What you can see on an ultrasound

On Fri, 7 May 2004 12:16:10 -0700, "Joybelle"
wrote:

I really, really think it is a "to each his own" kind of thing. Clubfoot
maybe doesn't interfere with feeding, but it has its own worries. I can
see why some people would want to be prepared. But for ME, I think I would
have stressed a lot more knowing beforehand, which would have only made the
blood pressure worse (I was on bedrest for six weeks).

I'm just saying I don't think everyone should have a late ultrasound unless
that is what they want. I'm also pointing out the fact that I DID have a
late ultrasound (30 wks), and it did NOT detect the defect. Which could
have been a similar scenario for your friend and all the preparations and
etc wouldn't have been done anyway. I don't think late ultrasounds are very
accurate anyway due to more cramped baby, but I could be wrong.

No, you're right. When I had a 28 week ultrasound for suspected IUGR
with #2 it was accurate enough for what they wanted but it didn't pick
up what was seen on ultrasound 7 weeks later after a car accident -
multiple heart defects. Those were actually misdiagnosed due to his
position and the fact that he wouldn't/couldn't change position so it
wasn't until after he was born that the cardiologist could get a
proper view of exactly what defects he had and start a treatment plan.

However, as Sophie said, it was better that it was diagnosed while I
was still pregnant because at that time my DH was on his way to Hong
Kong and we had to do a lot of paperwork to get him home in time for
the birth. Plus we had enough time to change our plans to birthing at
the hospital co-located with the Children's Hospital, have a tour of
the NICU and speak to the specialists.

--
Cheryl
Mum to Shrimp (11 Mar 99), Thud (4 Oct 00)
and Mischief (30 Jul 02)

I am a little confused, I think. By late ultrasound, am I understanding
correctly, do you mean sometime in the 30-something weeks or are you
referring to the 18-21 weeks?

I mean around 30 weeks.

Below you refer to your routine 22 week
ultrasound ruling out cleft palate. It seems to me that it is pretty
regular practice to offer ultrasounds at 18-20something weeks. If you do
mean around 30 weeks, I guess I don't see the necessity for it to be
offered. Any birth defects, would usually be screened, and more likely
caught, at the 18-20 week ultrasound rather than a later ultrasound. From
what I understand, the later the ultrasound is the harder it is to
determine
birth defects because of the baby being more cramped.

My friend had the 20-something week u/s and it didn't detect the cleft
palate. Thank goodness fo the 31 week one.