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Pregnancy

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

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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.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 11:01

I'm not saying that a woman should or shouldn't do the tests. I just think that we shouldn't be disparaging about choices that although different from yours are perfectly reasonable/logical

alle01 · 23/04/2010 11:19

you can't do anything with the information? yes, you can, you can prepare yourself, physically and mentally, and you can take your time to do research and arrangements for whatever condition your baby may have, so as to make it easier on yourself and get the best possible care and options for your baby, remember information is power, in this case, to get ready to support that baby as best as you can. on the other hand, there are many things that can be done for a sick baby, most people don't find out because they don't need to know, and doctors don't give you unpleasant, scary information while you're pregnant unless the have to, i have a medical condition that could be damaging to my baby, if i have gotten sick during my pregnancy (i am so close to due date that doesn't matter now), we would have to go to plan b, i haven't been told what plan b is, or what consequences exactly my illness may bring to my baby, if the worst happened, as i had a happy, safe pregnancy, doctors don't want to scare you or worry you, or treat as a lab mouse, they're trying to protect you and your baby, whatever can wait until after the birth, will. i just think is silly not to use the resources available, just to be stuborn and show the doctors you know better. you don't.

Francagoestohollywood · 23/04/2010 11:25

The US have one of the highest rate of women's mortality at birth. That's linked to a huge rate of women not having any kind of ante natal care (as they don't have any insurance). That includes blood tests and other tests that can detect treatable conditions, like diabetes.

I'm not sure it is the wisest move to refuse blood tests to check on how healthy a woman is during her pg.

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 11:30

alle01 FFS, stop ranting and calm down. The bulk of your post is subjective so don't speak for me (and many others I'm sure).

If I was going to have a baby that had a condition that was untreatable and there was nothing medical that could be done for me or baby (those were the tests I refused) then I personally would rather not know.

I am not a worrier and find great enjoyment living my life by cutting out sources of worry that I have no influence over. I have many sources of information and asked the midwife (and a friend who is a neonatologist) about things like this. I have made an intelligent and informed decision for myself thank you very much.

On that note, I'm out.

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 11:32

Yes Franca I agree, critical to do routine tests like blood sugars, iron etc as outcome can affected.

nunnie · 23/04/2010 11:36

It is your decision at the end of the day, they is why they are offered to you. It is choice based.

I have only refused blood screening tests. Have had all routine tests as some may not be necessary to some people but are to others.

As for scans I have never refused a scan and don't think I will, as the 12 week scan for me selfishly maybe made me feel slightly less anxious.
The 20 week scan checks for a number of conditions one of which there is a family history of for me. Any scans required after that scan IME have only been done as they have been worried about something and once they put the worry in my head, the scan was all that could erase that worry for me.

A I say it is your body and you have the right to choose, no one should be judged on their choices.

alle01 · 23/04/2010 11:41

i may be ranting but i am not speaking for you, whiff... i just don't understand why people think that doctors are there to get them, tests are done for a reason, you can have a reason to not do them, you do, but don't say they are a danger and people is tested just for fun , and because midwives like to do the paperwork and waste nhs money.and the ranting, right back at you

pupuce · 23/04/2010 11:44

The problem is we ^expect" medicine to prepare us and fix everything and it simply can't. There are error in diagnosis, there are un-diagnosed problems, there are over diagnosed problems too.

You can have a downs syndrome child despite numerous scan... ask our best friend!

You can be told in pregnancy your baby has this or that problem... only to not have that problem at birth... leading you to MUCH stress in pregnancy...

It is about choice, and it is also important to remember the limitations of tests... and the sometimes over cautious attitude taken by medics... which can affect the outcome too!

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 11:45

Thank you nunnie, you speak sense.

Francagoestohollywood · 23/04/2010 11:45

Nappyaddict, spina bifida, gastroschisis, anencephaly are picked up by ultrasounds (I think spina bifida/anencephaly, both neural tube defects, can be detected by cvs/amnio too)

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 11:46

was for alle

pupuce · 23/04/2010 11:48

Alle - have you never heard of tests that detect things that aren't there? and therefore lead to management of pregnancy and birth (and higher risk of ceasarean)...

typical example of this (and not rare) is suspected gestational diabetes!... leads to inductions or elective ceasareans.

alle01 · 23/04/2010 11:49

i agree it all depends in your doctor too, i had several midwives during pregnancy and information wasn't great, but i have a wonderful gp willing to have long chats with me giving me all options, i trust him, so i am happy to take his advice, pupuce even know there are mistakes and overdiagnose, that is no reason to skip all test, in my opinion, certainly not to demonize them.

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 11:54

alle fgs (smile) no one is recommending skipping all tests. Where did you see that??

pupuce · 23/04/2010 11:57

It is your opinion (no reason to skip all test) :-)

pupuce · 23/04/2010 11:58

Whifflegarden... but some of us choose not to have any.

alle01 · 23/04/2010 11:59

i'm not saying get tested for everything under the sun, it is actually quite difficult in the nhs to get anything done if it not medically recommended, i read the begining of the tread at six in the morning and there were test saying all kind of horrible things, ... and dangers in the test, including birth defects,...

nunnie · 23/04/2010 12:05

As I said it is personally choice and no one should be judged on what they decide to do.

alle01 · 23/04/2010 12:07

see, how do i put this carefully?, there is people saying don't get tested, let nature run its course,... but nature is not always nice.... i rather prepare unnecessarily than have a shock or a tragedy for something preventable, all i'm saying is test should be at least considered, and action taken apropietly, of course, you should have a say in what is done, doctors are not gods, nor infallible, have you ever make a mistake at work? well, they try not to, because of consequences, but they are human, and no, i'm not a doctor neither is my father

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 12:10

alle, I think you're arguing with pupuce
pupuce do you vaccinate?

alle01 · 23/04/2010 12:14

i don't know who am i arguing with, or why it is so radical, the tread is about routine test, not amniocentesis or something drastic, ... maybe my tone is too harsh,...but still am right,

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 12:17

pu when I said it in my head.

Our opinions differ, but that's fine. My iron levels were checked towards the end of my pregnancy and found to be v low inspite of my healthy diet. Could have been dangerous in birth for me if undetected and I wouldn't have been allowed the lovely intervention free birth I had at the birth centre. Did you know that such a minor, minor (and easily treated) issue, anemia is a leading cause of maternal mortality in child birth in developing countries?

I sound a bit like alle now

nunnie · 23/04/2010 12:17

I think the main question in the thread is about scans, but there is no mention that the TS is only referring to routine bloods, they state blood tests which imo means and tests including screening.

I think it is the scan side that has led to a discussion on "drastic" issues.

Not arguing just saying how I have read the thread.

whifflegarden · 23/04/2010 12:19

I agree with nunnie

alle01 · 23/04/2010 12:23

i think we should all agree nobody is arguing, just giving our opinions, however different they might be, i also though the tread was about routine blood test and 2 scans, but it has degenerated, maybe we should get back to that...
whiff, i do recognize i have an issue with people dismissing the nhs, because of my experience of other countries, however indirect, i just think we should appreciate it more, but don't get me started on that, or you'll regret it for next ten post...

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