Help! Anxiety about early scan risks 😩 - I'm deep in Google rabbit hole

[Skylark1990]

I'm 5+3 and have had 3 early losses this year (4+4, 5 weeks and 6+3). I'm pregnant again now following my most recent loss at 6+3, no period in between. I have one DD who is nearly 2. I had an early scan yesterday as had been having right side pain, so it was to rule out ectopic. Yolk sac etc seen in my uterus so bang on what would be expected at this stage 🫶😊

Basically my situation is that because of my previous losses I am kindly being offered two additional early scans at epau (as well as the one I had yesterday) One in just under 2 weeks when I'm 7+2 and one at 10 weeks. I didn't have any early scans with DD (had the dating scan at 12 weeks as usual) and I guess I'm just a bit worried about the effect of early ultrasound on a vulnerable fetus, especially more than one. I know they are very common, and there is no known evidence of harm, but equally they haven't been proven totally safe, and there have been studies to suggest a correlation between ultrasound and autism for example (one that showed for babies with a genetic predisposition towards autism the untrasound could make it more severe and one study that showed when the ultrasound went deeper it had a correlation with autism) and it is known that ultrasound waves can heat up the cells and also cause them to break down (though strength of the waves would have an impact). I also know of a study that showed ultrasound could increase left handedness in boys.

Additionally, the NHS cautions against having more than the routine ones. And there was an opinion paper by a professional in the RCOG saying before 10 weeks ultrasounds could be more risky as fetus is more vulnerable. This is all a summary of my intense googling and tbh I have a headache and still don't know what to do.

I'm being offered these scans for reassurance and also as I'm on progesterone so I guess theoretically I could MC / baby could die and I wouldn't bleed so I guess the scans are to check on this? So is this medical need? It's hard to say no to scans as it's lovely to see baby and due to my losses I'm more anxious, but equally I don't want to expose a tiny fetus to unnecessary risk, and I worry about having too many....

Guess I'm just looking for either reassurance or other people's opinions.... Did you have multiple early scans? Are your DCs ok? Would you avoid? Why?

I will absolutely 100% have the 12 and 20 week ones no question, I'm just worried about the earlier ones. Wondering if I should just do one maybe at 8/9 weeks instead?

Tia and apologies for probably sounding like a crazy lunatic but I just don't know what to do so appreciate some other views! X

Maybe instead of asking here look online at the wealth of information out there that shows it's not harmful having multiple scans

Most recommend waiting a week between but that's it

I had scans at 7,8, 10 and 12 weeks because of recurrent losses and ectopic at the recurrent miscarriage clinic. I'm now 38 weeks. There's no evidence of loss. What they don't want is women booking private scans every 5 minutes when there's no clinical need. There is no evidence whatsoever of any risk. Otherwise why would they do more scans in higher risk (because of previous losses) pregnancies?

Correlation doesn't equal causation....

Stop googling and go for the scans that they recommend.

If you are that worried, don't have them. Let time take it's course.

Have they accounted for the fact that problematic pregnancies are more likely to have multiple scans, and problematic pregnancies are more likely to produce babies with autism because there’s a link between early bleeding and autism etc?

www.spectrumnews.org/news/complications-pregnancy-may-contribute-autism-risk/

following as I’ve got an early scan booked too so want to take all this into account xx

Don't give yourself confirmation bias, look for other more positive accounts

Never heard of this before, surely they wouldn’t do them at all or only do one much later on….. I’d stay away from Google to be honest. If they’ve recommended you have scans I’d have them- people have the 3D scans as well as the hospital ones- surely they’d be banned if they harmed the foetus in any possible way.

Thanks all who have commented. I appreciate your thoughts. I have looked at positive stuff too (including exler reactions which dismiss the various studies / point out flaws) too, and forum posts that have many women saying they had first trimester ultrasounds and all ok. Additionally one of the studies says there isn't a link between number or duration of scans, however there could be a link depending on depth of scan, which to me isn't very reassuring as it's still arguable that the scan causes harm.

Just finding it hard to know what to do. Like some of you have said, it's good to go with the recommendation, and ofc I want to see baby and check on things but I'm also worried. And there just doesn't seem to be a clear answer.

This is some of what I've been reading if helpful @Wouldloveanother although I don't want you to get as stressy as me 😅

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5875374/

www.rcog.org.uk/guidance/browse-all-guidance/scientific-impact-papers/ultrasound-from-conception-to-10plus0-weeks-of-gestation-scientific-impact-paper-no-49/

www.deseret.com/2016/10/4/20597482/why-some-experts-suggest-holding-off-on-first-trimester-ultrasounds

www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2018/ultrasound-exposure-unlikely-to-cause-autism/

www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-prenatal-ultrasonography-association-with-autism/

www.mamanatural.com/baby-ultrasound/

Also I'm not only worried about autism but that seems to be the focus of most of the studies so far. A bit worried after reading the RCOG piece about it affecting the fetus in terms of MC even though I know that's surely daft seeing as they're offered to so many women with recurrent miscarriage?! As you say @Oneforposy7

@Wouldloveanother I've also read about how preterm birth or complications can raise autism risk. It seems there are so many things that could potentially cause it and it's not like one thing will but a mix of various stuff perhaps environmental exposure plus genetics.

It's annoying as I was happy and calm for like one night after seeing pregnancy in the right place and now I'm worried about something else again.

Thanks Skylark ive sent you a PM xx

i had a few additional scans - 2 very early on to rule out ectopic and a follow up to check growth. One at 10 weeks due to fear as I’d lost some of my symptoms and one at 16 weeks to find out the sex. I then had my normal NHS scans plus some at foetal medicine AND growth scans (9 on the NHS from 12 weeks onwards) Although I enjoyed each scan I had (apart from the first at foetal medicine obviously) and seeing my baby, the reassurance they provided lasted hours. If you’re worried about any effect that scans might have, weigh up whether the reassurance they provide is worth the worry you have about the potential for any harm to be done? Wishing you the very best of luck x

Maybe you should seek help with your anxiety over looking at studies.

It's been medically recommended

You need to manage your anxiety. Step away from Google. You’re obsessing about the scan ‘risk’ because you know you can’t control the pregnancy outcome.

Wondering if I should just do one maybe at 8/9 weeks instead?

Ask this. It could be a good middle ground for you. But generally just step away from Google.

I think ultrasounds are widely considered to be very safe. In other countries, it's commonplace to have far more scans than we have in the UK.

But the early scans won't benefit the baby at all, they're purely for your own peace of mind. So you need to decide what will make you more anxious- waiting and hoping, or worrying about the possible risks of the scan xx

@Skylark1990 I don't mean to be insensitive and I really understand the fear, having had two losses last year and some early bleeding in this pregnancy. But have you considered the impact of stress and anxiety on your pregnancy and the baby that is (massively) inflamed by the compulsive google search? While you're worrying about a tiny - and questionable - correlation between early scans and autism and ticking off hours doing your research, you are literally flooding your body with stress hormones. How can that be good?

I would agree with PPs saying that managing your anxiety might be more important, and mean it with all the kindness. I spent my unsuccessful pregnancies with my head buried in google, often crying with anxiety, not sleeping - and then had to pause TTC for a few months because my anxiety got out of control. I get how hard it is not to worry about everything (especially for those of us who love research/analytics and think we can solve all problems in our heads). But I don't think it's helping yourself, or your baby, at all. I'm not suggesting that we can eliminate worry completely after loss (at least I've not succeeded) but there ARE things we do that feed the anxiety and those that calm it.

I really hope this is your rainbow baby xx

Sorry for your losses
I had scans every 2 weeks for most of my pregnancy, due to previous miscarriages. They were looking mainly at cervical length rather than the baby. He's now 5 months old and seems fine (although obviously too early to know about autism etc).
In my personal opinion there's not much that can be done at such an early stage if they do notice anything, so the scan is more for your reassurance than for anything medical. For me personally, I needed that reassurance and baby having a less stressed more relaxed mum way outweighed any risk of harm through scans. So you need to work out if it will help or hinder your own mental health.

Also, please go easy on yourself. I spent many many hours researching what to do for the best when I was pregnant (mainly about if I should have the covid vaccine or not). It's totally normal to be anxious, but Google is evil and you'll drive yourself mad if your not careful.

Thank you all, I appreciate your comments. Many of you raise good points about weighing up the anxiety over the scans and whether it's worth it to help me feel better after seeing baby. And yes I think I need to figure out a way to manage my anxiety as I definitely seem to be finding stuff to fixate on. It's an anxious time but re scans I'm sure whatever I decide it'll be fine as even with some random research findings, on the most part they're shown to be very safe. It's just easy to focus on that tiny potential risk when worried about the pregnancy I suppose!

Will seek some mental health support and try to just tune in to my gut on whether I should do both the early ones coming up or just one.

@puddleduckle thank you, very good advice and yes the reassurance doesn't last long does it 🥴😅😩

@lillg thank you, very good advice. So sorry for your losses . Congrats on your 5 month old 🥰 can also understand worrying about the covid vaccine, did you have it in the end?

@stardust00 so sorry for your losses 💐 did you have early scans in this pregnancy? How did you manage to overcome your anxiety even if a little? I agree the stress hormones aren't good. Congrats on being pregnant again x

Thank you @FallOutPloy this hits the nail on the head.

Thanks everyone else x

I actually had covid at 24 weeks and decided to get the vaccine after that, so had my first jab while pregnant. One of my miscarriages was at 20 weeks, so I literally stressed for the entire pregnancy and did not enjoy a second of it. I had the support of a fantastic consultant and midwife who I was able to trust and they took all the time I needed to talk through things. I hope you're able to relax and enjoy the pregnancy once the first trimester is done.

I think I had a scan at 10 weeks (wonky dates) and then 12 & 20 with DD she's likely autistic. I had a scan at 6ish weeks (very wonky dates) and then 13, 20 and 36 with DS... he's actually developing slower than his sister but she was early in most things, wouldn't be surprised if he's autistic because there's a lot of it in our family (mostly undiagnosed).

When you have medical things you're always weighing up what's the benefit vs what's the possible cost. What's the benefit to having an early scan? Can they stop a miscarriage? Will it help your MH?

And there are any number of reasons that a person might be autistic, if you had early scans and DC was later diagnosed are you going to kick yourself over it? Because it might have been that way anyway

I had bleeds throughout my pregnancy and probably 4 additional scans. Kiddo is healthy and hitting milestones. Your baby has a loving mum, what ever support they will need or not that will help more than anything else. The internet can skew things, focus on calming your anxiety as this will also boost progesterone.

@Skylark1990 Thank you! Yes I’ve had 2 scans - one at 7 weeks after a big bleed/cramping, that’s how my MC started last time so I wanted to know either way, and one at 10.5 weeks as part of NIPT. I’m likely to be higher risk with the NHS test because of my age and my ‘12 week’ scan isn’t until 13 weeks so I wanted to know where I stand as early as possible.

To be honest my main reason for trying to stay much calmer this time was the devastation my anxiety caused last time - apart from the miserable pregnancy it also led to a few months of bad post-anxiety and insomnia, worried husband who had to watch me in bits for months, worried mum and so on… I thought that whatever happened this time - whatever might still happen, I can’t have that again. I can’t control the outcome but I can either come out of it quickly and be in a healthy and resourceful state for what’s next, or cause myself and my loved ones to suffer for a long time again. The usual things like moving (walking/gentle exercise and stretching), being in nature, distracting myself were helpful but I think the main thing was learning not to react to all the worrying thoughts that kept coming up. I couldn’t not have worries but instead of having an anxious though about X and then obsessing over it for hours/days, I realised that I could just let it be there and not follow its lead, and soon it dissipates. That made such a difference as before I’d try and calm the anxiety down with relentless research, talking about it, writing about it, thinking about it - which only fed it and made it bigger. Or I could just feel it briefly and let it go. It works for me - not only for pregnancy as I have a tendency to overthink and worry. I use Sam Harris’ Waking Up app for brief meditations and learning about mindfulness.

Take care and all the best of luck xx

Thank you @lillg @Weefreetiffany @olderthanyouthink @stardust00 🙏❤️

I agree I need to calm the anxiety. Might take a break from my phone / Google just to get out of the habit. Going to work on being zen this week! Leaning towards pushing the scan a little later as I actually think the anxiety may be partly to do with the fact I MC at 6+3 last time and 7+1 doesn't feel much later than that, and not sure it'll give me the reassurance I would need ... It's a weird one as I'd like that reassurance sooner but if it's earlier on not sure how much I would trust it anyway? It's hard but there is no right or wrong so just need to go with my gut and when there's too much noise in my head it's hard to hear what my instincts are saying! Or why!

Really good tips and advice @stardust00 and thank you for sharing your experience. I wish you all the best for the rest of your pregnancy xx

I had four scans between 7 and 12 weeks then needed scans biweekly from 25 weeks up until 39 and have a very healthy and excelling 5 month old girl :)

If there is a medical need, I would have the scans, they wouldn't recommend them if they were harmful. Scans are only for a few minutes anyway and they make sure they don't overexpose the foetus and use the lowest dose of ultrasound I am sure I read somewhere as I worried about the same thing!