With regards to ultrasound mistakes I have just had a woman come through my classes who was told she had a 2 vessel cord instead of the normal 3 vessel cord - she searched the internet came up with information which distressed her and she was terribly worried throughout the whole course of classes - on the last night she came to me and said that with a follow up ultrasound that day they had discovered that the previous ultrasound had been incorrect and there were 3 vessels in the cord after all. Simple mistake that led to ... well who knows what effects it might have had on her bonding pre-natally with her baby and therefore into the future...
Another one in a different group had been told her baby was extremely underweight IUGR by ultrasound - so she went and got a second opinion. New ultrasound at a different clinic in a different area put the baby's calculated weight at 200 grams greater. Still small yes but significant difference so decided not to do c.section straight away - ended with a normal birth with a healthy baby. Some people have enormous faith in technology don't they? The fear of litigation - the need for evidence - is what pushes this faith in technology. I wonder why Australia has not adopted the same system as New Zealand - although not perfect - what system is? It has to be better than our current one. Warm regards, Julie Julie Clarke CBE Independent Childbirth and Parenting Educator HypnoBirthing (R) Practitioner ACE Grad Dip Supervisor NACE Advanced Educator and Trainer NACE National Journal Editor Transition into Parenthood Sessions 9 Withybrook Place Sylvania NSW 2224 Telephone 9544 6441 Mobile: 0401 2655 30 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] visit Julie's website: www.transitionintoparenthood.com.au -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kathy McCarthy-Bushby Sent: Wednesday, 20 October 2004 10:37 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] RE: antenatal question Slyvia, An ultrasound scan is not 100% accurate as we all know. Ultrasounds can fail to pick up significant abnornalities or suggest a problem when one is not there. Our family were thrown in total chaos and confussion when my 4th nephew was diagnosed with a possiblity of hydrocephalus on the 20 week ultrasound. My sister was extremely upset and distressed. A follow up ultrasound at a another hospital (major referral hospital for the state) determined that the baby did not have a hydrocepalus. All that unnecessary stress, fear and worry. He is a healthy, active and beautiful child. I would suggest respecting your sister's choices and support her in whatever she decides. By all means make suggestions, but try not push her in any direction. Afterall, she is dealing with an unexpected result the best way she knows how too. Maybe what you see as denial is a quiet strength that everything is ok with her baby. Perhaps, she is right, that despite the fear she still intuitively knows her baby is alright. Maybe, she is in shock about the result and needs some time before she can make any decisions. However, declining investigations and treatment is your SIL making decisions, but it would help her decision making if she where aware of what are the benefits, the risk, the options and deciding to do nothing are in regard to the investigations and/or treatment. You could ask your SIL if it's ok if you read the scan result , discover if the ultrasound was reviewed by a senior radiologist, and what about a second opinion, talk to a neonatologists or paediatrician, do some research, what is the significance of this finding, if any? Would your SIL if asked, want to know of any suspected abnormalities on ultrasound before it was done? Something that we probably all need to think about asking women when discussing having the 18 - 20 week ultrasound. I hope this helps you during this difficult time kathy ----- Original Message ----- From: "leanne wynne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 10:49 AM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] RE: antenatal question > Sylvia, > My initial gut feeling is that your sister-in-law is right to believe that > nothing is wrong. So often I have seen terrible fear dumped on women > unecessarily due to some anomaly on an ultrasound scan ... especially if the > measurement was done 5 times and only once was it slightly abnormal?? > If I was her midwife I would need to read the actual ultrasound report in > order to do some research on the woman's behalf to try and get some accurate > information for her. > An amniocentesis will only pick-up genetic problems, not morphologic > abnormalities. It also carries a 1-2% risk of causing a miscarriage of > possibly / probably a perfectly normal foetus. > I'm not sure if this helps at all. > All the best, > Leanne. > > >From: "Sylvia Boutsalis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Subject: [ozmidwifery] RE: antenatal question > >Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 07:34:07 +0930 > > > > > >Hi all, > > > >I'm needing a bit of information if you are able to help me. My sister > >in law just came home from a 20 week scan. The Gyno told her that there > >was some space in the baby's brain. He measured the distance from the > >skull to the inner membrane(??) 5 times and only once did the meaurement > >come up a percentage difference from the normal. They were strongly > >advised to have an amnio but they turned it down because they will not > >abort under any circumstance. They then advised her to go again for > >another scan in 2 weeks. She turned that down too, as she doesn't want > >to know (she's in denial as she thinks everything is fine). I'm thinking > >the scan is a good way of determining whether this 'space' is growing > >along with the baby. As a childbirth Educator I couldn't answer any of > >their quesitons. Can anyone shed some light onto this? Sorry this > >information is sketchy, but they were too stressed to take in any decent > >information. > > > >Thanks in advance > >Sylvia Boutsalis > >Childbirth Educator > >Infant Massage Instructor > >Adelaide > > > >-- > >This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > >Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > > > >-- > >This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > >Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > Leanne Wynne > Midwife in charge of "Women's Business" > Mildura Aboriginal Health Service Mob 0418 371862 > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
