Ultrasounds an invasion of privacy?

Question

My aunt asked me if i was going to have an ultrasound. I said yes, and she responded how she felt they were an invasion of your little one's privacy and how unnessecsary they are! I said well they detect birth defects and such, she responded then, well if there is a birth defect what are you going to do about it? You won't have an abortion? (And I won't) so whats the point?
I think it would be nice to know about a possible birth defect before the birth!? But everyone is different?!
Is my aunt just weird or does she have a point?

I wasn't offened by her opinion! It's nice to hear other point of view!

Answer 1

i can understand her point of view and without a medical background i can surely understand how other's may share her views....

however, if birth defects are known about during pregnancy, then you and the hosiptal can take some extra precautions to ensure a smooth transition into this world for your baby.

a familiar example of this is a breech birth. although, it is not a birth defect, it is definitely something you want to be aware of since delivering a breech vaginally is difficult and most breech babies are delivered via c-section.

i was going to opt-out of getting the triple screen test b/c what was i going to do about it if i came up positive for any of the disorders on the screen....
well, i was talking to my sister about it (she's a nurse) and she said that if the baby would have one of those disorders, or any defect for that matter, the hospital could have certain implements and processes already prepared for the baby. PLUS, we could already register for any kind of support groups and aid b/c of the defects or disorders and not have to worry about those things AND a new baby.
her reasoning made sense to me and i got the triple screen. everything was fine, by the way:)

so, like i said...i can understand her point of view, however, i don't agree.

take care and congrats on the little one!

p.s. the ultrasound is, also, a really neat way to get to know your baby even more and the pictures you get to take home are a great way to start a scrap book! i don't know about you, but i never got to see myself as a developing baby inside my mom, but thanks to technology...my little one can see what he looked like when he was growing iside mommy's tummy!

Answer 2

She's weird.
First off...the baby is a tenant in YOUR body...so like any other tenant...the landlord is entitled to visits and inspections for no reason at all as long as he provides proper notice to the tenant...the 32 ounces of water and the excruitiating bladder pain as you hold in those 32 ounces...are notice enough.

Second off...take advantage of all the harmless technological advances you can...you may not be able to do anything about the baby if he or she has a defect...but it may make it easier on you if you're emotionally prepared and you've had time to hire the proper medical help in preparation of the defects that might be found.

Not only that...but actually seeing the little creature squiriming around in there provides and enormous opportunity to bond with your unborn child...it's different when you see the little face and watch the little feet kicking...

Get an ultrasound...you wont' regret it...tell your aunt, although you respect her opinion...you are still entitled to your own.

I myself have had five ultrasounds...the most recent one was yesterday...where my husband actually shed a tear when it was determined that we're having his first born son.

So call it what you want..."invasion of privacy" or a "great opportunity"...Either way...its a miracle...don't you want to see it up close and personal?

Answer 3

I think that your Aunt is entitled to her opinion. But, I also think you are as well. It is your body and your baby. I had an ultrasound and thought nothing of it. I also would not have an abortion, but knowing about a birth defect, etc can really help if you know ahead of time. You can prepare and go through the process of accepting it now, instead of as you are also trying to recover from giving birth. That time is hard enough. You will love your baby no matter what, but it doesn't hurt to know if you need something special ahead of time (like a special bottle if they have a cleft lip, etc.) or if you will need to line up extra help around the house for a special needs child. That is just my opinion and you should do whatever you feel is best. Good luck with your baby!

Answer 4

I think that your aunt is a little Weird!! lol But that's okay because everyone has a weird aunt. I personally wanted the ultrasound to know the sex of the baby!! since I knew that even if there was a birth defect I would keep him anyways!! Also i dont think that as a fetus they have right to Privacy!! lol! I mean they are in YOUR body so you have a right to look at them!!

Answer 5

Well, this is YOUR baby, and as a parent, you are doing what you think is best for him...which, in this case, is having an ultrasound to rule out certain birth defects/physical deformities. If you had one ultrasound a month just to see him and see if he's getting bigger and maybe take a look at his boy parts since you didn't get a good look at them the last time you had an ultrasound, then yes...that would be an invasion of privacy, and well, just plain creepy. LOL

Answer 6

Your aunt is just weird. I had one with both my children for the same reason you are. To make sure there were no problems with my baby. I would never have an abortion if there was something wrong. I just had faith that God would give me what he wanted me to have and I was thankful he gave me to wonderful. healthy children. I think that the ultrasound is a very good detection device of any kind of defect. You should do it not only to find out if there is anything wrong with your baby but to also find out the sex of the baby if you wish it. It is a miracle to have such an honor to be baby to get the first look at your unborn baby.

Answer 7

No, and I'm not sure how it's an invasion of privacy. It's your body, you have every right to know what's going on in there. And finding out about potential birth defects could be good even if you wouldn't terminate the pregnancy. It could help you to possibly treat the defects or at least give you time to research the condition and know what to expect.
My bother and his wife have a baby with Down's Syndrome and they didn't know about it until the baby was born. It was an awful situation as they weren't prepared.

Answer 8

Ultrasounds are pretty standard practices for most Western societies. You can hear the heart beat, measure the progress of the baby, and insure that there are no abnormalities. I just had my first one yesterday. It is a painless procedure, and the baby doesn't even know.

Sounds like your aunt is old-fashioned. Ask her what about changing a baby's diaper, is that invasion of privacy? Or bathing your kid. Your its parent and are suppose to do those things. But the ultrasound is voluntary, so decide if you want to have one, and discuss the pros and cons with your doctor. But ultimately it is your body and you do what you feel is right.

Answer 9

An invasion of your babys privacy??? Your unborn child already has privacy issues?? Wait until they are a teenager!!!

No, ultrasounds are a good thing. You can detect birth defects, sex of child, and best of all, it is amazing to see your unborn child growing inside you! It is the first picture of your baby!

I would not say your aunt is weird, but that is an odd point of view... :)

Answer 10

Its not an invasion. Your doctor does them to find the birth defects because there are things you can do to help defects or to prepare for them when your baby arrives. I think you Aunt is a little strange, but older people think differently.

Answer 11

I think she invaded your privacy by asking if you were going to have an ultrasound. I agree that knowing about a potential problem ahead of time (even if you aren't going to do anything about it) gives you time to be mentally prepared so you're not shocked or surprised later.

Plus throughout the pregnancy ultrasounds allow doctors to detect other conditions, such as fibroids, breeches, and wrapped umbillical cords that can be monitored so they do not become problematic later.