Obstetrical Sonography: The Best Way to Terrify a Pregnant Woman

J Ultrasound Med 2000; 19:1-5 ^ | 2000 | Roy A. Filly, M.D.

[Mamzelle]

I hear you, and I hope the guy switches to all gyn...but that's the way it's headed, anyway. Last call for baby deliverers. You probably wouldn't have to negotiate through all the dilemmas that modern tech provides if all you had to work with was a midwife.

[Kaylee Frye]

Aww, I'm so glad to see these pictures! :) I read this thread the first time around. :)

[cpforlife.org]

Please let me know if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Although I appreciate your unsolicited character reference, I stand by my earlier assessment that Hildy is most assuredly a troll on these life related threads. She clearly has many unresolved issues relating to legalized abortion and her hate and vile bubble over whenever it is discussed. Her comments on the subject tend to consist of unwarranted and unsubstantiated personal attacks as well as overt efforts to hijack the conversation over to unrelated or irrelevant topics. I will continue to pray for her and those like her that they will seek and accept the divine forgiveness that is freely offered to them regardless of what they have done.

[redgolum]

While we don't have any kids yet, a local prolife OBGYN is the one doing the NFP stuff in my wife's parish. Makes things simpler.

Her family has a history of Downs, and that worries me, but what ever God sends our way it will be something we can deal with.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your joyous update and pictures of Norah! Your family's situation has been a particular fear of mine and your beautiful child has been in our prayers every day since your post. Thank you also for your highly qualified advice regarding prenatal ultrasounds. I will definitely reassess my previous harm-benefit analysis based upon your experience.

[redgolum]

CONGRATULATIONS!

[montag813]

My wife refused an amnio. The midwife said "don't you want to know if the baby has a defect"? My wife said "why, so I can kill it? No thanks". Silence in the room. Never brought up again.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Our 3rd grandson is due any minute. The first sonogram did show cysts and the doctor did tell our daughter all the things which could be wrong. But he explaned that the reason such cysts are seen nowadays is precisely because of the sonograms, and they typically disappear.

He was right -- the next sonogram showed no cysts. It did, however, show that the cord was wrapped around the baby's neck. He's been fine, and his heart rate is "flawless", so we are trusting God that he will arrive safely.

I think sonograms are awesome -- the baby can be seen smiling, frowning, thumbsucking, etc., but if there's the slightest little thing to worry about, the dr. has to tell you.

[GovernmentShrinker]

the next sonogram showed no cysts. It did, however, show that the cord was wrapped around the baby's neck

That sort of thing is the best reason for routine ultrasounds. Perfectly normal healthy babies sometimes die during delivery from an umbilical cord wrapped around the neck. And sometimes lesser, but still serious damage occurs. I met a toddler who'd had her umbilical cord wrapped around her upper arm during delivery, causing some permanet (though in her case not very serious) damage. But she did have to go to therapy for about a year, and her mother met other little ones there with similar, but significantly more serious damage. If you know in advance that something like this is going on, the reaction time to minor-seeming symptoms before or during delivery is going to be a lot faster, and a lot more likely to avert disaster, because both the mother and doctor will be on alert as to exactly what to be watching out for. Just think about what a 10 minute delay in converting a natural delivery to an emergency C-section could mean, if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck, cutting off oxygen to the brain.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

You're right -- our daughter was told to watch out for changes in movement, etc.

[.30Carbine]

Thanks for the ping, cpforlife, and for the thread, Theophilus.

I think it must be really hard to give a patient an unwanted, unexpected diagnosis. It doesn't matter if the diagnosis is of the baby (or babies) in the womb of the mother, or if it is of the adult patient him- or herself; an unwanted, unexpected diagnosis must always be hard to give and hard to hear. It is tragic when the diagnosis is incorrect, and many are. I think that medicine by doctors with good hearts is an imperfect attempt by man to heal and to ease pain, sometimes successful, and that not all who are in the field of medicine have good hearts.

I am so sorry for the reading you received of your child's sonogram. I see you are seeking Wisdom, and I commend you, and I ask through Jesus Christ that this, even this, will be worked into God's Plan of Good to you and your wife and your family and your legacy. I hear you saying you trust Him. Keep on doing so.

PS - It may be, and likely is, that what your wife is mad at is not you, but the situation. Put your arms around her and let her cry.

[.30Carbine]

So it was the update I was being pinged to! Hoo-boy! And Hallelujah! Do I feel silly! (: But I sure enjoyed the exercise! Norah is perfect, praise the Giver!