Ultrasound

Published May 27, 2023, updated May 27, 2023

In most articles I write on this blog, I give you my opinion, some tips for your birth carefully collected from personal experience and other free/home birthers, and a bunch of facts on specific scenarios, as well as external links. I’m not doing that today.

Today you just get links and my succinct opinion.

​

I believe ultrasound has a time and a place. I do not think it is so risky as most naturally minded people make out, but I also believe it is not so benign as society would have us believe. 

I think it is overused and under-utilized. It often receives criticism in "Wild Pregnancy" groups for being chosen as an intervention, and in mainstream groups, you get questioned strongly too, “Why wouldn't you just see your baby?!” (as they ignore the fact that all babies were birthed without ultrasound until it came into use around 60 years ago.)

Therefore I put it fully into your hands to make the decision. I provide some links on the topic, and it's important to note most of these links are anti-ultrasound, but in different ways. I do not endorse all their views.

There are benefits and risks to ultrasound, and sometimes the benefits do outweigh the risks (like in the case of suspected placental abruption after a car accident). Other times, there will never be a need for an ultrasound and you would go your whole pregnancy without one.

Ask yourself:
What do you want to know?
What will you do with the information?
What does your intuition say?
What gestation will you get a scan at?
Why that gestation?
Can you delay it to a safer gestation?
Can you find out the information another way?
E.g. Gender = Sneak Peek or blood test
Chromosomal abnormalities = NIPT test
Placenta Previa = Belly mapping and fetoscope

Twins = Belly mapping, doppler*, fetoscope (twin freebirth article - here)

*NB. Doppler is a form of ultrasound

It's always completely up to you. Should you be put in the position of perhaps *needing* one after previously opting out, use your BRAINS acronym to help you decide.

Here are the articles I know of on the topic - email me or use the contact form to let me know if you find more! unassistedhomebirth@gmail.com

Chinese study 

https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/50-in-utero-human-studies-confirm-risks-prenatal-ultrasound/ 

Sarah Buckley 

https://sarahbuckley.com/ultrasound-scans-cause-for-concern/ 

Sara Wickham

https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/23713/ 

https://www.sarawickham.com/riffing-ranting-and-raving/8212/ 

Rachel Reed (ultrasounds results)
https://midwifethinking.com/2019/09/02/big-babies-the-risk-of-care-provider-fear/?amp 

Freebirth Society
https://www.freebirthsociety.com/blogs/the-free-birth-podcast/unpacking-ultrasound-with-yolande-clark 

https://www.freebirthsociety.com/blogs/the-free-birth-podcast/gestational-diabetes-gbs-ultrasound-technology-and-rh-negative-a-new-perspective 

Indie Birth Midwifery
https://indiebirth.org/understanding-ultrasound/

https://indiebirth.org/intuition-and-ultrasound/ 

https://indiebirth.org/what-no-one-ever-told-you-about-second-trimester-ultrasound/