Ultrasound, cord clamping & autism

[LionsandBears]

I don't know if this is the right spot for this, so please move if necessary.

I've been researching on the internet and found a number of sources suggesting there's a link between increased use in ultrasound & cord clamping and the increase in autism/ASD.

I'm not sure I'd feel confident going through a pg without any scans, given my age and a previous mc, even though I know women have gone through centuries without them. I know research shows that statistically there's no increase in baby health from using ultrasound, but the more I've read about possible complications, the less I feel we could go without. How else can you find out about placenta praevia, vasa praevia etc?

The link between cord clamping and oxygen deprevation in bub seems clear, so hopefully that won't be too big a fight, but I'm really not sure about the no ultrsound thing. I'm happy to keep them to a minimum, but then how many is too many and does it depend on how strong the machine is?

Has anyone found similar research/ had any experience with this?

TIA

[JellyBean]

Hi Tashybabe,

I posted an article a few months ago on the risks of ultrasound technology. I will try to find it for you. There are many medical professionals who advise against unecessary scans because of emerging evidence for ultrasound technology which is not favourable, and also because it is still a very new form of technology and the full effects will not be known for some years - until further study is done.
Of course it is a useful form of technology for high risk pregnancies, however.

It is for this reason (and my desire for minimal intervention) that I have chosen not to have any scans. You will find quite a few women in the natural parenting forums who also choose not to scan their babies. We are a growing phenomenon!! In other countries ultrasound for the unborn is not common practice (for various reasons). Research still indicates that a woman's LMP (last menstrual period) and cycle length is a more accurate indication of estimated due date than ultrasound technology - which has some medical professionals questioning the need for early dating scans at all, and the impact they may have on artificial induction rates (for simply being 'overdue') and hence ceasarean section because of inaccurate estimation of due dates.

As for cord clamping, I know a lot of women choose to delay cord clamping after the birth until the cord has stopped pulsating, as a large volume of blood and white blood cells are passed onto the baby in this period - which increases their immunity and the amount of oxygen in their body, and decreases their risk of developing certain conditions (ie - vitamin K deficiency).
'Lotus birth' is also becoming more popular now and is common practice in many traditional cultures- whereby the woman delays cutting the cord until the placenta has been naturally delivered - potentially a couple of hours after the birth. In traditional cultures this practice holds a special spiritual significance for the mother and baby to be attached in this way, and the cutting of the cord signifies a 'letting go' with ceremonious applause.
I have not read of a link between ultrasound and early cord clamping with ADS and autism - although that sounds quite plausible to me given some of the things I have read. I suppose that is an area for further research!!!

XX

[JellyBean]

Here is the link for the article I posted awhile back on ultrasound risks...
http://forums.bellybelly.com.au/foru...ltrasound.html

its pretty controversial - and I don't wish to alarm anyone. But I think it is a mothers right (or a human right, rather!) to be fully informed in order to truly consent to all these supposedly 'necessary' interventions. Information is power!!

XX

[HotI]

What is the one called when they don't cut the cord at all, but carry the placenta around until it breaks off naturally? I thought that was lotus-ish.

I saw a doco on it, and they carried the placenta wrapped in damp tea towel wherever bub went for a week or so when it came away.

Ta,

Kate

[christy]

I have a daughter with ASD and we had 3 scans on her whilst pregnant, one was during a m/c scare, another was the 20 week one and the last was at 30 weeks whilst at work when the probe was on us for 2 minutes tops.

I don't know about the relativeness of ASD and u/s... or cord clamping for that... I DO know that there is a strong link in genetics towards ASD. It runs in families. Its not a death warrant. Its hard work, but its not the end of the world, its just the beginning of a new one

[Dedicated Doula Gillian]

Jellybean pretty much summed it up!
Thanks for that! I agree with you!