Are you getting scans after 20 weeks?

[russellmuscle]

Mine was wrong and they scared hell out of me the technicians were looking each other and said which consultant are u under and I said none why and she's like ohhhh... right... well your going to have a really small baby. He measured 37 weeks when i was 41w. He ended up 7lb 3.

Xxxxx

 

[Phoenix85]

Scans use ultrasound not radiation, but ultrasound is not definitely 100% safe.
One study has shown increased IUGR for babies scanned 5 times or more compared to babies only scanned once or twice.
Other studies have found that ultrasound can interfere with brain development (in animal studies), others (in humans) have found they heat tissue, can cause cavitation, and that the sound is very loud (potentially harmful to the foetus's hearing).
Not saying don't have them, but definitely I think it's wise to keep it to a minimum and only have them if medically indicated, rather than 'just in case'.

Remember also that around 99% of women prior to 1980 had no scans at all, and complications were not significantly different/higher than they are now.

I've chosen to have no scans or dopplers this pregnancy.

At 28 weeks a midwife (not my usual one) felt my baby was head down. And yesterday my usual midwife felt my bump and also said baby is head down, and also heard the heart beat really clearly with the pinnard and it's 140bpm.

I'm also measuring a week 'behind' but the bump is growing at the right rate as I measured 27 at 28weeks and 30 at 31 weeks and I'm still on the 50th centile on the growth chart so not worried

 

[MariaIsabella]

Scans use ultrasound not radiation, but ultrasound is not definitely 100% safe.
One study has shown increased IUGR for babies scanned 5 times or more compared to babies only scanned once or twice.
Other studies have found that ultrasound can interfere with brain development (in animal studies), others (in humans) have found they heat tissue, can cause cavitation, and that the sound is very loud (potentially harmful to the foetus's hearing).
Not saying don't have them, but definitely I think it's wise to keep it to a minimum and only have them if medically indicated, rather than 'just in case'.

Remember also that around 99% of women prior to 1980 had no scans at all, and complications were not significantly different/higher than they are now.

I've chosen to have no scans or dopplers this pregnancy.

At 28 weeks a midwife (not my usual one) felt my baby was head down. And yesterday my usual midwife felt my bump and also said baby is head down, and also heard the heart beat really clearly with the pinnard and it's 140bpm.

I'm also measuring a week 'behind' but the bump is growing at the right rate as I measured 27 at 28weeks and 30 at 31 weeks and I'm still on the 50th centile on the growth chart so not worried

Thanks but your post might worry women having had many scans because of complications. I myself have had many more than 5 since i had ivf and they wanted to check a couple of times before 12 weeks so then my baby is at risk?

Have asked sonographers and nurses and they have all said safe so i will go after what they say.

Thanks for all replies! Xx

 

[babyslog]

I had 9 scans in my first pregnancy. Hes perfectly healthy! Ive also had 11 in this one!
I dont believe there are any risks what so ever and id never refuse a scan to check the saftely and well being of my children


Hun if u want/need a scan dont let that post worry you xxxx

 

[Tigger87]

I think it's far more likely that studies which show complications when women have more than 5 scans, is because there's a reason they're having more than the "usual" scans so it's not a fair study.

It's highly unethical to do any kind of study on pregnant women. Who wants to subject their baby to potential harm to help the science? I wouldn't. Medical professionals do the risk/reward based on their experience and evidence based education - they know what they're talking about.

 

[MariaIsabella]

Thanks! Did not have scans just in case but in my early days i had to have 1 every week or so since i got severe ohss after ivf and lots of fluid in my belly so probably had about 5 or so before 12 weeks! After that its only been the 20 week one since i am low risk but its not like i had a choice in early pregnancy. At one point they even did one 2 days efter another ( twice in a week ) since i was in a lot of pain.

Xx

 

[babyslog]

Same with the early scans i had one 3 days apart in my first pregnancy.

Also had one at 6wks to rule Out ectopic xxx

 

[russellmuscle]

11 Jesus I thought I'd had loads!! I feel a bit better now. We are maybe (most probably) having a 3d one. When did you get your hd one with Charlie that was super clear.

xxxx

 

[babyslog]

11 Jesus I thought I'd had loads!! I feel a bit better now. We are maybe (most probably) having a 3d one. When did you get your hd one with Charlie that was super clear.

xxxx

Just before i turned 29wks! It was in HD too x

I no im terrible for scans lol! 4 private ones this time! 7aks, 16wk gender, 28wk 4d and then one at 35wks cos of the whole breech dreams lol!!!

All the others were either emergency or growth scans, then the normal dating & 20wk xxx

 

[russellmuscle]

11 Jesus I thought I'd had loads!! I feel a bit better now. We are maybe (most probably) having a 3d one. When did you get your hd one with Charlie that was super clear.

xxxx

Just before i turned 29wks! It was in HD too x

I no im terrible for scans lol! 4 private ones this time! 7aks, 16wk gender, 28wk 4d and then one at 35wks cos of the whole breech dreams lol!!!

All the others were either emergency or growth scans, then the normal dating & 20wk xxx

Ahh good to know because a few friends had went at 28weeks but when I last seen him in 3D he was tiny so was scared it be too early at 28w but the one you posted looked like an actual photo outside the womb. I think I'll get one and leave it at 5.

I bet your all proper intuitive since your sis does the reiki healing. I find I get amazing dreams after a healing session as you have like a clear thought path lol. Good looking out though. Glad he turned in the end.

I had a growth scan with Jackson because MW was also worried he was small but he had just engaged early so she couldn't get a food feel. The growth scan I mainly seen arms, ribs and legs.. it was at 41w mind you. My mum was with me and thought she'd get a good peak she was raging lol.

xxxx

 

[Phoenix85]

I think it's far more likely that studies which show complications when women have more than 5 scans, is because there's a reason they're having more than the "usual" scans so it's not a fair study.

Actually the one I referenced took over 2000 women and randomly split them into two groups, one group got 5 or 6 scans at set gestations and the other group only got 1 scan unless there was medical reason for more further into their pregnancy. There were a lot higher incidence of IUGR in the group that were scanned more.


Again, I'm not saying don't have the scans when medically indicated, just that it's probably best avoided when not medically necessary.

Your midwife will measure your bump (fundal height) and feel the baby's position at every appointment after 28 weeks. If she is at all concerned about size or positioning she'll offer to refer you for a scan.

 

[kanga86]

I think I've had 10 scans so far and in for my 11th on Monday. Do find it odd that the more scans you have the more incidences of iugr, when 5 of my scans have been to monitor me and baby because he is suspected to have iugr, so the scans are unlikely the cause! xx

 

[Loubalouba]

I just wanted to say my growth curve was perfect and baby's heartbeat was also perfect at very appt, but our baby was actually smaller than it should have been and the placenta was also small. The most common reason for still birth is a faulty placenta, we are having a post mortem so I guess we should find out if it's the case with us. But the growth measuring - fundal measurement is also not 100% reliable, basically nothing is but I would now be more reassured by a scan and I think if your baby does have IUGR surely it is more likely to do with the placenta than the scans. A consultant we met who will discuss our post mortem results said she is pushing for more scans of women to prevent or reduce the stillbirth rate. I believe if we had had a scan around 33/34 weeks it might have been picked up that our baby was small and we might now have a baby to hold and cherish. I had lots of scans with this pregnancy due to bleeding, if the scans did contribute then I guess we will ask about this at the results but if it was the placenta then we will also know that had we had more scans this may have been picked up and our future very different. I would not do anything different next time other than have more or an extra scan later in pregnancy in case the placenta was failing, that would be more likely and therefore I would get more comfort from a scan than worrying about the affect of the scan itself.

Hope this makes sense, just wanted to share my thoughts after this whole horrendous experience, esp if I can help prevent it from happening to anyone else!! Xx

 

[scn]

As much as this forum gives invaluable support to each of us, we should always trust our own instinct and our medical professionals. Yes, sometimes medical professionals can get it wrong but it is a rare occurrence and it's wiser to trust in them than a random person on an Internet forum xx
I have had 5 scans so far, all NHS, and at 28 weeks I will begin having regular growth scans. If there was any weight to this research then these risks would have to be explained and discussed with each of us so that we can make informed choices regarding scans. It is not discussed with us therefore I trust that these studies do not provide enough tangible evidence in the eyes of our medical professionals and that's good enough for me and the well being of my baby.

 

[MariaIsabella]

Thanks ladies!

Have tried to find any research done which explains the relation between scans and iugr but cant find anything? The only thing i read is that iugr is picked up by ultrasounds often later in pregnancy around 30-35 weeks so seems contradicting to me.

Anyhow, we all do what feels right for us, only thought the post about too many scans and birth defects will upset a few on here who have had many scans without a choice xxx

 

[MariaIsabella]

At some point they should start measuring your bump with a tape measure and plotting it on a graph - that gives a general idea of the growth of the baby. The average is that it measures the same as the amount of weeks you are, but it can be out by a few centimetres and still of no concern! Mine always measures 3 or 4 cm over, but it's consistent (and when I've had the kidney scans, the specialist measures the baby and it is totally normal for the gestation!). I think they worry more if the graph gets inconsistent, so suddenly gets much bigger or drops growth.
As for position, they can usually feel the head in the last weeks to see that it's in the right place - I was told they can keep changing right up until the last month! Mine's been good and has been head down for weeks though
Nothing like mother's intuition though, so if you feel worried and want a private scan, it's better to be reassured than stressed! X

Is this when they meassure from the pubic bone to top of uterus? Xx

 

[YorksLass]

Is this when they meassure from the pubic bone to top of uterus? Xx

That's the one! x