Scans. Why do we bother?

[spidermama]

I expect I'll be a lone voice on this matter but here goes.

I never had scans. Didn't see the point. I think routine scanning is an expensive waste of NHS money and regularly scares women during pregnancy.

I've lost count of the number of women who've had needless, sleepless nights because of comments made or action taken as a result of scans.

I don't need them for bonding. I can bond perfectly well without a grainy picture.

Yet the vast majority of all women I meet seem to love scans. Why?

And before you say it - yes, your opinion is the only one that matters to you, and that's fine. Our opinion is pretty important to the rest of us too.

SM I can see your point - to a point!! In some ways, for some people, they are a waste of time and can cause more worry than necessary (which I guess is your point). However for some people they are really important, and can be vital in other cases.

Personally I dithered over the blood tests more than the scans. When I asked what these were for at around 15 - 16 weeks I was told so you can abort if there is a problem!!! GREAT councelling I decided to have them in the end, but was never really happy about it.

I think there is a lot of confusiion over scans, some areas offer 1 scan at 12 - 13 weeks, others 1 scan at around 20 weeks, still others that offer 2 routine scans. I am not sure what is the best option, I don't think the NHS knows either. If there was the same system everywhere there would be less confusion.

nah not angry...you just seem like one of those 'earth mother' types who will condemn any medical intervention in a pregnancy even though it saves so many lives..
for what i said about alcohol, please look in the 'other subjects' forum under 'what do you think of women who drink whilst pregnant'..quite a debate going on!
and no..they would not routinelty x ray a preganat woman, but if you had a very severe break the ywould...

Gosh wwb. Had a bad day?

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the sound waves from dopplers were worse than those from the ultrasound scan...

I think you are all being completely over the top actually. There are lots of women who dont enjoy scans for whatever reason. I never found them moving or exciting and I certainly never found the pic to be a bonding experience.

Its spidermamas opinion and I don't think she should be vilified for it.

I read that too. But they're on you for shorter. I prefer the old style trumpets but not all mw's carry them nowadays.

I'm grateful to you for that Enid.

hmm- agree that we should be more circumspect about ultrasound- SM is right, it is NOT entirely innocuous and without risk. Also think that they don't help with bonding- surely mothers bonded with their babies before scans were done routinely? However as a relatively harmless tool, they are useful for screening for anomalies and conditions that might affect the progress of the pregnancy. Xrays are used in pregnancy, but not routinely, and not usually for pregnancy-related problems. There is little more risk (as far as can be measured) X-raying a 3rd trimester baby inside its Mother than Xraying a premature baby on SCBU- it happens all the time , several times a day. For example, if Mum was in an accident and had suspected spinal injuries then Xray would be indicated.

Oh yes - I forgot they used to use those trumpets to listen to the baby's heartbeat.

The trumpets seem quaint now. Like old style hearing aids.

help with bonding for partner though, who doesnt first hand experience the changes and feel the kicks etc, plus i can't wait to see my wee tot, and find out the sex in advance.
remember how many women died in pregnancy and childbirth and how many newborns died from abnormalities in the past
i think we are lucky that we have advanced medical technology that can detect any problems.

babyonboard. You have been very insulting!

Perhaps you'd like to expand on your definition of an earth mother type who risks their baby's life.

I like scans, but I certainly understand people not having them. A friend of mine is like you, spidermama, she had no scans, four babies at home, no problems.

If you wouldn't terminate for abnormalities, then there's not as much of a point to having scans. I do think it's worth thinking about why you're having a scan and what you're going to do with any information you get.

I have read there is some connection between lots of scans and ear infections. But as I've had miscarriages, and early scans prevent miscarriages, presumably by reassuring mums, I've tended to have a fair number of scans.

Babyonboard, when you say 'earth mother' which element do you see as the neglectful/foolish. The 'earth' or the 'mother'?

helps with bonding for partner

my dh was convinced I was going to give birth to an Alsatian after my first scan with dd1. He's never come to any of them and I wouldn't expect him to.

I don't think SM deserves the slating she's had here. I do think people have scans without thinking about the "why". I think PPH was particularly horrid.

I think that scans are used nowadays to save money actually, here's my reasoning:

1. When I had dd1 in the 1970's no routine scans were available and I had none. However I had much more and more frequent antenatal care with consultants, doctors and midwives all listening, feeling, taking blood pressure, etc.
2. With dd2 born in the 1990's I had 3 scans and a very few midwife appointments.

My friend who's had homebirths actually didn't know, for each pregnancy, how many babies there were - I don't think she listened to the heartbeats? So she'd wonder, going into labour, "will there be one or two?". She always only had one, but I find the idea of not trying to know that sort of detail in advance quite interesting.

Cam, scans are used to save money by getting women to abort babies who would be severely disabled or non-viable. Which is fine, as long as women understand that.

If you have a scan which revealed you were at high risk of Down's or other abnormalities, you are advised to have an amnio or CVS, and then pointed towards a termination.

I have to say I feel a little guilty now for not looking into the whole scan thing before having scans. Tbh if I'd thought further about it I'd probably not have had them but I do see their value as well.

I have to turn in now. What a lively debate!

Interesting views, particularly the non-offensive ones!

Night night.

Yes, I think that's true as well NQC