Why don't Doctors take ultrasounds every month?

Question

I went to the doctor today and I had to beg to get another ultrasound done. I was glad they did because the last ultrasound the baby looked like a grain of rice and this time he/she looks like a baby. I can't understand why they won't do ultrasounds every visit. Don't these doctors know we want to see our babies every chance we can get. Its not like it is a lot of effort to do an ultrasound and only takes a few minutes. The next time I'll get to see my baby is when we find out the sex, which will be two months from now... I'll go crazy by then!

Answer 1

If the OB has a portable ultrasound unit in his own office, then you would more than likely get an ultrasound every visit.
However, if he does not - then your chances of having another one are very slim.

Ultrasounds - the kind that are done in the radiology department, done by a certified tech, are expensive (around $1000 or above). And most insurance companies will only pay for one. After the one, it must be medically necessary for the insurance company to pay again. These cases are for high risk pregnancies, such as multiples, brith defects, or if the mother has a problem (fibroids, incompetent uterus, etc.)

Only one ultrasound is really medically necessary. They are usually done at around 18-22 weeks. At this ultrasound, baby is measured, the heart & kidneys & such are looked at along with everything else for possible defects. Much of this won't be found earlier in the pregnancy - and later on, baby will be too big and cramped for better measurements.

You can always have a 3D/4D ultrasound done by a private center. http://unitedimagingpartners.com they have some really good packages, and rates are very reasonable. The center near me gave me a quote for around $200, for a video (DVD too), pictures, even a thing that I can download onto the computer to share. And - they allow up to 8 visitors!

But - don't worry about how often you can see your baby now. Baby just needs to concentrate on growing. Your OB will know what's best. It's better to get the other things in order, like heartbeats still good, how you're measuring, everything else going on in your pregnancy - than how baby looks right now.

And besides - you'll be seeing baby every day, after she's born. And those moments are the ones you'll cherish more.

Answer 2

Like most of the other people said, they are not 100% certain that ultrasounds do not cause a little bit of harm to the baby each time it is done. And then, yes, they are expensive. There are places now that you can go to and pay for an ultrasound and Dr.'s are really not happy about those. Just sit back, relax and enjoy your pregnancy. Just wait until you start to feel your baby move! It's all so wonderful, don't place too much focus on seeing the baby every month.

Answer 3

Ultrasound units cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. They are a fairly high use instrument and their operators are among the highest paid health care professionals. A routine ultrasound for fetal developement is a wonderful and safe procedure for assessing the health of an unborn child. However the cost of the procedure versus the benefit of "overdoing it" would only inflate the bill of a pregnancy. If earlier ultrasounds warrant closer examinations, they will certainly be done.

Contrary to a previous answer, ultrasound does not harm the fetus or the mother in any way. Some studies have indicated a slim possibility of damage to fetal ears, but this has never been proven. Ultrasound units use pulses of high frequency wave, way above the range of human hearing and no radiation (as does an x-ray machine).

Answer 4

I agree with photonic beam - ultrasounds are costly - and should be done only if needed. I only had one routine ultrasound my whole pregnancy, but that's because I had a smooth, uncomplicated pregnancy, practically low-risk, so there was not a huge need to check on the fetus every visit. My baby came out perfectly fine, and labor was a breeze as well. So it depends on what kind of a situation you're in. If you are high-risk, or if there is need to check for possible problems or complications, then the doctor will make sure that he/she monitors the pregnancy and the baby every time, hence the need for more ultrasounds. But other than that, most doctors will only do one routine ultrasound to determine the baby's growth progress as well as gestational age (also to find out the baby's gender if the parents want to know). Most insurance companies don't cover unnecessary ultrasound procedures. But hey, if you want to see your baby every time you go to the doctor, and you're willing to pay for it, then go ahead.

Answer 5

Ultrasounds are expensive to do and it takes a lot of time to set up the machine, let alone use it. There's a limit on how many times a pregnant female should be using the ultrasound before it gets harmful to the baby.

Time passes by really fast. I'm currently 6.5 monts pregnant and due in mid November. We can't wait for our baby to arrive. You'll just have to be patient and enjoy the free time that you have on your hands right now.

Answer 6

Alot of insurance companies will only cover 1 or 2 ultrasounds unless there is a medical necessity. The doctor probably wants to only do one so he'll be able to do another later if he thinks its needed, without having to fill out more paperwork to prove to the insurance company that it was needed. If you want to foot the ultrasound bill, then talk to him about paying for monthly ultrasounds.

Answer 7

Well number one, they're expensive and your insurance company won't just pay for them willy-nilly.

Second, they are intrusive to the baby (I've heard it described as the noise of a freight train.)

And three, there was a study published just last week that links ultrasound to problems with brain development. Granted, the study was done on mice and has its drawbacks because of that but on the other hand, human brains are far more complex than mouse brains so there's more potential for error. That study suggested that only medically necessary ultrasounds should be done.

Answer 8

Not all OB doctors will take U/S every month. There is no need if there is not a medical problem. I had a baby in Germany and saw a German OB doctor and he did U/S every visit which I did not care if he did or not...as long as I knew my baby was healthy. Your insurance company may have an alloted amount U/S that they will pay for during your prenatal care. If you want an U/S you are welcome to find a place that does 3D/4D images but that is out of pocket expense.

Answer 9

Insurance won't let doctors take ultrasounds every month. It costs too much. They will only do it regularly if there is something thought to be wrong with mom or baby.

Answer 10

ur gonna have rather some attempt and blood artwork carried out to you... Its all well-known... And my dr does an ultrasound at each and every appointment too... Its no longer that its mandatory yet his words have been "Makes the girl be greater soft and characteristic piece of innovations to easily see her toddler".... i admire seeing my toddler everytime... i've got had appointments each and each month... Then each and every 2 weeks...and now weekly and that i nevertheless have ultrasounds my coverage covers each and every thing yet while ur paying out of pocket... And its no longer mandatory to have ultrasounds you could ask ur dr to end