Ultrasound before 20weeks?

Laura Zoey - posted on 12/28/2010

Oh that's awful about the X-ray, I can see why you worried, I would too! But in the end, if your health is at risk so is the babies health.
That sounds like some horrible reflux, I'm so sorry that must have been painful. I can't sympathies, I haven't had any reflux feelings so far, but I know my aunt had it bad with her pregnancies.
Ya, the genetic tests would worry me a lot! I'm a huge worrier, likely why I worry about ultrasounds when most everyone doesn't :)
But I also worry about taking Tylenol, or painting my nails, or running,while pregnant.
So yeah, I think less worrying would be better but I can't help myself!

Ianina - posted on 12/28/2010

hahahaha, we are way too close in dates, but I think is great since we can share daily journals about the pregnancies, specially with twins.
I'm dying to know, I refuse to buy neutral gender clothe for them.

Well, there are some things I do not agree with...specially since I'm their mommy...last week I ended up in the ER since I was coughing blood (and I mean enough to go to the doctor) and they wanted to do a chest X-ray of me...no way in freaking hell. I ended up calling my OB and asking his opinion. I didn´t had another choice but they protected the rest of my body to prevent radiation to affect the babies.
Everything went well, I ended up coughing blood because I was with a LOT of acid reflux and ended up making a hole in my throat...2 days of coughing and nothing else.

Doctors forget to tell you about the risk of some exams. I know you mentioned genetic tests during pregnancy. I thought about it and my OB is against doing extra tests if they are not needed. Since I'm young and healthy and the babies are fine, he doesn´t want to do any extra tests.
Specially since the blood tests gives you the "chance to get" something and to clarify that, you have to do a second test and you end up waiting weeks to know, super stressed about everything. Some times is not worth it

Laura Zoey - posted on 12/28/2010

Hey no problem! I was just furious that no one warned me about ultrasound risks when I was pregnant the first time. They wanted to watch his kidneys cuz they weren't working too well, so I had a monthly ultrasound from 20 weeks on.
In retrospect I would never have allowed that much, so I feel I have to at least mention it to others!
I did love the pictures, but for me I still regret it.
But no one said we have to agree, and I'm super excited to hear the sexes of your twins! Too cool you and Amanda are so close in dates, that doesn't happen everyday!

Ianina - posted on 12/27/2010

awesome!! I have mine on the 4th and after that, I might go for the Doppler...Crossing fingers so my babies and yours (and your tech, lol) cooperates and we can both find out :)



Laura, I read the links. I am a genetist, and I beg to differ with some things...I'm not trying to create drama or anything. I don't think that the amount of heat that the sonogram produces is more than what you get from having a warm/hot shower or bath. I think they are really necesary for the diagnose of any fetal complication and/or malformation.

I will give you that the 4D is more to have a pic of your baby unless something is wrong and your OB sent you to get a diagnosis.

I'm a first time mom so a sonogram a month is not even close to what I WANT, lol...if it was for me, I will go for one every week or so :)

AMANDA - posted on 12/27/2010

Ianina, i too am pregnant with twins and i get sono's every month due to being high risk..the doctor said because there can be so many more complications with a twins pregnancy that it outweighs any risk the sono's may pose.. so i get them every month.. i have my level 2 one coming up on jan 5th to check the anatomy and the sexes of each baby..

Ianina - posted on 12/27/2010

I will look into that, thanks!

Ianina - posted on 12/27/2010

well, carrying twins is considered a high risk pregnancy, (or at least here) so that is why I have a sonogram/month.

Laura Zoey - posted on 12/27/2010

http://www.ob-ultrasound.net/

http://www.unhinderedliving.com/pultra.h...

http://www.yourultrasound.com/how-does-u...

Laura Zoey - posted on 12/27/2010

Just be careful, ultrasounds are not risk free, they heat up the fluid around the babies and can cause harm.
Not often, but it's not entirely safe to do ultrasounds.
Most drs say to have as few as possible. If mom is healthy, the recommendation is one ultrasound per pregnancy.
Or two if an early one is necessary for dating.
But just look into it, having one a month is really extreme, I don't see how you could need so many unless there is a serious problem with your babies.

Ianina - posted on 12/27/2010

I had an US at 5 weeks to confirm pregnancy, there is when I found out we were having twins. Another one at 9 weeks to check the hearts, another one at 14 weeks and waiting for my next one 04/01.
Why? I live in Argentina, my social care covers absolutly EVERYTHING and since I'm having twins, I have one US each month.

Chelsea - posted on 11/12/2010

with my first daughter i went to an OB and they gave me an ultrasound at 12 weeks to establish that the due date was correct. THis time around im going to a birthing center for a natural birth and pregnancy, not affilated with any hospital and they dont order ultrasounds but give us the coice to ask for 1 so im waiting to find out weather its a boy or girl. I cant believe how weird i feel that i havent seen the baby, or babies i dont hear the heart beat till next appointment

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/20/2010

Ah, that makes sence :) my dr asked if I wanted any genetic testing, I said no. So that's probably why I didn't know the names.
Thanks for clearing that up! I felt like I didn't know enough about pregnancy! And it's my second baby too go figure

Amanda - posted on 10/20/2010

Nuchal translucency is an ultrasound they do to see if your baby is at a higher risk for chromosome abnormalities like down syndrome. In my opinion it's a good test because it's a lot less invasive than some of the others. But it's an optional screening.

Paige - posted on 10/19/2010

CVS is chorionic villus sampling. It is to test for genetic disorders. It is like an amnio but done sooner and they go in vaginally and take a piece of the placenta to test. My daughter has a metabolic disorder and we need to know if this baby has it too.

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/19/2010

What's a cvs? Wow I feel like I don't know anything!

Paige - posted on 10/19/2010

I would normally only get one u/s at 19 weeks. That is all I got with my daughter. I had to go for a dating u/s though because I have to have a CVS next week and they had to have the exact date. That is the only reason I got an early one. I am also in Canada and even if we do the early testing we don't get an u/s with it just a blood test.

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/19/2010

What's nuchal translucency?

Amanda - posted on 10/18/2010

I had an ultrasound last week when I was 7 weeks, because of spotting early in the pregnancy. I spotted from 3w1d until 4 weeks, and then again from 5w5d until 6w3d. I wasn't too worried because I had the same when I was pregnant with my son. We got to see our new little blob and was measuring right on target with a heartbeat of 125-135. We have the nuchal translucency ultrasound scheduled for 12 weeks. I don't know if I'd have to patience to wait until 20 weeks to have my first ultrasound!

Michelle - posted on 10/14/2010

My ob/gyn did an ultrasound at 8 weeks to confirm the pregnancy and due date. My insurance pays for a 2nd at 12 weeks to check development and another at 20 weeks to again check development.

Jessica - posted on 10/13/2010

Last preg I had an US early for dating purposes. My cycle was irregular so it was just to get a more accurate due date approximation. If I was getting the prescreening tests (which I'm not) I would have had one already also...I think they do them around 7 weeks. I'm 11 weeks now and will be scheduling my first US for 17 or 18 weeks I think! :) I'm in Canada too, if that makes a difference!

AMANDA - posted on 10/12/2010

i am 8 weeks today and my doctor has my first u/s schedulded for the 27th of this month when ill be 10 weeks. i actually wish they would do it earlier since my last pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at 11weeks 5 days but it didnt develope past the 5-6 nweek mark.. so we are being cautiously optimistic this time around until we see the heart beat and know things are ok.. it will put me and my hubbys mind at ease

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/10/2010

Oh I've heard of those tests, I never got any of them with my 1st pregnancy so I bet my dr isn't bothering to ask me if is want any tests this time either. I just want to make sure that this earlier ultrasound isn't something I should have...

Haven - posted on 10/10/2010

I had surgery on one of my ovaries on 7/16, so since I got pregnant the next cycle, they wanted to do a dating ultrasound to make sure that my dates were right (ie that my period at the beginning of august WAS a period and not just implantation bleeding or something). It is getting more and more common in a lot of places to do one around 12 weeks to combine with the other testing that is done around then to test nuchal translucency, which combines with the triple screen (I think) to provide more certainty for thing like down syndrome and other defects.

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/10/2010

Danell, I'm so sorry you had a loss, I bet you feel better after the ultrasound! I can't imagine....... Thanks for sharing.

Danell - posted on 10/10/2010

I had my first ultrasound at 7 weeks because my last pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 11 wks but the baby stopped developing at 5-6 wks. My doc did it to make sure we were going in the right way since my progesterone levels were a little on the low side & to give me peace of mind.

Brittany - posted on 10/09/2010

I am 7 weeks and i am having an ultra sound on the 20th...i think my doctor is doing it because i am already showing so much...but im not sure....I live in Indiana.....i just changed doctors but the doc with my first son did an ultra-sound at aobut 10 weeks or so because they wanted to check the heart(heart problems run in my family so i was in high risk for the first few mths) im not sure when most doctors do ultra-sounds though....