What unique techniques does Hilary Erickson recommend for managing ultrasound anxiety?

One thing I talk about a lot is that anxiety around ultrasounds (or between them) is normal, but it should trend down, not keep ramping up. When your worry keeps building or never eases, that is a sign to reach out for help, not just “push through.”

A few unique angles I emphasize:

• Expect a bump in anxiety after you leave the hospital or have a big transition (like your partner going back to work). That spike is common, but if it keeps worsening instead of easing, that is when you talk with your provider or a mental health professional.
• Don’t rely on more scans or home devices (like at‑home ultrasound machines) as your main “reassurance plan.” I point out that:
  • We do not fully understand the long‑term effects of frequent ultrasound exposure.
  • Home machines are very easy to misread, which can increase anxiety if you scare yourself over something that is actually normal.
• Instead, I strongly recommend proven, low‑tech tools like daily kick counts. They:
  • Help you track baby’s well‑being in a safe, evidence‑based way.
  • Give you a built‑in time each day to rest, hydrate, and bond with baby.
• I also encourage “making friends with worry.” In other words, understand that some level of “what if something’s wrong?” never fully goes away (it just changes from SIDS to playground falls to teen driving). The goal is not zero worry, but learning to live with it instead of letting it run the show.

Would it help if I walked you through a simple kick-count routine or some in-the-moment anxiety tricks you can use before and after ultrasounds?