Ultrasound at every visit????

I have a new doctor (although i am still hoping to be eligible to see a midwife....health issues may not permit it). I have seen him twice. He seems very competent, thorough, and caring. The tests he has done for me have been very helpful. He seems to be keeping a good eye on monitoring my health issues.

However, it seems that for him, it is standard practice to do a sonogram at every visit, even just for 30 seconds. As much as I love seeing the little one, I don't really understand this and would prefer to have as little intervention as possible. He said it monitors the growth of the fetus......but I know all doctors do not do this. And I am sure that he is not doing them b/c of my health issues, i think it is just his standard practice.

Does anyone have a doctor that does a sonogram every visit, regardless of health issues? Is this something I should be concerned about? I am willing to hear all honest answers.

TIA

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

My Ob does it too. My Ob's point-of-view is that it gives the mom-to-be a little peace of mind to see the baby. I don't mind it at all.

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

i've actualyl heard that too many ultrasounds were nto good for the baby.... possible autism link???? don't quote me on that, but i defintiely heard that you shouldnt' be gettign oen every time.

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

My doc did a sono at every single visit. He said it truely helped him see what was going on in there. They proved it doesn't do harm, so am all for it!!

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

I'm having twins so i've had over 10 already.....I don't think they are related to Autism because some kids with autism have only had 1 or 2 sonos...and then some babies have had lots of sonos and are perfectly fine.

I'd rather more sonos to know that the babies are okay, than to worry about what's going on in there.

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

I have had one at every visit so far but was told that at my next one (16 weeks) they will only listen for the baby's heartbeat and then I will have another one at 20 weeks.

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Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

I don't think there is any harm, I would just make sure your insurance covers it.

I had many sonos in the beginning, as I was seeing an RE. I think I had 4 by 8 weeks, then one at 12 weeks, then the level II at 20 weeks. I have had sonos twice because of cramping, and then starting at 24 weeks, I have been getting them every two weeks. Starting next week, I will be getting one every week. Granted, I am having twins, so they want to keep a closer eye on things, but if there was any potential harm, the harm would be there no matter how many babies I was carrying.

I believe that when you hear about not getting too many sonos, it is mainly about getting those 3d/4d sonos done at a non-doctor's office type place - that many of these places do not know how to use the machines properly and have them on incorrect/too strong settings.

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

I don't know any OBs that do that unless you have a specific medical reason for them. I bet he is just looking to bill for them

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I get sonos at every visit. My doctor feels b/c I am having twins he likes to see what is going on. I also see a perinatalogist every 2 weeks and he does a sono to check the growth. I was concerned about the autism link so I asked my doctor. He said out of 7000 births only 2 of the children he has delivered have autism. My friend's daughter has autism and she didn't have nearly as many sonograms. I think it is safe.

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Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

Did he tell you that this would continue throughout your pregnancy? I had ultrasounds my first few appointment, up until 10 weeks I believe, because it's too early to detect the hb using the doppler. Maybe that's why you keep getting ultrasounds?

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

Here is how I feel..............

If a practitioner is doing ANYTHING you are uncomfortable with PLEASE PLEASE say something. Unless you have a medical complication or are a high risk pregnancy there is NO need for that many ultrasounds.

I have had 2 ultrasounds since I got PG. 1 because of a bleeding scare and the anatomy scan at 20 weeks. I will have no more. Some women that go to my practice go the whole rpegnancy without having as long as they don't have any risk factors.

SInce put into use in the 1950's only a handful of small studies have been conduceted on the affects of ultrasounds on the developing fetus. Sure, they have been doing ultrasounds for years, I personally don't feel they cause autism but do think that they can have a large impact in the developing brain of a fetus as well as other developing parts.

How ultrasounds work:
Very high frequency sound waves of between 3.5 to 7.0 megahertz (i.e. 3.5 to 7 million cycles per second) are generally used for this purpose.

They are emitted from a transducer which is placed in contact with the maternal abdomen, and is moved to "look at" (likened to a light shined from a torch) any particular content of the uterus. Repetitive arrays of ultrasound beams scan the fetus in thin slices and are reflected back onto the same transducer.


The same machine turned up or down can be used to "blast" gall stones and kidney stones.


ACOG (American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology) as well as the FDA recomend that ultrasounds be only used when necessary. The only ultrasound that ACOG recomends specifically is the 20 W anatomy scan.


WHile I think ultraounds can be quite valuable I don't think they should be used as frequently as they are.

A major study reported in 1993 found no significant difference between two groups of low-risk women (those who had two routine ultrasound exams and those who had an ultrasound only because there was some medical reason for it) in terms of the rate of preterm delivery, infant birthweight, serious complications in the newborn period or infant death.




I find it a bit strange that your practitioner says they are all for natural pregnancy and childbirth and so frequently uses an ultrasound machine. THis is the first thing most Drs who are more holistic would shy away from.

Talk to your practitioner a bit more about the subject and let them know you are not comfortable having an ultrasound at every visit. It is your right as a patient. And if you find your "gut" tells you something is off or wrong or you are uncomfortable maybe look into someon else!

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

Posted by Blissful

I find it a bit strange that your practitioner says they are all for natural pregnancy and childbirth and so frequently uses an ultrasound machine. THis is the first thing most Drs who are more holistic would shy away from.

Talk to your practitioner a bit more about the subject and let them know you are not comfortable having an ultrasound at every visit. It is your right as a patient. And if you find your "gut" tells you something is off or wrong or you are uncomfortable maybe look into someon else!

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Mine does one every visit and why wouldn't you see it as a good thing?? He told me he's caught complications in some of his patients b/c he does one every visit. The Dr. is doing you a favor. I know my insurance only covers 3 sonos so he is basically doing the rest for free.

Message edited 11/4/2008 8:28:26 PM.

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

Posted by maiden

Posted by Blissful

I find it a bit strange that your practitioner says they are all for natural pregnancy and childbirth and so frequently uses an ultrasound machine. THis is the first thing most Drs who are more holistic would shy away from.

Talk to your practitioner a bit more about the subject and let them know you are not comfortable having an ultrasound at every visit. It is your right as a patient. And if you find your "gut" tells you something is off or wrong or you are uncomfortable maybe look into someon else!

Thanks. It does seem strange that he uses ultrasound, maybe he was trained that way, maybe he wants to bill for them, I dunno.

The idea of looking for yet another doctor makes me . I remember that you were very helpful when I put up a post about a midwife a few weeks ago. I looked into finding a midwife and spoke to one. Before she takes me on, she wanted me to see this doctor first b/c of some health issues, and she seems to trust him. As I mentioned before, he seems to be good, but I do find this ultrasound business strange. I will see the midwife in 1.5 weeks and speak to her about it then. Thanks so much for all the info.

Re: Ultrasound at every visit????

My doc is on the more conservative side when it comes to sonos. She does one at the first appointment, the ultrascreen (if the patient opts to have it - I was very low risk for issues so left it up to me, it's not something she does for everyone), and the 20w. She only does others if there is a medical reason. Because my belly measurements were ahead of schedule I had a growth sono at 32w and because my was measuring huge at that point I also had to have one at 36w to check on him again. I went for my 38w appointment today and wound up having a real quick one to measure my fluid because I thought I was leaking fluid. So I've definitely had more than she typically does, but there have been reasons.

I have read about the autism link as well and it doesn't seem like there is enough evidence to say that holds any weight, but I always err on the side of caution anyway, and probably wouldn't be a fan of getting one every visit either.

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I had a LOT of ultrasounds and had them once a week towards the end of my first pregnancy. I heard it's not harmful b/c it's only soundwaves...

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I am surprised that some women only have 2 sonos. My Ob detected low amniotic fluid through performing one of my sonos at 30 weeks. He kept monitoring me and I had to go on bed rest at 32 weeks and then was induced at 37 weeks. At the 37 weeks, he told me if he didn't induce me I could potentially lose the baby. If he didn't do sonos, I'd hate to think of what the end result might have been for my little girl.

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My OB did a sono every time. Honestly I was glad he did. I got to see DD and have sooo many pics of her in my belly