Advice: should I push a third tri uktrasound?

[lo95]

I didn't know at my 20 week anatomy scan that I might want to check into doing a more detailed scan including the heart as some IVF patients seem to do. My 28 week appointment is Thursday. My OB's office doesn't do additional scans unless you're measuring off or if there's an obvious problem.

Should I ask for another? I know it's dumb to worry but my anxiety causes me to second guess everything.

[daydreamernyc]

Feb 4, 2015 2:41:13 GMT -5 lo95 said:

I didn't know at my 20 week anatomy scan that I might want to check into doing a more detailed scan including the heart as some IVF patients seem to do. My 28 week appointment is Thursday. My OB's office doesn't do additional scans unless you're measuring off or if there's an obvious problem.

Should I ask for another? I know it's dumb to worry but my anxiety causes me to second guess everything.

you mention about IVF patients specifically. Are you saying there is a difference or that IVF babies have different risks?  

(I recently asked a similar question so this part of your question popped for me )

[kmc84]

As far as I know, fetal echoes are best done at 18-19 weeks for clarities sake. The increase in heart problems is so very minimal for IVF babies that it's hardly worth mentioning. I really wouldn't stress over that.

I had a fetal echo with both babies only because I have type 1 diabetes; IVF had no influence on the decision.

[IFinTN]

I have all kinds of high risk possibilities (AMA, chronic hypertension, insulin resistance, tachycardia, obesity) but a fetal echo was never mentioned. They get a pretty good look at the a/s. You'll just have to accept you are going to be treated just like all other patients at your OB. If there's no reason for addition scans then you won't get them.

[Deleted]

I had a follow up u/s with DD1 around 32-34w but mainly because they wanted to confirm if my placenta had moved or not. I never had a fetal echo.

I agree with IFinTN - accepting that you are a normal pregnant lady maybe scary for you BUT it's the best thing. After all this time trying to have a baby and now you are officially in the "normal" category. It's gotta count for something. I wouldn't plan on having any additional scans or testing from here on out unless there is a medical reason for it. I hope you can have some peace from that.

[hollberry]

I opted for an additional scan at 23 weeks, partial due to IVF and partial due to baby was mr. wiggles so the tech could not get a good picture of the aorta. I was offered a repeat scan at 24 with the OB but I already and an appointment for a fetal echo with a MFM. Once again mr. wiggles was in full force so they were unable to do the echo. I do have another appt for a fetal echo in 2 weeks.
It is my understanding that there was no scientific study done (Dr. google has info from 2009), but that there is a higher instance (something like <1.0%) of IVF babies have a heart valve defect.

[viola]

Echoing PPs in saying if it wasn't recommended for you, then no. No need to borrow trouble.

[ProfessorChaos]

I thought about this, too, but decided not to for two reasons primary reasons. First, my a/s was done with a MFM, so the scan was as high quality as it gets. Second, Little Girl was extremely cooperative during the scan, so they got excellent pictures. Between those two things, I felt confident that they'd gotten all the views of the heart they needed to, and if they were happy, I was happy.

I know some people elect to have a 3d/4d scan in the third tri, partly just to see their LO. We decided against this because of the safety considerations. This means we're unlikely to have any other scans at all, and I'm okay with this. I figure if there's something really worrying me at some point, they'll probably want to have a look, too. In the meantime, I can just rely on her nearly incessant movement to assure me that all is well.

Being a low risk pregnant woman is a good thing. Embrace it!

[snarkysparklefart]

Feb 4, 2015 8:35:46 GMT -5 kmc84 said:

As far as I know, fetal echoes are best done at 18-19 weeks for clarities sake. The increase in heart problems is so very minimal for IVF babies that it's hardly worth mentioning. I really wouldn't stress over that.

I had a fetal echo with both babies only because I have type 1 diabetes; IVF had no influence on the decision.

This. I had my fetal echo done at 25 weeks (that's what we were told was optimal for our situation- I had early diagnosed GD and as a result my chart indicated pre pregnancy diabetes, so this was a precaution for me as well). If it really concerns you, bring it up, but I would probably err on the side of not 'borrowing trouble'. (I feel that's a crappy term to use but I hope you KWIM)

[viola]

Feb 5, 2015 9:05:54 GMT -5 snarkysparklefart said:

Feb 4, 2015 8:35:46 GMT -5 kmc84 said:

As far as I know, fetal echoes are best done at 18-19 weeks for clarities sake. The increase in heart problems is so very minimal for IVF babies that it's hardly worth mentioning. I really wouldn't stress over that.

I had a fetal echo with both babies only because I have type 1 diabetes; IVF had no influence on the decision.

This. I had my fetal echo done at 25 weeks (that's what we were told was optimal for our situation- I had early diagnosed GD and as a result my chart indicated pre pregnancy diabetes, so this was a precaution for me as well). If it really concerns you, bring it up, but I would probably err on the side of not 'borrowing trouble'. (I feel that's a crappy term to use but I hope you KWIM)

Same

[bears1011]

I'm getting a fetal echo this coming week at 23 weeks. Everything looked fine on the a/s but my MFM does fetal echos for all IVF patients as a precaution. I don't think it's necessary just because of doing IVF but if it will make you feel better to ask about doing one, there's no harm in that!