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

Original poster

Has anyone refused to have routine tests in pregnancy?

191 replies

foreverastudent · 23/02/2010 15:11

I refused blood tests as I didnt see them as being medically necessary. Had loads of hassle with the hospital about it though.

I did have ultrasounds because I felt that the benefits outweighed the potential risks but would be interested to hear from anyone who refused these?

Does anyone else worry about the possible long term consequences of routine ultrasounds? I know docs say they're safe but thay said that about thalidomide (sp?) and ultrasounds haven't been around long enough to know if there will be effects 50 years down the line.

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whirleywoo72 · 25/02/2010 13:34

i am on my 4th, and told the mid wife at my booking appointmen im not aving any tests, she insisted because of being 37yrs old and left a 14 yrs gap between my youngest and this pregnancy, i explained i would be gratful and loving no matter what god gave me, it wouldnt change anything, and with having 5 consec misc im taking no chances, no one is poking my little jelly bean with needles. i will have my scan and the first blood test at booking, and thats it.

jlouise24 · 22/04/2010 15:13

i'd love to hear more from those who refused all bloods... im one of them and im wonderinng what the consequences of refusing will be??? i posted a seperate thread but got no reply and id really love to talk to those in the same situation.. for those who refused bloods and went on the give birth how did it go for you and did you face any problems at all??? im scared i caused baby harm. its my 2nd child and i know im rh+

MiniMarmite · 22/04/2010 16:52

Maybe I misunderstood you OP but I don't understand how the risk of having a blood test for your blood group would not outweigh the potential benefit.

From my perspective, the risk to you or the baby in having bloods taken is negligible whereas the benefit of being able to have the right blood group quickly transfused in an emergency would be quite large (but I agree the risk of that being needed is reasonably small).

What is your objection to the routine blood tests you listed?

MiniMarmite · 22/04/2010 16:56

Regarding ultrasound, I have found the scans to be very helpful - having had two MMCs it has saved me weeks of continuing pregnancies that were not progressing (and, therefore, reducing my distress somewhat) and given considerable reassurance for my successful pregnancy.

Shaz10 · 22/04/2010 16:59

Ultrasound detected my placenta previa. I had no symptoms throughout pregnancy, and labour would have killed us both.

pupuce · 22/04/2010 17:08

I am replying simply to the question - not wishing to comment on others' choices.
For my 3rd child I had no scans at all and I had bloods once because i am Rh-. I also declined routine Anti-D
It wasn't routine when I had my first kids anyway.
I had a home water birth. The only issue for my midwife was where was my placenta.... after much research and discussions with various professionals I still felt there was no need to do a scan.

It is EXTREMELY rare to have a placenta previa that won't be noticed at all until labour starts and then it bleeds which means you need to be managed.

Placenta previa (because +99% of women have scans) are detected and they have elective c-sections before labour starts or even before they niggle.. so there can be no blood loss as it was for Shaz.

4nomore · 22/04/2010 17:20

The first scan on my grandson picked up that he had gastroschisis (I think that's the spelling more or less). This is not treated in utero but the discovery led to closer monitoring and crucially plans in place to whisk him off to GOSH for treatment immediately after his (natural) delivery. I think he would've been in trouble if he'd just turned up unannounced with his intestines hanging out - the scanning was very much justified and the outcome was very good.

Downdog · 22/04/2010 17:27

I had all the tests blood tests and 2 scans. As I was an older mum I was concerned about Downs Syndrome, but I have no idea what I would have done had the test come back positive, so perhaps that test was unnecessary.

A friend of mine had her life saved by the scans revealing very dangerous medical conditions for both her & the baby (though outwardly she looked very healthy). She was also able to prepare herself for the baby needing lifesaving surgery shortly after birth for a condition also revealed during the mothers scan.

So I'd have the two scans again - but I wouldn't seek out extra scans unless it was medically necessary.

NormalityBites · 22/04/2010 17:56

Blinkin heck, I wasn't offered most of the things on this thread in either of my pregnancies. When I was pregnant with DD I had one ultrasound scan at about 24 weeks and a blood test at 28 weeks. Not offered or sent for anything but those two things. And I never got the results of the blood test in my notes because it was lost at the lab, and deemed by the Midwife not worth repeating I know about all the tests here but didn't think they were offered as routine - because I certainly wasn't asked about them and I have my notes right here so I know it's not just my memory! Does it vary from area to area?

asuwere · 22/04/2010 17:57

jlouise24 I haven't had any blood tests in any of my 4 pregnancies (I haven't had any urine tests or scans either but just answering your question)

the SOM during my first pregnancy was a bitch witch who was not happy with my choices and she put a lot of pressure on me. I tried to ignore her but it did put added pressure on my birth. I put in a complaint to her afterwards and have never heard from her again!

My most recent pregnancy was fantastic - I had a fantastic midwife who totally agreed with my POV and was happy with my choices. It made it so much easier.

So, really, it does depend on your midwife I think as to whether you will get hassle but good luck

FlorenceandtheWashingMachine · 22/04/2010 17:58

Hello 4nmore, my DD was born with exomphalos and there were three gastro babies in ICU with her after delivery. It was amazing seeing all their bits and bobs hanging up above the cots. They all did amazingly well!

I was just about to post and say that my DD2's problems were picked up as a result of my having bloods done at 16 weeks. It had not been picked up by ultrasound. As a result of the diagnosis, I had ultrasounds every fortnight during my pregnancy and they allowed the hospital to prepare well for DD2's arrival.

I had those bloods taken with DD2 even though I turned them down with DD1, purely because I felt convinced there was something wrong with DD2. I also chose to have a CVS with her - not because I would have ended the pregnancy, but because I needed to know whether she was suffering from the fatal syndrome associated with a third of exomphalos pregnancies. I felt that we all had to know!

jlouise24 · 22/04/2010 18:02

i think i may have bumped this thread so im sorry if this thread is considered old news.. i was mainly lookin for advice since i declined all bloods.

4nomore · 22/04/2010 18:06

Florenece - glad your DD recovered well, it is amazing what bthey can do for these fragile babies.
Re. testing (in general) I think it would be good if there were better information. I'm happy to have all the bloods taken because it doesn't bother me personally and can't hurt the baby but if I did have any doubt over it it would be useful to know the stuff about other factors besides ABO being mutable because I (with some knowledge of biology) didn't know that. People should have access to good information and then their choices should be respected.

jlouise24 · 22/04/2010 18:09

asuwere did you not worry about bleedin too much durin labour or having blood disorders, clots, antibodies attacking baby etc??? im scared ive made the wrong choice by declining but i simply cant bring myself to get them done. i was just lookin for reassuring advice and i thank you for your reply. xx mw's have spoke of anaemia in the baby etc if antibodies start attacking etc- i had all tests with my first son and all was fine so im banking on everything bein fine again, esp as i declined bloods

sungirltan · 22/04/2010 18:13

i had all the tests that were on offer. but i my mum was a special needs teacher and sadly i knew what negative outcomes might be. sorry if thats a bit blunt.

also we buried dd's cousin on last xmas eve who was stillborn at 6 months because mum (we know now) has a blood clotting problem which is easily treatable in pregnancy. it was heartbreaking. next time i want to take all the tests too

jlouise24 · 22/04/2010 18:20

its the blood clotting disorders and possibility of bleeding too much during labour that terrifys me-no clotting disorder was picked up with my first child so again, im banking on that, that i dont have one. so sorry to hear about the loss sungirltan

asuwere · 22/04/2010 19:10

jlouise24 I didn't have any worries. I had been a blood donor for many years so I know my blood type, I've known since birth that I am RH+ so that wasn't an issue.

If you didn't have any blood disorders picked up during your first pregnancy, I doubt there would be a problem found now. If you are worried about it though, you can ask for a blood test at any time

funtimewincies · 22/04/2010 19:54

Like some others on the thread, I had routine bloods and the scans (including extras due to multiple miscarriages) with both ds'.

Both time, though, I refused any Down's screening. Dh and I decided that, as we we had no intention of terminating a pregnancy or having further tests done if the bloods came back as a high percentage, we didn't see the point and though that it would cause extra worry.

Personal choice though, partly due to being so relieved at having a baby sticking around long enough to get to that part of the pregnancy !

I too am intrigued by the choice to refuse ALL tests.

johnworf · 22/04/2010 21:42

Refused amnio even though was offered it on my 4th child as I was 42. Wouldn't have made any difference as I'd have carried on with the pregnancy anyway.

Did take the GTT and it turned out I had GD and ended up injecting insulin.

Had scans as bled during pregnancy.

Although not during pregnancy, did have a huge row with a doctor when I went to a day ward for an infected cyst. They insisted on taking full bloods and I thought it was ridiculous and totally unnecesary. I refused to have them on that occasion.

Clarbylou · 22/04/2010 21:57

My cousin has Downs Syndrome so everytime I have been pregnant I have been offered all the screening tests (even though I was 22 when I was pregnant with my first baby). I refused everytime (I've got 4 children) because I thought it would cause unnecessary worry. I did have the ultrasounds but thats it.

madcatsazz · 22/04/2010 22:53

FWIW, I had all the tests for first pregnancy but this time round, i have refused the blood tests in later pregnancy because I felt GD would show in the urine tests and 'probably' show in symptoms too (although am aware this isn't always the case). I was slightly pissed that they only offer the GD test for higher BMI as your BMI at the beginning of pregnancy means nothing - I know of 7 stone women putting on 5 stone during pg whilst heavier women losing or maintaining their weight. Anyway, i too have rubbish veins and one week i said no thanks, next week midwife tried for blood, couldn't find the vein and said well, if you're not worried, nor am I! I love my midwife...
In short,I accepted tests and scans based on the value of each one for me and the baby. That's all you can do.

spiderlight · 23/04/2010 00:23

I had ultrasound and routine bloods but refused all the tests for Down's etc. I knew I wouldn't terminate, but I also knew that my partner would be likely to want me to; plus I'd seen my best friend go through six months of agony after being told her baby was at high risk of Down's but not wanting to risk an amnio, only to give birth to a perfectly healthy son.

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 07:08

Refused screening testss (what's the point, as I wouldn't have done anything about it.
Did routine tests - iron levels etc

jlouise24 · 23/04/2010 07:26

its amazing to see how many women say no to bloods during pregnancy. midwives have made me feel im the only one saying no.asuwere thanks again for the info and advice, its made me feel loads better. just wondering how not having the bloods affected peoples labours??? did it pose a problem at all for any of you?? did any of you find out after delivery that you were anaemic and bled more than usual??? or was it all plain sailing???

alle01 · 23/04/2010 07:58

too much choice for some people, who can't appreciate a wonderful medical service in this country, sorry if it seems rude but,... ever wonder why so many women in undeveloped countries die in childbirth? ever wonder why so many children die still born in countries without proper medical services? the americans will make up any excuse to justify cutting cost, but you have a nice nhs paid by tax, and by the way, being left-handed is not a disability, certainly better than many other things that can be picked up by scans, if you choose to believe such nonsense,.... what is next: stop vaccinations, don't take the children to the doctors when they are sick?
have your test, the nhs is not out there to get you, and all these test are done for your benefit and to make sure you do get a healthy happy baby to take home, be grateful you live in a country where there is available and doesn't cost you a penny, and blog about something more useful.