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Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism

Posted by Lilo [1181.7625] on February 02, 2010 at 18:47:54:

Hello,
I'm 38 years old and 33 weeks pregnant with my second child. I now also have high blood pressure. I've been told that once a week now I have to have an ultrasound done to check the baby for complications. I had been doing some reading online that possibly links excessive sonograms to autism. (of course I know this can't be proved, but something to think about.)Some articles state that brain cells can be damaged because of the heat produced by the sonogram. I've already had about 4 sonograms and don't want to have several more, but my doctors keep harrasing me and scheduling them for me anyway. I don't know if I'm making an unwise decision not to have them, but the thought that I could unknowingly cause more harm to my baby bothers me and I don't have peace of mind. Does anyone know if sonograms truly are safe like the docs keep saying? I feel really stressed after my visit today. Doc listened to the baby's heartbeat and it was a little irregular. She said this is usually normal, but it's the first time I've heard it sound like this. Normally it is steady. Should I just go ahead and have my sonograms done??

Help Please!!

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Re: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism--Archive in monopoly.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.8578] on February 03, 2010 at 07:45:54:

In Reply to: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism posted by Lilo [1181.7625] on February 02, 2010 at 18:47:54:

Lilo,

In my opinion, the stress this is causing you is a LOT more likely to do harm to the fetus than the "complications" your docs are looking for. It is beyond me as to what the H--L they think they are looking for and what they think they can do about anything they might find anyhow? It reminds me of lttle kids who can't keep their hands off of their fascinating toys.

Maybe they are just concerned about their "bottom line"?

If this were me, I would tell them to shut the hell up or I am going to find another OB.

There, you asked for my opinion and there it is.

Let us know how you do.

Walt

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Re: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism

Posted by Amy [4010.8421] on February 03, 2010 at 08:30:06:

In Reply to: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism posted by Lilo [1181.7625] on February 02, 2010 at 18:47:54:

Once a week ultrasounds seem excessive to me, especially at 33 weeks. What did they tell you they are looking for besides "complications"? Anything specific? Can't they just monitor your blood pressure weekly and maybe put you on bedrest first? If your baby's heart sounded irregular perhaps they should do just one to check his/her heart anatomy. Otherwise, what's the point? Dr. Stoll is right. Being stressed out about this is not good for you. You need to stay as calm as possible. The only "good" out of having a bazillion ultrasounds is that you get to see your baby alot!!! Other than that, I personally think that is too much. I had placenta previa with my first and didn't have once a week ultrasounds.

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Re: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism

Posted by kate [14177.8188] on February 03, 2010 at 10:22:23:

In Reply to: Re: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism posted by Amy [4010.8421] on February 03, 2010 at 08:30:06:

Now that OB's have sonagrams in their offices, they have to use them so they can pay for them. I had CNM's for both my boys. I was given the option of getting a sonogram referral if I wanted one. I declined. Otherwise, they only ordered sonograms if medically indicated and it never was. The women I knew that used Ob's seemed to get sonograms at every visit (or it seemed that way to me sometimes).

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Re: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism

Posted by jennyS [80.706] on February 03, 2010 at 11:04:40:

In Reply to: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism posted by Lilo [1181.7625] on February 02, 2010 at 18:47:54:


Well, you are between a rock and a hard place. With the sonograms you worry about the (small chance of) danger....and without them you wonder what the baby's irregular sounds meant and whether or not you should be monitoring weekly.
You could compromise and do every OTHER week, maybe?

The bottom line is that you need to trust your doctors. If you are leary, then get a second opinion. A visit to another doctor might help put your mind at ease a bit.

Having a baby, you are going to read about an hear about the pros and cons all along the way...not to mention he baby being born and then having to decide on vaccination, circumscision, antibiotics....all the trials of being a parent. Sometimes you are asked to decide between solid scientific evidence and a current scientific study that is questioning that same evidence...it is maddening.

FIND A DOCTOR THAT YOU TRUST AND ARE COMFORTABLE WITH. You cannot go down this road getting medical advice that you feel is "harassing"! If you have a doc who is experienced, has a good reputation in your community and has delivered hundreds of healthy children and you have several sets of parents telling you that they trust him...you're off to a good start. Then you have to sit down and talk frankly with your doctors about all of your concerns. If you feel they are not listening to you then it is not a good match. But your goal should be to find a doctor that you trust and because of all his experience, you'll have to trust him even more than yourself and certainly more than you trust acquaintances on a message board. The ONLY thing that is going to help calm your current nerves is solid trust in your medical team.
If you DO trust your current doc, then sit down and ask him just WHAT they expect they might find out from a WEEKLY ultrasound and if they do find something...just what they would be able to do differently than they are doing at this point. Then weigh the pros and cons as you see them, and TOGETHER WITH YOUR DOCTOR make the best decision for your baby. Certainly if you are walking out of a doctor's office feeling harrassed, something is wrong with this picture.

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Re: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism

Posted by Ron [5412.8172] on February 03, 2010 at 11:21:38:

In Reply to: Re: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism posted by kate [14177.8188] on February 03, 2010 at 10:22:23:

Hi Kate,

It all boils down to fear of Litigation and
the "What If" factor..

If the machine in the doc's office was an MRI,
that might be what was recommended every week.

Revenue Stimulation is probably part of the sales pitch when the salesman is selling the Ultrasound.
I would not be surprised if the salesman also puts
some fear into the head of the doc by saying ...
"It will reduce the chance of pregnancy complications."

Just wait... One day, you will be able to buy an ultrasound machine at the corner Wal-Depot
so you will be able to avoid seeing the doc almost completely. ;-)

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Re: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism--Archive in monopoly.

Posted by Ron [5412.8172] on February 03, 2010 at 11:24:40:

In Reply to: Re: Pregnancy & Ultrasound Safety - Autism--Archive in monopoly. posted by Walt Stoll [93.8578] on February 03, 2010 at 07:45:54:

Bravo Walt,

I should have read your post first..
You were much more eloquent than I. :-)

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