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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

'safety' of ultrasounds- opinions please

22 replies

biggernow · 23/04/2009 08:05

hello

i am 10 weeks and due to ongoing spotting and symptoms that come and go quite strongly and a previous early miscarriage they have scanned me 4 times now and want to give me one more before nuchal. Obviously so far it has been very reassuring given the circumstances, but I suddenly worried today I was doing damage to the baby- and am now in a panic- and wonder whether I should have scan tomorrow, or wait to Nuchal in 3 weeks and cope with worry and stress not knowing if things are ok bring. I have read various things, and there seems to be varied opinions on relative safety of ultrasounds- I know the sonographer only keeps probe there for about 10 seconds when checking- then looks elsewhere to find out where spotting is coming from.

This would mean in total at end of pregnancy, all being well, I would have had 7 in total, whereas with my son I had 3........

Would love to hear other opinions. Would appreciate no scare mongering, but just a few people with experience of this and perhaps a little reassurance. This is really hard- one one hand a reassuring scan is incredibly helpful and mean I relax and feel better, but don't want to do it at expense of babies wellbeing- or maybe it's too late given they have already seen my 4 times in emergency.

Thanks.

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Bucharest · 23/04/2009 08:08

Here in Italy we are scanned every month. At least. I had an amnio so an extra 2. Making a total of 9.

Looking back, it was totally the norm for me, so I didn't think anything of it...thinking about it now, I would perhaps have been more anxious between-scans if there had been such a long time lapsed between each one IYSWIM?

crokky · 23/04/2009 08:20

I'm not totally sure, but say for a certain type of twins, it's quite normal to have 9 scans (I think).

Additionally, unless you are paying for scans, the NHS provide them according to medical need - therefore everything you are having is needed, rather than just bein for reassurance?

Alternatively, you could ask them re this next scan, what could/would they actually do if they detected a problem? - Also ask if there was a problem, what harm would waiting 3 weeks make?

Try not to worry. I have had worrying pgs myself - I had to have the heart scan machine on every day for 3 weeks before my DS was born because I was ill and my liver could have poisoned him. I know it is easier said than done, but worrying won't change anything so perhaps try to take your mind off it somehow. Hope you are OK.

mspotatochip · 23/04/2009 08:23

I've had 4 scans already this pregnancy (31 weeks) another today and likely one a week from here on in as I had pre eclampsia and IUGR in my last pregnancy. The NHS does nothing unnecessary in my opinion and the benefits outweigh any risks. Also I don't think the old fashioned 2d scans run at quite the same power level as the 3d scans?? I have no source for that just something I think I read

sammysam · 23/04/2009 08:32

I'm about to start having weekly scans until 30wks as I contracted parvovirus early on. So this will mean I will have about 13-15 scans in total. I had 3 with dd. I am slightly worried but they wouldn't do it it it wasn't needed plus if there was a risk i'm sure they'd make you sign something? I think the risk is if you scanned several times a day the whole way through-eg if you had your own machine at home.....

timmette · 23/04/2009 08:52

Here we are scanned at every appointment. With ds who was born in the UK he had very many scans largely because he was an arkward little thing and would never lie in a normal helpful way and it did not harm that I know of.

Original poster

biggernow · 23/04/2009 09:43

thank you all very much for your replies- really interesting.

Anyone else?

OP posts:

CMOTdibbler · 23/04/2009 09:53

I studied ultrasound safety as part of my professional training, and still see the updates on new research. Basically, at very very high powers of ultrasound (much higher than normally used), used for long (many minutes) in one place, you can cause issues in mice embryos.

This is why all ultrasounds should be carried out by someone properly trained, with equipment that is correctly maintained and calibrated, and according to medical need.

There is no evidence at all that scans as normally performed can cause any problems at all for the baby.

However, for this very reason 'cosmetic' scans such as 4D scans just done to see the baby and get a DVD are not recommended - no evidence that they are dangerous, just that they are long and not for a good reason medically

I had a lot of scans with DS as I had 3 mcs previously, and then some issues with him

Luxmum · 23/04/2009 12:35

Hi, I'm in Luxembourg, and we have a scan every month, in the last month we have checkups and scans every week or two weeks, depending on how 'normal' you and your baby are, and also a massive really detailed scan lasting 30 minutes at around 6 months, to check every single bone and organ of the babies body. And this is normal, and accepted and great for getting lots of smugged scan pictures of your baby to stick in the photo album.

Original poster

biggernow · 23/04/2009 12:45

thanks for that. good to have all this feedback. appreciate all your input and wish all of you the very best.

anyone else?

OP posts:

LiegeAndLief · 23/04/2009 13:38

I have already had 5 scans in this pg (am 29 weeks) and will be having them at least every 2 weeks for the rest of the pg as I had pre-eclampsia last time and am at high risk of getting it again. I am quite happy that the benefit of the scans outweigh any risk, especially as the risk seems to be mostly theoretical and not proven.

Jackaroo · 23/04/2009 13:53

I've had many scans, with no obvious issues. But more importantly, friend who is a consultant radiologist was so obsessive with her first that she was scanning herself at least once a week, throughout pg. So that's at least 30+ altogether.

No problems with the baby, and if anyone should know, I guess she should... ?

hth

CoteDAzur · 23/04/2009 15:17

Ultrasounds have been frequently used in pregnancy for a long time now. If there were any adverse side effects, we would know about them by now.

Here in France, everyone gets pretty long (about half hour) ultrasound scans at beginning of pregnancy ("confirmation scan"), at 12 weeks (nuchal & abnormality scan), 5 months, and 7 months. So that makes a minimum of 4 scans. I had amnio and big babies both pregnancies so went in for a late scan (8.5 months), so total 6 quite long ultrasound scans. No problems whatsoever.

Don't worry

naomi83 · 23/04/2009 15:32

Also live abroad, and got an ultrasound every month and once a week from 38-42 weeks, and an extra long one (like 4D type scan) around 5 months. asked my dad (UK GP) about why UK has so few ultrasounds compared to nearly all developed countries. He says it's a money issue.

Tee2072 · 23/04/2009 15:49

I am scanned every two weeks, due to my diabetes.

I have never heard of ultrasound having any effect on the baby at all.

sammysam · 23/04/2009 16:08

It is good to read these replies as I start my weekly scanning on monday-I will relax about it as it is needed and i'll just enjoy being able to see the baby and try to not

I knew that here in the UK we have less than other countries but also knew it wasn't as often as every week. I wander why other countries think it is worth the extra cost and we don't?

pinkpeony · 23/04/2009 16:59

I have had 7 scans so far (am 35 weeks). Had 5 scans (including nuchal) by the time I was 13 weeks - mainly due to missed miscarriage in previous pregnancy, plus one incident of spotting, which made me really nervous in the first trimester. Having a scan is the only way you can check that the baby is still there and is ok, so definitely worth it for me and outweighs any potential risks - my view is you can cause more damage to the baby by being overly stressed and worried in pregnancy. Also, have had some friends who were classified "high risk" pregnancies who had scan every 4 weeks at least throughout pregnancy. Don't think docs would do something that increases risk even further for an already risky pregnancy. Hope that reassures you.

AlexanderPandasMum · 23/04/2009 17:25

I had loads of scans in both my previous pregnancies due to high risk pregnancy. I don't think they would do it if they thought it damaged the health of babies. DS2 was scanned at 8, 13, 20, 24, 29, 30 and 31 weeks and was born at 31 weeks. It was down on my plan of care to have one per week after 28 weeks so he would have had many more had he not been born!

belgo · 23/04/2009 17:32

seeing as we're talking about scans in different countries, it's normal in Belgium to have three scans at 12, 20 and 30 weeks. Many private doctors do more though.

belgo · 23/04/2009 17:35

I've always found scans very stressful, and very uncomfortable lying on my back for that length of time, so really didn't want any more then was necessary.

I understand if you are bleeding how you need the reassurance of a scan. Good luck for tomorrow.

kitkatbaby · 23/04/2009 17:58

hi everyone,
ive heard that internal scans (rather than abdominal) can be a cause of miscarriage but cant find any info or evidence to support this? does anyone have any advice as im due to have one on saturday and am starting to worry!

Original poster

biggernow · 23/04/2009 19:27

thank you all SO much for your reassuring replies, helped me hugely.

kitkatbaby- i was assured that vaginal ultrasounds carry no risk of miscarriage- I had two in early pregnancy but it is up to you- by 7 weeks they were able to use tummy one for me.......good luck.

Thank you all. Fingers crossed.

OP posts:

Jackaroo · 24/04/2009 11:36

Kitkat - please don't take any notice of this idea - it's not true. Every Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) uses them constantly, they would NOT do this if htere was any kind of risk indicated...... they woudl just leave alone til they could use a tummy one. Sounds like an urban myth to me, and not a helpful one!

Biggernow - glad you're feeling reassured!

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