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Original poster

Sonographer pushed really hard - worried

61 replies

Monki85 · 13/10/2019 06:51

After some unexplained severe cramps I booked a private 'reassurance' scan, which ironically has me more worried than I was before. I was 9weeks + 3 days, their website said it was internal before 10 so on arriving at the clinic I went to the loo to empty my bladder. However when I went in for the scan she informed me they only do internal if they can't get it externally. I also have a retroverted uterus. So she pushed the scanner really hard into my pelvis to find the baby, which she did find. It wasn't painful, but she really dug it in. I was so distracted by seeing the baby and heartbeat, and presumed it must be normal? I was in and out of the room within 10mins. But now I'm really worried that the pressure could have hurt the baby? At such an early stage of pregnancy could it of damaged it's development? I have a friend with a severely disabled little one, and I fear it could have caused something similar. edited by MNHQ

OP posts:
OlderthenYoungerNow · 13/10/2019 06:52

There's no way that it would damage a baby at that early stage. It's so tiny and very well protecte

barnun · 13/10/2019 06:54

Exactly what PP said. Smile

MustardScreams · 13/10/2019 06:56

They have to push hard to actually see the baby. The baby is protected by your uterus, and the amniotic fluid. How do second babies survive when parents have rambunctious toddlers?

You need to chill, or the rest of your pregnancy is going to be very stressful.

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Families
TheStoreRoom · 13/10/2019 06:57

I was surprised when I had my first scan how forceful they were but please be reassured this is all normal.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 13/10/2019 07:05

Bless! Welcome to motherhood where you worry about everything! Totally normal x

Smashtastick · 13/10/2019 07:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

OlderthenYoungerNow · 13/10/2019 07:13

Some of the comments here are really unfair. The OP is just a worried ftm, probably hasn't thought too hard about it and l wanted to talk her concern over. There's no need to patronise her

MustardScreams · 13/10/2019 07:16

Is a sonographer really, actually going to cause a miscarriage because they’re pushing so hard? Someone that has trained for years to do their job?

It’s better for op to learn what not to stress out about ASAP and get that common sense into gear. Otherwise she’ll be pulling her hair out and having a newborn will be horrendous.

runningintothesunset · 13/10/2019 07:20

OP - please don’t listen to Smashastick. There is absolutely nothing sensible in that post at all!

You had a scan by a trained sonographer, they do have to put pressure on you to be able to see properly. It’s natural to be worried in pregnancy but if things start to get overwhelming please talk to your midwife

IncrediblySadToo · 13/10/2019 07:21

@Smashtastick. I can’t tell whether you’re being serious or sarcastic, either way your post is out of line on here.

@Monki85 I recently had a trans vaginal scan for a less pleasant reason than checking a baby out and was told it would be internal, but she tried to do it externally first. She pushed so hard it really hurt, so I know what you mean, but don’t worry, that will not hurt your baby!

user1480880826 · 13/10/2019 07:24

Don’t listen to @Smashtastick. It’s totally normal for the sonography to have to push really hard, especially early on when the baby is so small. i remember being shocked at how hard they pushed. It actually felt really uncomfortable.

It won’t have hurt your baby. At 9 weeks it is absolutely tiny.

coffeeaddiction · 13/10/2019 07:25

Without this sounding rude but if you have abit of a fat on your tummy they do have to press down quite hard , I'm a size 14 with a wobbly tummy and they had to
Press down quite hard to get a good view when I had my first scan

Marnie76 · 13/10/2019 07:26

#smastastic really, you felt the need to be sarcastic to a worried newly pregnant woman! Well done you, idiot.

SinkGirl · 13/10/2019 07:27

Very normal. My first scan was my 12 week nhs scan when I found out I was having twins. One wasn’t cooperating and she had to use a lot of force to get the measurements - i was quite sore the next day.

Northernsoullover · 13/10/2019 07:28

I still remember how hard they pushed and it was donkeys years ago.
As others have said smashastick is talking bollocks. I mean total and utter crap.
Care to point us to the credible source and study that you got this from smash?

dottiedodah · 13/10/2019 07:30

I think the Sonographer would not put undue pressure on a pregnant ladies tum TBH .They would be trained and as a health professional would know how hard to push .Pleas dont worry ,I have never heard of anyone being born disabled due to this kind of thing!

Original poster
Monki85 · 13/10/2019 07:33

#coffeeaddiction I'm a size 8/10, so don't think that's an issue, but thank you anyway

OP posts:
DonKeyshot · 13/10/2019 07:36

Pressure to the stomach during pregnancy is well known to cause handicapped babies

Please provide documented evidence to support your outrageously untrue statement, Smashtastick.

Relax, OP. The pressure needed to show the embryo/foetus on screen cannot, and will not, cause foetal alcohol syndrome or any other damage to a developing baby in utrero.

AuntieStella · 13/10/2019 07:36

smash is of course being sarcastic, in order to make a point.

There might be interesting papers proving how sarcasm, and other rhetorical devices, can be more memorable than plain speech. They will be entirely credible.

She is right, to some extent. OP has got herself into a right dither , and has allowed her thoughts to dwell and magnify. Sometimes bracing is needed. Some comments, when written, do not have the 'tone of voice' quality that make it clear when something is a joke, when someone is warm and kind, when someone is hectoring.

OP: I hope you are feeling reassured now. And also I hope you are taking from this thread the need to recognise when you are getting over-anxious about something. If indeed you are - I'm making my assumptions from the 'tone' I infer from your post, and I might not be right.

daisypond · 13/10/2019 07:37

It would always be best to go through your hospital or midwife if you’ve got concerns. You shouldn’t book yourself extra private scans! You need to keep the scans to a minimum.

Original poster
Monki85 · 13/10/2019 07:38

To be fair, I was really excited up until this point. Especially after a hard year of IVF. I didn't consider the pressure to have caused miscarriage as I wasn't left with any cramping or bleeding. But I was still just worried if it was normal, as I hadn't had an external scan before.

OP posts:
Goingbacktokansascity · 13/10/2019 07:47

@monki85 definitely don’t worry, it wouldn’t have hurt your baby at all, very common to have a lot of force put on your tummy to get good views, and baby is the size of a tiny bean so wouldn’t have felt it 😘

Original poster
Monki85 · 13/10/2019 07:52

@daisypond I'd been to my GP who thought a scan would be wise. But the hospital wouldn't see me for pain alone, especially as I'd had a scan at my IVF clinic a few weeks before. I know some pain is normal, but this had me curled in a ball for 45mins, unable to stand straight. I agree scans should be kept to a minimum, it was prob 5min max for the scan, I would never go just for photos.

OP posts:
Rachelover60 · 13/10/2019 07:54

What Olderthenyounger now said.

Tippety · 13/10/2019 07:58

OP I was surprised by how how hard the sonographer had to push at times (especially with a full bladder and needing a wee!), and found it painful at times. Hope you're feeling better about it now, it's something I hadn't thought about beforehand and had never heard anyone talk about so didn't know it was 'normal' either.

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