How can I get extra unscheduled ultrasounds?

jindc
Member Offline
14:38: which OB do you use?
I'm a chubby mom-to-be and at my appointment next week (12 week) my doc already wants me to do a GD test....sigh....I'm not changing docs now, it'll be too stressful...but if there's a next time, it'd be nice to know!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:You sound a little crazy. IMO, even once a month is too many. You're going to hear the baby's heartbeat at every appointment, isn't that enough? Consider buying a fetal doppler to use at home - we have one of those, and it's been reassuring the two or three times I've been very paranoid and wanted to use it.


Once a month for a couple of minutes is fine. Just heartbeat is not enough to confirm baby is growing fine. 39-40+ women do have additional issues. Not all but some do.
Anonymous
Just find the right OB. I go to a MFM practice and I get an ultrasound every 2 wks until 31 wks and go in every wk for NST (which includes ultrasound) starting at 31 wks. A lot of high risk practices do ultrasounds with every visit.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Just find the right OB. I go to a MFM practice and I get an ultrasound every 2 wks until 31 wks and go in every wk for NST (which includes ultrasound) starting at 31 wks. A lot of high risk practices do ultrasounds with every visit.


Not to be all soap boxy, but seriously this is one of the reasons why health care costs are so high in this country. If you're high risk or have an issue, I totally get the need to keep monitoring via ultrasound. But the idea of shopping around until you find someone who will give you what may be unnecessary tests just so you can feel better about it? Seems like kind of an abuse of the health care system...
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just find the right OB. I go to a MFM practice and I get an ultrasound every 2 wks until 31 wks and go in every wk for NST (which includes ultrasound) starting at 31 wks. A lot of high risk practices do ultrasounds with every visit.


Not to be all soap boxy, but seriously this is one of the reasons why health care costs are so high in this country. If you're high risk or have an issue, I totally get the need to keep monitoring via ultrasound. But the idea of shopping around until you find someone who will give you what may be unnecessary tests just so you can feel better about it? Seems like kind of an abuse of the health care system...


Except really, what is the cost to the provider of doing a quick u/s? (Other than, I suppose, incremental wear and tear on the equipment.) My OB (Armstrong, Bannon, Solomon, etc. in McLean) actually does one at every visit and does not bill anything more. It's not a high-level or detailed u/s but I bet it would be enough to satisfy an anxious mom.
Anonymous
All you have to do is say you don't feel movement, or you are having anxiety -- i think these are reasons to do an ultrasound on demand!
Anonymous
My mother was pregnant with me 30+ years ago in Europe and she had an ultrasound at every weekly visit.

I am pregnant in South America and the same, now, is standard.

For what it's worth.

Having said that OP (and identifying more than I wish with the fertility issues you've mentioned) I would be concerned that once you start doing it every 2 weeks, it won't be enough... and you'll need to know more frequently... but the truth is, you can't constantly know.

That said, again I can identify and I think "I'm really anxious about this" is enough of a reason, personally. I found personally that after enough USs andtime went by that I felt much more assured things would continue.

Good luck to you.
Anonymous
Tell them you were bleeding, and you will get a sono.
Anonymous
I get the anxiety, but I think lying about symptoms/issues to get a sono is a truly terrible idea and a complete waste of medical resources. Better to attack the issue of anxiety versus trying to scheme the system to get extra ultrasounds you don't need.
Anonymous
I think there's something seriously wrong with the idea of lying about bleeding or not feeling movement just to get an ultrasound. As my mom used to say when we were growing up, Don't tempt the Devil. If you think you need more, talk to your provider and see if they can arrange something, but please don't lie about having issues that you really don't.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I think there's something seriously wrong with the idea of lying about bleeding or not feeling movement just to get an ultrasound. As my mom used to say when we were growing up, Don't tempt the Devil. If you think you need more, talk to your provider and see if they can arrange something, but please don't lie about having issues that you really don't.


I agree - honesty is the best policy in this regard. Plus, do you really want to have to lie to get a sono - what a PITA. I actually had low fetal movement late in my pregnancy and ended up having to go to the emergency room each time. It sucked. I also had bleeding early in my pregnancy and it did not always result in a sono. I was told to rest and wait in a couple of cases.

Be honest with your OB about your anxieties because ultimately you will get better care.

Anonymous
OP here, did more research and I found this:

http://www.bellybeats.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=1079

I think I'm going to rent this for a couple of months. I think once I'm well into the second trimester I will feel more secure. I don't want to lie or anything like that to get extra care, I just want to feel safe, want my little bean to feel safe. There is no way around it, I'm really scared.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:OP here, did more research and I found this:

http://www.bellybeats.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=1079

I think I'm going to rent this for a couple of months. I think once I'm well into the second trimester I will feel more secure. I don't want to lie or anything like that to get extra care, I just want to feel safe, want my little bean to feel safe. There is no way around it, I'm really scared.



Or I just may buy this one:

http://www.fetaldoppler.net/sonoline-c1-blue.html
Anonymous
OP - I'm an overweight momma to be with belly fat, too, and the home doppler (angelsounds) worked for me after 16 weeks, so it may be worth a try. I've been to two different OB practices (switched halfway through because I moved) and neither of them said anything about my weight other than providing guidelines as to what would be healthy weight gain and what sort of exercise would be good/bad. So, just because your OB hasn't said anything about your weight doesn't automatically make him or her bad or unconcerned. If you have issues/questions regarding your weight, you need to be proactive and bring them up.

Someone different posted about their OB wanting them to take a GD test at 12 weeks just because they're fat - well you need a new OB. I took my GD screen at the recommended time (28 weeks?) and passed the one hour with flying colors, while two very fit friends had GD in their pregnancies.
Anonymous
Hey OP, just get gestational diabetes. I had once to twice a week BPP/NSTs for the last 2 months. I got pictures and updates of baby all the time. I'm kind of kidding, and it's not the kind of thing you have control over. But there's that.

I would expect you're going to be classified high risk, I think you will be referred for these tests as well. Good luck.
post reply Forum Index » Expectant and Postpartum Moms
Message Quick Reply
Go to: