I heard a new study that ultrasounds might cause autism...I'm so scared...?

Question

I'm highrisk because I was diagnosed with actual diabetes at 9 weeks pregnant and I've had about 11 ultrasounds since then (3 were before I was 10 weeks pregnant cause they needed to check the baby while I was hospitalized twice and I had my first to make sure it was ectopic at 4 weeks) and then after that I had an ultrasound every 4 weeks at my new doctor (so at 11 weeks, 15 weeks, 20 weeks (heart ultrasound to check for holes), 24 weeks, 28 weeks and then one tomorrow cause I'm 32 weeks) and at 18 weeks I got a free scan at this clinic cause they offered it to me. I'm soooooo scared now that I've heard this and wondering if these are affecting my baby negatively, because if they are, I want to stop getting them completely....do you think he'll be ok?

*To make sure I wasn't ectopic at 4 weeks.

Answer 1

wow i think Angel in Hell was really rude. Guys dont understand what its like to be a women and pregnant. But please dont let myths bother you. i know what its like to be pregnant and worryin that everything that could go wrong WILL go wrong.

but if that were true i dont think they would do as many ultrasounds anymore. i know you'll always have this doubt but just relax and try thinking of something else. and dont listen to people who are going to be rude to you like Angel in Hell

Answer 2

Okay, take a deep breath, and relax.

There are studies that show ultrasounds cause everything from cancer to autism to, I'm sure, alien visitations.

The fact is that we do not know what effect ultrasound might have; it's a very recent tool (1970s?). But this doesn't mean it's something to fear. If t here was a clear connection, it would've been noticed years ago.

http://www.pubmed.com is THE place to go for medical research searches. I searched for 'autism ultrasound fetal' (and others) and only came up with one review article published in Midwifery Today int Midwife. No offense meant to midwives or that joural, but that's hardly Lancet or Nature or even close. It's a review article, and the journal is so obscure that the university library here (we have a good midwifery program too) doesn't subscribe to it.

Don't sweat it. Relax. Besides, there's nothing that stressing will do. I know many women who had ultrasounds every two weeks throughout their pregnancies, and their children are just fine.

Answer 3

Autism seems to have a genetic component, but may be triggered by environmental causes. This is similar to cancer, if you think of it that way. If you don't have anyone with Autism or Asperger's syndrome in your family, your odds of having a child with it are pretty low.

Ultrasounds use sound waves, which then "bounce back", and the machine reads what's in your uterus by measuring how long it takes the sound waves to bounce back. The procedure is incredibly safe. The odds are that the worst that will happen is that baby will get a headache. So far, safety studies on it have been overwhelmingly positive, although there is no way to definitivly "know" at this point if there are any side effects that show up at a later date.

I have never heard of a link between ultrasounds and autism. I am married to a great guy with Asperger's syndrome. We had only one ultrasound with my son, who has autism. In my son's case, he had trouble digesting wheat and milk, which seems to have "pushed" him into autism. After treating him with digestive enzymes and supplements, he is quickly becoming more "quirky" than "autistic". In our case, we are very systematic about investigating food allergies, and are on a delayed vaccine schedule for each of our younger kids, to help avoid "triggering" autism.

If you are interested in learning more about autism, I would recommend the Autism Research Insititute (ARI), and the research of Dr. Bernard Rimland. They are probably the most up-to-date source of information at the moment.

EDIT: Let's leave the self-important declaration that "vaccines don't cause autism" to the parents of autistic children. I know many parents, *personally* who saw a rapid decent into autism only days or weeks after one shot. And Autism IS on the rise, folks. A child who spends his days spinning and can barely speak would not have gone unnoticed by a pediatrician 50 years ago. There is increased, more accurate diagnosing, (a child is not "retarded" anymore, he may be autistic instead.) but there IS an increase in the number of cases showing up. Special Ed teachers are being flooded with more obviously autistic kids every year - just ask them, and they'll tell you. It's not like a kid who is flapping his hands and screaming would have been put into regular classes even 25 years ago - these kids are coming from SOMEWHERE, and it's not from our imaginary diagnoses or problems in normal kids.

Answer 4

I have never heard of ultrasound causing autism. My mom did not have ultrasound and my brother was autistic.
I was taught in prenatal class that ultrasound can cause deafness in animals. I was always afraid that it would cause leukemia.
I hope you will be fine. Worrying will not change anything. The baby is mostly developed by now so more ultrasounds probably will not hurt.

Answer 5

provide a link for the study? Ultrasounds do NOT cause autism, neither do vaccinations. There is an increase in the diagnosis of autism simply due to the fact that there are more people qualified to do so, and there are many many many different types and severities of autism, which are recognized these days. Keep in mind that as little as thirty years ago the medical reason for autism was "frigid mother syndrome," they blamed the moms for not loving their kids enough, now we have vaccine theories and apparently an ultrasound theory.

EDIT: I AM a Special Education teacher

Answer 6

If she used the exact words "Pop the tiny baby right off your uterus," then find a new midwife. A baby is IN your uterus, not ON it. I have never heard of this I have had 3 vaginal ultrascans without incident and have never heard of anyone having a miscarriage after or during one for that matter. I would say tell your MW she's nuts! *edited* This is not possible, they do not stick the probe in your uterus, so unless she is using the probe as a bat on the uterine wall then this isn't going to happen.

Answer 7

I've heard something about that study recently. But one thing you have to remember any time you hear something being linked to autism is that correlation does not equal causation. Autism is generally considered to be caused by a genetic predisposition combined with an environmental trigger. But we are still far from positively knowing what that is, many things correlate with autism.
For what it's worth, I know it doesn't prove anything, but I have an autistic child but didn't have an ultrasound.

Answer 8

There is a study for everything that proves or disproves each subject. I recently read one where exposure to cats at a young age will trigger pet allergies in your child, yet another study stated that it prevents allergies. Do yourself a favor and
dont believe everything you read.
My pediatrican said that autism seems to be on the rise only because we are now more capable of pinpointing conditions.
He said that years ago people that had asbergers or autism were classified as "mentally retarted".
I would lay off the ultrasounds, I only had three. One at 8 weeks then another at 22, I had my last one at 35 weeks to see his face in 3D. Next time I will see him in person (only 1.5 weeks to go)

Answer 9

I have a child with autism, and although no one knows exactly what causes it, I have never heard of ultrasounds being a concern. Basically children with autism are pre-dispositioned to it, meaning there is a genetic component, and then something environmental triggers it. Many theories include mercury or vaccinations. One thing they do know is that children with autism have very sensitive immune systems.
I don't think you need to worry about ultrasounds.

Answer 10

Your baby should be just fine. I personally don't pay attention to stupid studies like that. Ultrasounds are necessary to make sure that your baby is doing fine and from what you've said there's good reason they are performing them. I my self have had several ultrasounds with my son and he's a happy healthy little guy. Don't stress your baby is fine.

Answer 11

I would imagine that if ultrasounds were so bad, then they wouldn't do them or wouldn't do them as much. No one has really found a definite cause for autism, people are grasping at straws, with this one. Stop worrying, it's not good for the baby! LOL!