To: [log in to unmask] Re: OB U/S & LD Hi, all. Some time ago, Marie Davis asked something about obstetric ultrasound and learning disabilities. Because of my childbirth-activist big mouth, I got in my possession (would rather not say how) a copy of a proposal by a group in a Scandinavian country with this connection as its working hypothesis. This was 7-8 years ago, and I don't know what actually happened. There must be some evidence of a connection between the two, because the FDA recommends no U/S in the first trimester unless there is a sound medical reason. I have also seen some WHO documents of meetings where the concensus seems to be that obstetric U/S is recommended to be limited to valid medical reasons. Add to this a study that seemed to show that OB U/S could lead to intrauterine growth retardation (and ironically, *screening for* IUGR is the supposed "medical reason" for 2 U/S exams done routinely in Israel!). The reasoning for a connection with LDs probably is that the fetal brain develops most rapidly in the 1st 20 weeks of gestation. I have a very unprofessional gut feeling that exposure to U/S in utero may lead to learning disabilities, which may be "witnessed" for the first time by difficulty in learning how to breastfeed. I have suspected this in a few clients of mine, but it is impossible to prove.....unless some whiz kid out there has some bright idea.... My LD daughter was not exposed to U/S in utero. She had to be resuscitated at birth, Apgar of 6/8, was blue for 24+ hrs because of shot of Demerol I was given 1.5 hours before delivery (at least, this is my theory). Obviously, analgesia during labor is one of my major buttons. Happy New Year everyone! Judy Knopf in Beer Sheva, Israel