Questions and answers

Compare this section with Yahoo Answers and Google Answers. Questions are all related to becoming pregnant, pregnancy, birth and babies.
Go to the Questions and answers index


Added:
Added by:
Section: .
Status: This question is . (Questions will be closed after 10 days.)

---

Melanie07 - 64 days ago Rating: 5 (1 votes) I am in the US. I am over 35. I had 5. I had one at about 16weeks because I was measuring big. I had a class 2 at 20 and 24 weeks to check for abnormalities because of my age and because of our medical history. Something had showed up on the 20 weeks the second was to double check. Thankfully it was gone. The next was to check position. The next was because my water was low in the position check one. Most docs only do 2. One at around 20 weeks and one towards the end to check the baby's position. With my first I didn't have any. That was almost eighteen years ago. My second, I had 2. It really depends on the doc.

LMO - 65 days ago Rating: 1 (1 votes) i am in the US and i had one everytime i went in

mommytobe29 - 65 days ago Rating: 2 (1 votes) I'm in the US and they give me a scan once every month. I love it though.. cause I get to track the progress of my baby. Plus when I see him up on the screen, it makes putting up with the pregnancy symptoms so much easier.

mumof4boyz - 66 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) Well i'm here in the good old UK!! and as I am 'High Risk' I have had quite a few scans...8 so far...to check on numerous aspects of the baby and placenta, I am glad I have had them but at the same time I did do a bit of research into how safe they are,as there is alot of negativity surrounding the 3D & 4D scans but theses 'normal' ones seem fine.

gr8scottswife - 66 days ago Rating: 5 (1 votes) Yes. Medicine here is like shopping; get what you want when you want. There are few standard guidelines and regulations for the medical industry here. Bottom line -- $,$$$,$$$ for doctors. Our system is totally different than the rest of the world's. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't doctors there government paid? Our doctors are not. They are corporations and businesses like anything else. They prescribe medicines and tests and rub the drug companies palms because they get discounts from drug companies and other incentives to use drugs. Drugs here are big big bucks! Drugs control medical practices here, which is why alternative (better, even) practices are not covered by insurance here. These methods cannot compete monetarily with lobbying in Washington. Simple as that. $.

DonnaG - 66 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) I'm from Australia and agree with Kater...

Brandi J. - 66 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) It is normal for most doctors here to do 2 u/s in pregnancy. Some women have to get many b/c of high risk pregnancies or if they are carrying multiple babies, and some docs have their own u/s machines so they will do one at every visit.

professorpreggers - 66 days ago Rating: 4.5 (2 votes) I'm 20 weeks and I'm going for my 6th on Monday. I had one at 9 weeks, and then the Dr did one herself--not sure why, just to see it with her own eyes? Then we had a nuchal translucency at 14 weeks to check for chromosomal abnormalities, then I had one at 18 weeks. I only asked to hear the heartbeat as reassurance because I couldn't feel my baby anymore, but they decided to do a non stress test instead. Then we started the 20 week scan but the baby didn't cooperate and since a Choroid Plexus Cyst was found at 18 weeks, we are going to finish the scan to be sure there are no other soft markers for abnormalities. I tend to agree with you that in the US, pregnancy is treated at bit more like an illness or potential medical problem, rather than a natural, and usually problem free part of women’s lives. We are offered innumerable testing and screening for problems, as well as offered genetic counseling at every twist and turn. I am constantly reminded of the time frame for the state’s legal termination cut off point. With all these scans and the legal obligation my Dr is under to report something as generally harmless as a CPC, it’s very difficult to separate from all this anxiety causing approach to pregnancy and just enjoy what my body, actually naturally knows how to do. If you want a really good impression of just how dire a straight obstetrical medicine is in the country, you should watch Ricky Lake’s new documentary, “The Business of Being Born.” It’s quite shocking and explains who obstetrical medicine is being driven by fear of malpractice, how midwives have been rendered almost completely useless in this country and how we, a first world nation lose more mothers and babies at birth than most third world nations. I envy you who can find midwives so readily and who live in places where they aren’t treated like they have a life threatening disease.

leahs - 66 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) I'm in BC Canada and they usually give 1 u/s around 20wks. I have had late u/s (around 37-38wks) with all 3 pregnancies due to placenta failure and low amniotic fluid, but it is usually just the one at 20wks.

slg3233 - 66 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) I'm in America and I am also considered high risk, so I get one u/s a month. So in all I guess you can say I get 9.

Debra - 66 days ago Rating: 5 (1 votes) I'm in canada and I had one scan at 5 weeks to date a pregnancy (ordered by my doctor) and you couldn't see much- just a sac which might or might not have contained a baby at the time. It did though and at 8 weeks i had another- to check heart rate and confirm and date the pregnancy which was ordered by my midwife. At 20 weeks I was ordered to have another to check for abnormalities. We also decided to find out the sex of the baby at this time. My friend in the US had several more scans and while its fun to see the baby on a screen, there isn't much info on the potential damage that multiple ultrasounds can do. Some studies are suggesting that exposing your baby to multiple scans are potentially quite harmful. Personally, i have to say that if you don't drink or do drugs during pregnancy, stay away from kitty litter and microwaves, why expose baby to too much diagnostic equipment? I didn't go for that 3D ultrasound for that very reason, just as I'm concerned what goes into my son now, making the choice to breast feed and avoided medications during labour. Natural is the best way to go and I agree that birth has become a business and women are encouraged to have a medicalized birth because they aren't aware of the other options available. The most encouraging thing I read while pregnant was a book called, "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" She is a leading midwife in the US and provides a positive outlook to childbirth, promoting natural birth and healthy babies. I encourage everyone I know who is pregnant to read her book and get rid of the fear that accompanies the idea of birth. Have a look at my VIP site for more on that. FYI, i did end up having a c/s at the end of a positive, empowering 24 hours of productive labour as my baby was breech and had meconium in my amniotic fluid. So sometimes you need to have medical intervention. But with my midwife, I had quick access to medical interventions as I elected to have a hospital birth. SOmetimes you just can't control your delivery- I learned that the hard way- being such a encourager to women to try to have a natural pregnancy and natural birth and still end up on the OR table.

Debra - 67 days ago Rating: 5 (2 votes) I'm in canada and I had one scan at 5 weeks to date a pregnancy (ordered by my doctor) and you couldn't see much- just a sac which might or might not have contained a baby at the time. It did though and at 8 weeks i had another- to check heart rate and confirm and date the pregnancy which was ordered by my midwife. At 20 weeks I was ordered to have another to check for abnormalities. We also decided to find out the sex of the baby at this time. My friend in the US had several more scans and while its fun to see the baby on a screen, there isn't much info on the potential damage that multiple ultrasounds can do. Some studies are suggesting that exposing your baby to multiple scans are potentially quite harmful. Personally, i have to say that if you don't drink or do drugs during pregnancy, stay away from kitty litter and microwaves, why expose baby to too much diagnostic equipment? I didn't go for that 3D ultrasound for that very reason, just as I'm concerned what goes into my son now, making the choice to breast feed and avoided medications during labour. Natural is the best way to go and I agree that birth has become a business and women are encouraged to have a medicalized birth because they aren't aware of the other options available. The most encouraging thing I read while pregnant was a book called, "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" She is a leading midwife in the US and provides a positive outlook to childbirth, promoting natural birth and healthy babies. I encourage everyone I know who is pregnant to read her book and get rid of the fear that accompanies the idea of birth. Have a look at my VIP site for more on that. FYI, i did end up having a c/s at the end of a positive, empowering 24 hours of productive labour as my baby was breech and had meconium in my amniotic fluid. So sometimes you need to have medical intervention. But with my midwife, I had quick access to medical interventions as I elected to have a hospital birth. SOmetimes you just can't control your delivery- I learned that the hard way- being such a encourager to women to try to have a natural pregnancy and natural birth and still end up on the OR table. ****You want to know the real reason why women in the US have multiple scans???? its because doctors can send women for a charged procedure and insurance pays them- they get extra money to send their patients for the scans. Just as more women are encouraged to have inductions- yes many women request it simply b/c they are uncomfortable in the last few weeks (thats normal and your supposed to be uncomfortable so you remember for the next time you want to get preggers :) ) but mostly, so doctors can go to their planned holiday on the weekend or don't get called in during the middle of the night- its all for their benefit, not necessarily in the best interest of the pregnant woman- as much as you might think it is.

kater - 67 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) in australia, they offer one at 10-13 weeks to do a nucal trnslucency scan, but lots of people dont hae this one, then at 20 weeks they do an atonomy scan to check for any health problems they need to be aware of when the baby is born. after this the only reason to have a scan is if there has been a problem they want to check on.

MelissaJoanne - 67 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) I don't really know why other people specifically have them early and often, but I had my first u/s just before 7 weeks because I'm more high risk (have ulcerative colitis). I haven't had one since, and the fact that my pregnancy is going smoothly and the disease hasn't flared up means I'm not really as high risk anymore. I know that other women that are high risk in some way have earlier/more frequent scans. Maybe we're just a sicker bunch in the states!

lizzie287 - 67 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) I have had 3 scans because I am considered high risk due to my rheumatoid arthritis. It was an unexpected pregnancy as thus I was on strong medications when I conceived which potentially could have caused severe birth defects in my baby. The first ultrasound I had was a nuchal translucency screen. The second was the typical 20 week ultrasound, and the last one was because baby didn't cooperate in the first one and show her face or heart very well, so they wanted to get a closer look. Oh, and I'm in Canada.

keyleesmommy - 67 days ago Rating: 2 (1 votes) I HAVE HAD NINE WITH THIS PREGNANCY. I GO IN FOR THE TENTH NEXT WEEK. THEY SCANNED TO SEE HOW FAR ALONG I WAS. THEY FOUND SOME PROBLEMS WITH HER KIDNEYS. THEY ARE STILL SCANNING TO DETERMINE IF SHE IS IMPROVING OR NOT. THE DOCTORS OVER HERE ARE PAID A SET FEE. IF I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SOMETHING, I GO IN AND THEY CHECK ME WITHOUT CHARGING ME MORE. I LOVE THE SCANS. I CAN SEE HOW SHE IS FAIRING AND IT CALMS MY CONCERNS.

lady26 - 67 days ago Rating: 5 (2 votes) I am in America and I realize that too, I think the doctors over here are more concern about making money so they will write prescriptions for the most expensive prenatal vitamins because they probable have contracts with maker of those vitamins or tell you should have this and that done when you don't need to just get extra money. I don't feel safe with the doctors here, they seem more like sales people than doctors. If I could deliver my baby myself I would. If you don't ask straight forward questions they won't tell you. I had to explain to them that I am paying out of my pocket and anything thats not absolutely necessary I am not paying for it, thats when I learnt that the 18-20wk is the only necessary and important one to check for anomalies/abnormalities.

Baby3OnWay - 67 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) I am in ON Cananda and here we get one IF we don't know our late period, there was a miss up ( i got my periods for 3 months with my last) to find the date... and 11 weeks to check growth for abnormalitis, then theres one @ 18-20 weeks and its the longest one checking EVERYTHING!!! and then another near the end to make sure baby is progressing. This pregnancy I didn't bother with the early one I'm going for my first at 20 weeks. ALSO if they see an odd spot, or something of concern they will send you every 4 weeks for a scan to keep an eye on things... like my son who has hydronephorosis... i had one every 4 weeks to make sure there wasn't anything SEVERE happening.

agonzales - 67 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) Depends on the doc and insurance. Some insurances only cover 1 or 2 ultrasounds unless its an emergency. Also some docs only give an ultrasound around 20 wks just to check the babys measurements and defects or if they want to be nice they'll give more than that =). With my first child I only got one which I was about 24 wks. With the second I was suppose to only get one at 20 wks but she ended up giving me one at 3 months plus the 20 wks to make sure I wasnt further along then they thought. With this pregnancy I had an ultrasound at 8wks, 11wks, and 13wks so far and i have another one coming up at 20wks and 36wks. Thats because the first 3 he couldnt hear the heartbeat throught the doppler and did an u/s instead.

candace3 - 67 days ago Rating: 5 (1 votes) At my other doctors, I was only supposed to have one, but after all the mess with Kylie, that is why I get so many. With Kaitlyn I only had one at 20 weeks.

Mommyof2boys - 67 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) They do scans the first visit to make sure the baby is growing ok, your placenta and amniotic fluid are normal so you can have a healthy pregnancy. They usualy only do one but sometimes another to make sure everything is still going okay.

jaydsmom - 67 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) I'm from Canada. If you are under 35 they tend to only give you the anatamoy scan you are talking about from 18-22 weeks unless there have been complications of some sort. If you are over 35 then they want you to have one at 12-14 weeks to check for down syndrome. They measure the thickness of the skin on the baby's neck. Combined with a blood test, its supposed to indicate risk.

monica9 - 67 days ago Rating: 4 (1 votes) Once at 12 weeks and once at 20 weeks and maybe once towards end to see position.