micro waves, light, x-rays and gamma-radiation).

You have nothing to worry about!

CherryRedDMs · 19/12/2021 21:08

I had one a week on average, didn’t go full term but at least 30 scans. At 20 weeks I had 8 in one day (rare condition, second opinions). He would have been stillborn otherwise so they saved his life.
There’s no suggestion of risk and scans are used very widely so we’d know by now.

Strokethefurrywall · 19/12/2021 21:19

I had shit tons of scans through both pregnancies (not Uk so standard is at least one a month until 34 weeks when one a week), plus I had to have additional scans due to small measurements with both DSs.

Ultrasounds will not harm your baby, but you must seek help for your anxiety 🙏🏼

Original poster

Missnicolinda96 · 20/12/2021 02:59

I counted wrong, it will be 9, not 11. And that's including my 20 week scan, which I haven't had yet. Anyway, I've had severe anxiety since my early teens. I regret having so many and wish I'd perhaps only had one private one at about 8 weeks to see if the pregnancy was viable.

If something happens I will blame the scans and myself. Idk if it just felt longer because I was laying there anxious, but I felt like some of the private ones lasted a while, so I'm worried about tissue heating. I feel so bad about myself for not having more self control. In hindsight I feel so stupid for having so many and I'm convinced I've put my baby at risk.

OP posts:

sageandbasil · 20/12/2021 03:13

No one takes chances when It comes to babies. If it was dangerous when you booked your scan they would ask you if you had have any previous scans and the dates etc. if something does go wrong it's absolutely not your fault or the fact that you've had scans it will be completely unrelated.!8 hope you're okay and please speak to your MW, there are MH midwifes you can ask to be referred too as well. I know it's scary cos we don't know what's going on in there but if you keep going for scans every other week you'll drive yourself crazy!xx

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread