Prenatal Ultrasounds: Peek at What Price?
When I got pregnant for the first time I took for granted that we would find out our baby’s gender before the birth. “Why not?” I thought.
The answer to that question came during a routine visit with my chiropractor, who specialized in caring for expecting mothers. As I chattered on about our excitement in “finding out,” she calmly responded “It’s fun to wait, too.”
It’s fun to wait, too? What’s fun about waiting?
I tried to think of something that it is fun to wait for. Nothing.
It bugged me, because in the time I had been under Dr. Cindy’s care I had come to deeply respect her. I knew there was a reason for what she’d said, so I asked her at my next appointment. It was then that I learned there were considerable risks associated with ultrasounds.
Yale Study Links Prenatal Ultrasound to Brain Damage
Physicians should continue to be prudent about the use of ultrasound and perform the study only when medically necessary (emphasis mine) and when benefits outweigh risk, according to the American College of Radiology. The advice comes in the wake of recent findings by Yale researchers that link prenatal ultrasound exposure to brain damage.
During fetal development, neurons of the brain migrate to their correct positions. In a study of 335 mice, the researchers found that exposing pregnant mice to ultrasound waves at frequencies of 6.7 MHz for 30 minutes or more interfered with this normal migration in their fetuses. This interference could potentially result in brain abnormalities such as mental retardation and seizures.
The study has unveiled a risk previously not known, according to Dr. Carol Rumack, head of the American College of Radiology ultrasound commission. The study provides further proof that ultrasound keepsake videos should not be performed and that ultrasound equipment should be used only by qualified people, said Rumack, a professor of pediatrics and radiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine
The effects on neural migration were the result of direct prolonged exposure of the fetal mouse brain to ultrasound waves. Ultrasound examinations in pregnant women with abdominal pain are targeted to the evaluation of the mother’s abdomen and not to the fetus. Typically, the fetal brain is not exposed or is exposed during very short periods of time during the examination.
In clinical practice, physicians often perform ultrasound for 30 minutes, but they typically move the probe around on the patient. In a quest to find the perfect 3D image of a developing child, however, others might hold the probe down in one spot for longer periods of time, increasing the risk of fetal damage.
The Yale study was performed in mice who were in the equivalent of the human third trimester of pregnancy. Traditionally, concern about performing imaging studies has centered on the first trimester, when basic organs are developing. The mouse study suggests concern in later stages might also be appropriate.
It’s important for the public to remember that the imaging study involves putting ultrasound energy into the fetus, Rumack said.
“One should not use ultrasound as if it were a digital camera,” she said.
But mice aren’t humans!
The most common response I’ve seen to “studies on mice” is: “But those are mice! Mice aren’t people! If I listened to every study about how things affect mice, NOTHING would be safe.” And we often go about our lives, assuming that such studies can’t be taken seriously.
That’s why this article is so important. It describes why we SHOULD pay attention to what studies on mice show, and why mice are the ideal specimen for indicating potential human reactions.
Why should neurodevelopmental defects in rats or other mammals be of concern to expecting women? Because, as Cornell University researchers proved in 2001, brain development proceeds in the same manner “across many mammalian species, including human infants.” The team found “95 neural developmental milestones” that helped them pinpoint the sequence of brain growth events in different species.(15) Therefore, if repeated experiments show that elevated heat caused by ultrasound damages fetal brains in rats and other mammals, one can logically assume that it can harm human brains, too. (3)
I don’t live my life in fear of toxins, BPA, or sonograms. I know that I cannot insulate myself or my family from every risk and I’m not trying to. When I began having contractions during this pregnancy that scared me into thinking I was having a miscarriage I seriously considered having an ultrasound. I wanted to know my baby was alive, and I think that it would have been a perfectly valid decision. But then I started wondering, “If my baby is okay, what have I done by exposing them to a technology that increases their risk of dyslexia, epilepsy, mental retardation, or autism?” (Just to name a few of the conditions studies suggest may be linked.) After praying intensely about the decision, Daniel and I decided not to do it. If we had a perfectly healthy baby we wanted to keep it that way. And if not, a sonogram wouldn’t change it. We would just wait and see.
What can a sonogram really tell us?
The desire to ensure that “baby is okay” can be a powerful motivation to get a sonogram. However, according to research collected by Sarah J Buckley, M.D.:
And while many women are reassured by a normal scan, RPU [routine prenatal sonograms] actually detects only between 17 and 85 percent of the 1 in 50 babies that have major abnormalities at birth. A recent study from Brisbane showed that ultrasound at a major women’s hospital missed around 40 percent of abnormalities, with most of these being difficult or impossible to detect. Major causes of intellectual disability such as cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome are unlikely to be picked up on a routine scan, as are heart and kidney abnormalities.
There is also the risk of a “false positive,” which causes needless worry for expecting families.
But won’t a sonogram ensure a safer birth? In most cases, no. According to The American College of Obstetricians, women with low-risk pregnancies experience neither a reduction in negative outcomes nor fewer interventions.
In a population of women with low-risk pregnancies, neither a reduction in perinatal morbidity [harm to babies around the time of birth] and mortality nor a lower rate of unnecessary interventions can be expected from routine diagnostic ultrasound. Thus ultrasound should be performed for specific indications in low-risk pregnancy. (4)
Disclaimer:
I REALLY do not judge people that choose to find out the sex or get an ultrasound for medically necessary reasons. A lot of responsible healthcare providers (including my midwife), feel that one sonogram at 20 weeks to determine sex carries a minimal amount of risk. What really concerns me is how doctors and boutique 3D imaging centers are doing multiple scans with long exposure times for no medical reason. Did you know that the March of Dimes organization estimates that birth defects involving the genitals and urinary tract affect “as many as 1 in 10 babies,” adding that “specific causes of most of these conditions is unknown.”(1) Could it be that by repeatedly focusing on that region to determine gender we are causing harm?
What is the true price of a peek? No one knows. UK consumer activist Beverley Beech has called routine prenatal ultrasound “the biggest uncontrolled experiment in history” (2). The FDA has repeatedly warned consumers against non-medical or “keepsake” portrait studios, yet they become more and more popular each year (especially with the introduction of 3D sonograms.)
I don’t want to tell people what to do when it comes to getting a sonogram or not. After all, I don’t want people to tell me where to have my baby! I wrote this post because I was completely ignorant of dangers associated with routine sonograms. I’m glad someone told me, and hopefully someone who reads this will be glad I told them.
For any of you folks I may have offended, I’m sorry. I know we each invest heavily in the choices we make for our children and I do not doubt that their good is our goal.
P.S. All this info applies for Doppler devices, too ; – )
Additional Resources:
Concerns About Ultrasound – Dr. Jennifer Barham-Floreani
Questions about Prenatal Ultrasound and the Alarming Increase in Autism
Ultrasound Scans- cause for concern – Dr. Sarah J Buckley, MD
References:
1. “Genital and Urinary Tract Defects.” March of Dimes. www.marchofdimes.com/printableArticles/4439_1215.asp. Accessed 27 Aug 2006.
2. Beech BL. Ultrasound unsound? Talk at Mercy Hospital, Melbourne, April 1993.
3. Questions about Prenatal Ultrasound and the Alarming Increase in Autism
4. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG practice patterns. Routine ultrasound in low-risk pregnancy. Number 5, August 1997. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1997;59(3):273-8.18
Shannon
thanks. it was interesting. i only had 2 when i was pregnant and 1 was necessary.
(the other was the gender one) i didn’t know it was the same for the Doppler ones too. (that’s the heartbeat thing, right) hmmm. my midwife didn’t mention that one being unsafe.
Heather
The midwife I had with Katie didn’t mention it, either. I heard Katie’s heartbeat using a doppler before I knew any better. In my opinion, there are appropriate times to use the doppler. If my midwife asks to use one to check on the baby during the birth I will consent. However, there are other options, such as a fetoscope, if parents just want to hear the heartbeat. A fetoscope is like a large stethoscope. Because it doesn’t amplify sound the way electronic machines do, it’s not usually possible to hear the heartbeat until 18-20 weeks or so. We’re very excited about that appointment!!!
Here are some quotes about doppler from Dr. Buckley’s article:
“One Australian study showed that babies exposed to 5 or more doppler ultrasounds were 30% more likely to develop intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)- a condition that ultrasound is often used to detect.”
“In contrast, doppler techniques, which are used in specialised scans, fetal monitors and hand-held fetal stethoscopes (“sonicaids”) feature continuous waves, giving much higher levels of exposure than ‘pulsed’ ultrasound. Many women do not realise that the small machines used to listen to their baby’s heartbeat are actually using doppler ultrasound, although with fairly low exposure levels.”
Kaylie
Wow. I don’t know what to say. That’s more information than I think I wanted to have on the subject. This will make me think twice about checking on my baby just to see him.
Heather
Thanks, Kaylie. That was the response I was hoping for. I certainly believe there are situations that in which using a doppler and ultrasound machine is appropriate. It’s the keepsake “portraits” that concern me most.
midwifecentral
Not sure I’m gonna do anything different. Parents want to feel safe. And if the risks are minimal, it’s worth the mommy feeling calm and relaxed.
Hillary Boucher
Midwifecentral, It would be at least my hope that you are informing your patients of this information. I firmly believe that it is every woman’s choice to make her own birth decisions, but unfortunately we have this large population of woman saying, “But I didn’t know that!”
Yes, women need to start informing themselves rather than blindly trusting practicians and I also hope that practicians start giving more information.
Heather
I think mommies feeling calm and relaxed is of utmost importance. When I was concerned about the possibility of miscarriage my midwife told me she would prefer to use the doppler than have me worry intensely, as that would be worse for the baby. In researching this subject, I came to the conclusion that I feel calm and relaxed about the health of my pregnancy without the help of a sonogram/doppler. Perhaps some people will choose to use the doppler early on and then switch to a fetoscope when the heartbeat is loud enough to be heard.
Lucy
” If we had a perfectly healthy baby we wanted to keep it that way. And if not, a sonogram wouldn’t change it.”
I’m afraid I don’t really agree with this. A sonogram could indicate any number of conditions in the early stages, which can be slowed, halted and even reversed with the necessary treatment. Not having the sonogram could allow this kind of condition to worsen and ultimately harm mother and baby.
I totally agree that the effects of a sonogram are largely unresearched. However, any parent has the right to say how long they want a sonogram to last and what they want their midwife to look for. If the main aim of a sonogram is done after 5 minutes then there’s nothing to say they have to carry on. I would definitely advise against the use of home dopplers, not just because of the physical risks, but also because if you’re unqualified, it can be difficult to determine between the mother’s heartbeat and the fetal heartbeat, as well as the sound of blood passing through the placenta. Some women’s babies have stopped moving, but they’ve not seeked help because they think they can hear the heartbeat.
Overall I think sonograms are a good idea, but only when they’re necessary, and only to check for abnormalities/the sex of the baby.
Lucy´s last blog ..Women in Utah May Face Prosecution Following Miscarriage
Heather
Lucy, thank you so much for your comments. Our decision not to use the doppler was based on the specific circumstances of this pregnancy. I had received emotionally traumatic news on the day I began experiencing contractions. I had no bleeding, just contractions, and I have no previous history of miscarriage. After talking things over with my midwife, I had the strong sense that the contractions were my body’s way of telling me to step back from the emotional situation and focus on taking care of myself and baby.
Regarding birth defects, I am not aware of any conditions that could be slowed or reversed through early intervention. Could you tell me more about that? If we were to learn that our baby had an abnormality of any kind we would not choose to terminate the pregnancy. Therefore, learning of a possible defect would not affect the outcome of the pregnancy, only the timing in which we learned of a new challenge. Some conditions have been known to spontaneously resolve as well, so I guess for us we just choose to focus on that. Again, thank you so much for your comments. I really appreciate your thoughtful response.
Bobby Wayne
Cmon, now! You’re scarin’ people over a mouse? I know kids that turned out fine and they’d be practically glowing after all the sonograms and such they had. Thats just a little paranoid, if ya no what i mean.
Heather
Bobby, I certainly understand why you feel that way. I don’t want to scare anyone! People handle facts differently. The more I learn about pregnancy the less fearful I am.
Another consideration is the rise of autism in the U.S. Some experts believe that certain environmental (chemical and radiology-related) exposures may exploit a genetic weakness in some people. So while many may not be affected by this technology, we don’t know which ones could be. My two cents ; – )
Hillary Boucher
Hi Heather,
I am really thankful of this post. You did a really great job of presenting important information that will help women make their decisions. It was clear, down to earth and in my opinion non-judgmental.
I am creating a course for expectant mothers and am looking for this type of writing and information to stimulate discussions.
Thanks so much! Looking forward to more good stuff to come
Hillary Boucher´s last blog ..flowers13: @MauricaZ oh my gosh! card catalogs. major flashbacks.
Heather
Thank you, Hilary! I’d love to read your course when it’s complete. There’s always so much more to learn : – )
Robin Elise Weiss
The biggest problems with ultrasound is that it has been sold to women as a way to bond and risk free. I try to explain to people that there is a subtle but important difference in the wording: “proven safe” and “not proven harmful.”
It is also important to remember that ultrasound is also used in external fetal monitoring. You can ask that your practitioner use a fetoscope or regular stethoscope.
Ultrasounds can be great for when it is medically necessary, but the number of ultrasounds done to find that one baby it helps are staggering.
Everyone will have to figure out, with the help of her practitioner, when is the right time, if ever, for an ultrasound.
Robin Elise Weiss´s last blog ..Save on Pregnancy Pillows
Heather
Robin, I totally agree with you, especially your point about ultrasounds being presented as a safe “bonding experience.” Thank you so much for sharing!
Neal
Very well thought out & presented. Thank you for sharing!
Heather
Thanks Neal!
Erika
I personally chose to do 3 ultrasounds when I was pregnant and really do not regret it. I researched EVERYTHING I ever did while pregnant. I was so careful and did everything by the book.
I think we honestly need to ask ourselves, when is it TOO much??? I never drank a sip of alcohol, never ate any type of fish, took my vitamins religiously… etc etc. I have a friend who has a beer every so often, eats whatever she wants, and so on. Opposite of what I have done.
So who was right? Neither of us. We’re both just enjoying our own birth experiences.
There are so many things that we have to second guess ourselves about when pregnant, and even more so once we have the baby. It can drive you insane!
We have the draw the line somewhere.
I appreciate and really understand all of the scientific findings about ultrasounds. I do think there is a good argument against them. However, as with everything, there is no clear cut way of ruling one way or the other.
Erika´s last blog ..Giveaway!
bill
this problem would resolve itself if the insurance industry would simple reimburse ONLY for medically required sonograms.
Hillary
Bill, it would really depend on what the medical community is willing to write off as medically necessary.
Heather
Interesting point, Bill. Like Hillary I wonder what they would deem medically necessary, but it probably would cut down on routine ultrasounds.
Ananda
Thanks for this – more and more people need to become aware – I was lucky to have the support of my midwife when I told her I didn’t want any ultrasounds, and we never used a doppler.
HOwever the medical community tried to guilt us into an ultrasound and in the end we had 1.
Thanks Again
Heather
Ananda- We have run into that too from time to time. For us, the pressure came more when we chose not to vaccinate our newborn (a whole different can of worms!). Thanks for sharing your experience.
Lucy
Hi Heather,
Sorry, I wasn’t quite clear on the second point, I didn’t mean there are birth defects that can be picked up on and treated, I meant conditions such as pre-eclampsia that present with an enlarged liver seen on sonograms.
I’m so glad you contacted your midwife and sought her advice. Also that you listened to your instincts, they’re the most important thing! I thought maybe that you had been having problems but decided to leave it with no further action. Sorry for the confusion
Lucy´s last blog ..Women in Utah May Face Prosecution Following Miscarriage
Heather
Thank you for the clarification, Lucy. I appreciate your kind words and I’m so glad you took the time to follow up. I’ll do more research into the pre-eclampsia angle.
Heather
Lucy, I forgot to add that even after talking to my midwife I was still concerned about the possibility that our baby had passed away as a result of the severe emotional shock I had received. Although it was unlikely, my first reaction was still to seek reassurance using a doppler. However, since I knew the risks I decided to “wait and see” for a day or two and I found that in the end I didn’t need the doppler to feel at peace with the situation. What I’m trying to say is that we weren’t 100% sure what was going on when we decided against the doppler, we just knew that distress originating from the baby hadn’t been the cause of the contractions.
Julie Wallace
Fascinating! Thanks for posting. My husband read an article not too long ago (unfortunately I don’t remember where) that stated findings of a correlation b/w affluent areas & higher levels of autism. If that theory that more exposure to sonograms is linked to autism, then those findings make complete sense. Very interesting!
Heather
That’s an interesting possibility. Thanks, Julie!
Nadya
Interesting but I do feel as though if I responded to every possible risk during pregnancy I would not leave the house! It’s about checks and balances.
Heather
Nadya, I do think striving for perfection will make anyone feel crazy. Good point.
Hannah Tallo
Thank you Heather for doing this! I love how thorough you are in your research. I like having an article I can refer people to presented in a good way. Thanks!
Hannah Tallo´s last blog ..My foodie baby
Heather
Thank you, Hannah. You have no idea what it means to hear that from someone that knows A LOT more about pregnancy and birth than I do!
Jen
Interesting stuff!
Heather
Thank you!
Kayce
Incredible post! I love the research and I completely agree with it.
Ultrasounds are used to find out everything in pregnancy when sometimes it is easier to just wait. Or even use your hands.
My midwife palpates at every appointment so she knows how much fluid there is, what position the baby is in, and it also helps to find the heart beat and so many other things. Zero risk.
When you are getting an ultrasound to find out every little thing, you begin to rely on seeing your baby at every appointment. And not only that, you think that if you don’t see your baby, something could be wrong. All it does is increase worry and stress in pregnancy, when those impact the baby so much they should be avoided.
Not to mention the untold risk of getting ultrasounds in pregnancy. I do think the regular 20 week ultrasound is good, if not just to see where the placenta is and if baby is growing ok. This won’t take more than 15 minutes. This one ultrasound won’t hurt to the extent that multiple ultrasounds can, and it also can give you an image of your baby and to know if you need other options because you have a placenta in a bad position.
Medicine has become more electrical and has more interventions that are needed just because skill has gone out the window. How hard is it to learn how to palpate so the mother knows where the baby is and how the baby is doing without risking the baby and mom because they don’t need an ultrasound?
Again, great post!!!
Kayce´s last blog ..A Professional Dilemma
Heather
Thanks, Kayce. My midwife palpates at every visit, too. What I loved about this is how she taught me to feel the position of my baby on my own. For me, this intimate knowledge of what my baby was doing throughout each day increased my bonding experience significantly more than I imagine a sonogram would (although since we didn’t do one I can’t actually compare).
Kayce
I wish I had known about palpation with my daughter. I didn’t know she was breech until they did an ultrasound at 35 weeks that found it. I cannot wait until another pregnancy so I can use all I have learned to feel closer to my baby and make better and more informed choices
Kayce´s last blog ..A Professional Dilemma
Heather
Kayce, if it happens to come up during your next pregnancy, I highly recommend locating a chiropractor that knows the Webster technique. There is a tendon (or something) that runs on both sides of your stomach. When it gets tense it restricts the uterus from fully expanding. By releasing the tension the uterus relaxes and it becomes easier for baby to move head down. We did this technique with my daughter and it worked wonders!
Lori
As a doula, and a mom of 3, I really try ot discourage people from the “fun” ultrasounds – the ones just to get images and maybe gender. I think that the regular ultrasound is overutilized and worry about the effects of it, but only share that opinion with clients if they ask…..I think ultrasound should be reserved for the most high risk clients because of the concerns listed here.
Heather
Thank you, Donna!
Melanie Kissell, CCE/LC
Heather, you’ve done an exemplary job on presenting this pertinent information. I’ve been a Perinatal Educator and Lactation Specialist for over a quarter of a century. So let me just add this to an already lively conversation going on here …
1.) There are SO FEW surprises in our adult lives (good ones, that is!)
Wait until your baby’s birthday to find out the gender.
2.) To coin a phrase, the jury is still out when it comes to ultrasounds. If you’re a low risk mom and you’re having a complications-free pregnancy, be proactive and make sure the screening is absolutely medically indicated. If necessary, “Push” your caregiver for a VALID indication and explanation.
3.) Be very careful folks. You’re treading on shaky ground when you wish to give insurance companies the power to determine what is and what is not medically indicated. They’re already doing a darn good job of making some really bad decisions. For example, some insurance carriers won’t cover the cost of certain life-saving medications. Their decisions can lead to death.
4.) As a general rule, I advise my expectant couples to stay the heck off the internet and enjoy the pregnancy! The problem is that there’s just TOO MUCH information on the world wide web and everybody has a different
opinion. This fact can send pregnant couples traveling down the road to confusion, worry, and frustration.
5.) Here’s my motto: “It’s your pregnancy, it’s your baby, and it’s your birth.” Take charge. You cannot go back and have this baby a second time!
For anyone reading this who’s expecting a child:
Have a healthy, happy baby … that sleeps all night!
~Melanie
Melanie Kissell, CCE/LC´s last blog ..Breastfeeding Tips for the First Six Weeks
Heather
Great advice, Melanie. I was truly surprised to find out that both you and my midwife were right . . . it WAS fun to be surprised by our daughter’s gender after her birth!
Melanie Buck
As I was reading this, I was reminded of how beautiful and exciting yet vunerable pregnancy can be. I love and support you and I think you are a wonderful Mommy and advocate for Baby D.
Heather
Thanks, Melanie ; – ) You are a sweet friend.
Joanna Moore
i second whoever said that you are really good about providing resources for your research. great job!
having worked for an ob/gyn during my first pregnancy, i was able to get a lot of freebie sonograms from our sonographer, which was really fun. i had heard that there might be risks involved with ultrasound but didn’t pay much attention since it hadn’t been proven unsafe. during my second pregnancy, i got a sonogram at almost every visit until the third trimester because she was unable to detect his heartbeat with the doppler. it gave me peace of mind knowing that he was okay, although i totally respect and admire those that are able to be calm even without being able to see for sure. at the last appointment of the pregnancy, the doctor did a sonogram because i was measuring small for dates. it showed that there was a dangerously low level of fluid, and we ended up inducing that day (2 weeks before due date). i am very thankful that we were able to avert a possibly fatal outcome, although i can’t say for sure that had we not gotten it, he wouldn’t have survived. i’ve never heard of palpating to check fluid, that’s really interesting. it’s good to know that midwives are doing that!
most if not all insurance companies don’t cover sonograms that aren’t medically necessary, but it’s really easy for the staff to code the procedure to seem that way. i’ll definitely think twice about getting sonograms if i have any more children.
Joanna Moore´s last blog ..Thankful Thursday
Heather
Thanks for sharing, Joanna. I am not a medical professional but I imagine that your last sono would very likely be categorized as a medically necessary one. So glad your baby boy is here with us and healthy!
Sunshine
I completely agree with this article. It’s very well-written, and full of good references. I do believe, however, that during labor the benefits of using a doppler (not continuous monitoring)outweigh the risks. Thanks for posting.
Heather
Thanks, Sunshine. I agree that dopplers can be very valuable during labor and I will consent to using it if my midwife requests it.
Cindy
Heather, you amaze me! What a great post. Thanks for getting info out there… Again, it is sad how many things we do in life “just because everyone else is doing them”. Hopefully this article will help people research their choices more.
Cindy´s last blog ..Seasons…
Heather
You amaze me more! After all, you are the one that started all this ; – )
Beth
Well written and very passionate. As a CPM myself, I think decades of research continues to show us that the less “high tech’ the better, for low risk, healthy moms. On the other hand, a doppler is an incredibly useful tool during labors, particularly water births. Bottom line is, we just don’t know the long term effects. Since we don’t, I would offer that less is probably the better place to start with ultrasound.
Heather
Beth, thanks for pointing that out! I am planning my second water birth with baby #2. With #1 we tried to use a fetoscope designed for water, but it was really hard to hear. I consented to the doppler then and will again if my midwife requests it.
asnatureintended
Glad some women started to question these unnecessary procedures. Have you seen this post from Midwife and Birth Activist Gloria Lemay?
http://www.glorialemay.com/blog/?cat=22
Heather
I had not seen it, thanks for posting the link. Gloria’s list pretty much details every procedure we chose to forego with our baby and I’m glad we did!
Donna Ryan
Good to see someone else posting some good ultrasound information out there. The digital camera comment was great! I am going to have to use that quote in my classes. Thanks again!
Erin Hessel
Great post! Important and informative. I think it is so easy to forget that our bodies know how to be pregnant, that just because we can take a look inside and see how the baby is growing doesn’t mean we should (or even need) to.
I work with a lot of infertility patients with acupuncture and herbal medicine, and once these moms get pregnant after years of trying, many of them would have an ultrasound every hour just to be sure their baby hadn’t vanished. There is a fine-line here. Ultrasounds can alleviate a tremendous amount of anxiety and stress (which have thier own health implications), but it is important that at the very least women are aware of their options and risk factors.
Thank you for posting such an article with references.
Heather
Erin, I love hearing about the success you are having with couples struggling with infertility. I have experienced the benefits of acupuncture and chinese medicine firsthand.
Des
So I am one of those moms that is pretty lax when pregnant. Judge me if you will
I always forget to take my vitamins every day and end up normally only taking them about 3-4 out of 7 days, I just eat what sounds good at that moment and never exercise. The only thing I do is cut out caffeine in the 1st trimester and I always make sure I’m drinking a lot of water.
So my tendencies stated (so your readers can accurately judge my opinion), I really don’t think the standard 2 sonograms a pregnancy is that big of a deal. Even with regards to the article, it is prolonged exposure and prolonged exposure specifically in one place that MAY cause damage. I just don’t feel like the risk outweighs the benefit of knowing with my eyes that my baby is growing right. That there are no holes in his heart, his organs look good, etc. It has nothing to do with the sex of the baby, although I did want to find out. Sonograms for me were all about checking on the baby. Actually with my next pregnancy, I have decided to wait and not find out the sex, but I am still expecting to do the 2 sonograms.
With my doctor in the U.S. we find out the sex at the same sonogram where they measure growth and check all the organs and then I have one some time towards the end to measure fluid and make sure the baby is growing correctly. My sonograms were never long and I just don’t feel like the risk is enough to make me double guess it. That said, I believe VERY strongly in parents going with their guts. If they feel uncomfortable doing something, RUN and RUNAWAY FAST! So I don’t fault those who choose to go the extreme on one end and nor do I fault people like me who aren’t as cautious.
I think parenting is about balance and finding where on the line you feel most comfortable.
All that said, I admire your research and respect your convictions.
Des´s last blog ..My Kids Grew Overnight
Kelly
Great post
Angela
This post confirms much of what I have suspected. I received two sonograms during my pregnancy before I knew any better and my midwife checked our daughter with a doppler at every appt. and during my labor. For subsequent pregnancies, I will use neither. I don’t know if anyone else has had the same experience, but my baby would often be sleeping peacefully immediately preceding ultrasound/doppler usage and would start to kick and move about forcefully during the procedures, more so than her normal movements. I am convinced that she could feel it. I became even more convinced during my labor whenever my midwife would check me with the doppler, my contractions would hurt far more and my baby would move all over the place. I don’t know if this is a common occurence, but it was enough to convince me.
Heather
Angela – For the sake of disclosure I would like to add that I do allow my midwife to use a doppler during labor. I had a waterbirth with my first and am planning the same for my second. There is a fetoscope that works in water but it is VERY hard to use. We tried and when they couldn’t hear anything I allowed the fetoscope. Because the baby is fully formed at this point I think the benefits outweigh the risks.
Regarding your baby sleeping and then becoming active during ultrasounds/doppler: Ultrasounds are very loud in the womb. It basically sounds like standing next to a freight train as it speeds by. This would obviously wake your little one.
I am glad you feel more informed on this for your next pregnancy. People tell me I am so patient because we waited until 20 weeks to hear the heartbeat and will wait until birth to find out the gender. For me, it’s just normal. It’s what I feel peace about and that’s what matters. Congrats on your new little one!