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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:
pictish · 13/10/2019 08:00

They do push down firmly, yes.

Curled up in a ball for 45 minutes? Really?

Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 13/10/2019 08:02

I’m not a midwife, but some low-level abdominal pain can be quite normal at around 8-10 weeks. My GP called it “ligament pain” and reassured me that it was OK to take paracetamol.

Obviously, if the pain is severe and/or accompanied by other symptoms you need to speak to a Health Care Professional, but sometimes in those first few weeks you need to know that a lot of odd things are normal!

Congratulations and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy Flowers

DisneyMadeMeDoIt · 13/10/2019 08:04

Urgh - some of these comments OP honestly!

It’s TOTALLY normal to worry! I’m 15+5 and have had 3 scans so far as had some early bleeding (2 NHS 1 private) they ALL dig that wand in so hard I come away with a sore abdomen afterwards.

I’m also slim, they’ve commented on that making it ‘easier’ at every scan so it’s NOTHING to do with size 😂 I think it’s just normal Tbh. I actually politely asked them at my 12w if they would hurt the baby by putting so much pressure on and they said no definitely not ‘but it may be uncomfortable for me’ so that’s normal apparently!

My 12w was several weeks ago now and probably the roughest of the lot - I’ve had no concerns since though 👍🏻

Try not to worry- I know it’s hard and I’ve not been through IVF so probably even harder for you - my midwife told me that although there’s still ‘some’ risk, a baby with a strong heart beat at 8 weeks it’s much lower risk to be lost! She told me not to worry about telling friends/family once we’d had the 8w heartbeat!

(Obviously it can still go wrong but the chances so drop significantly)

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HoppingPavlova · 13/10/2019 08:09

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

Said no healthcare professional ever. What a dickHmm.

Iwrotethissongfor · 13/10/2019 08:12

OP you’ve just reminded me how I used to worry after every single midwife appointments as she’d press down so hard to feel baby and measure fundal height.

DisneyMadeMeDoIt · 13/10/2019 08:12

^Also as other posters have mentioned you probably will get quite a bit of ‘growing pain’ between now and ... well I’m 15+5! and still getting a bit.

They’ll usually run up either side in between your hip and tummy - GP says that’s where the ligaments are! They range from twinges to bad stitch and have been bad enough to wake me up from deep sleep on occasion! Also have gotten sharp pains when sneezing 😂 midwives will tell you everything (unless you’re doubled over in agony) is ‘normal’ and they are only concerned about bleeding! If you start bleeding seek help!

I found it VERY helpful to swap to plain white cotton pants (went and bought about 30 pairs from mns) as any blood will show clearly (when I bled at 5w I was wearing black pants and didn’t realise immediately)

20viona · 13/10/2019 08:15

They are professionals I think they know the correct method of an early scan. I had the same at my 9 week scan. My baby is 3 months off and doesn't have any dents in her head 😂

PixieDustt · 13/10/2019 08:16

Don't worry OP! I had exactly the same but at 13 weeks. The baby was in such an awkward position the sonographer dug quite hard. I actually asked as it hurt why she did it so hard and is the baby effected. She reassured me that the baby was well protected but in order to see the baby she had to dig a little harder x

20viona · 13/10/2019 08:17

I'm being sarcastic btw as this thread seems a little precious. Congrats.

DisneyMadeMeDoIt · 13/10/2019 08:18

‘Pressure to the stomach DOES NOT cause handicapped babies 🙄’ advice like that on a thread like this is RIDICULOUS!

I just asked DH (Dr) as we frequently prod my tummy to feel baby and he just stared at me like I was crazy
😂 / no evidence to suggest that’s true in any way!

You’ll hear loads of ‘crazy advice’ - no mobile phones, no microwave...etc... non of it is proven so just don’t let it freak you out’

Onceuponatimethen · 13/10/2019 08:19

Op I get why you would worry.

I hope you are feeling better now but if you feel you would benefit from chatting to an hip for further reassurance the Tommy’s charity pg helpline are brilliant for anxieties like this and the trained mw I spoke to really helped me

WreathsAndRopes · 13/10/2019 08:19

It shouldn't hurt that much, my first left me bruised for weeks and that's not normal but I obviously didn't know at the time. just because it won't hurt baby doesn't mean it's okay to hurt you. It really won't have get baby though.

I would consider mentioning it to the clinic, not as a complaint but so they're aware. If it wasn't possible to complete without causing you pain they could have gone an internal or asked you to come back with a full bladder.

PixieDustt · 13/10/2019 08:21

@20viona omg drop it with the 'precious' word that really winds me up! The OP has said she has had a year of IVF she is allowed to worry stop being sarcastic and unhelpful. If you don't have anything helpful to say don't post at all? She's allowed to feel worried if she wants to it's perfectly normal. She isn't being 'precious' at all. Bore off!

GrumpyHoonMain · 13/10/2019 08:22

I had ivf too and all of my scans until 12 weeks were internal. I suggest you contact PALS and see what they have to say about this hospital’s policy

StarlingsInSummer · 13/10/2019 08:38

You need to keep the scans to a minimum

I’m pretty sure there’s no evidence to suggest ultrasounds are in any way harmful to the foetus, so multiple scans are not risky at all.

IScreamForIceCreams · 13/10/2019 08:42

I was very skinny (stress of TTC) when I had just become pregnant and with titled womb, the consultant would put a pillow under my bum so that he could get a better picture with the probe. So maybe any future scan suggest that they prop you up a bit? Good luck with the pregnancy, it' so worrying all this new stuff, so totally understandable you are worried!

AnOojamaflip · 13/10/2019 08:52

@Monki85It is a very firm pressure and can feel uncomfortable. You might be more sensitive to discomfort than average and been a bit more anxious due to the stress of the IVF.

Pains in the lower abdomen are normal too, your uterus is stretching. Again if you are more sensitive to pain it might seem too much, but it's all normal.

Wrybread · 13/10/2019 09:00

I've had two dc.

With dc1 the sonographer (12 weeks) really hurt me. It wasn't just pushing hard, she raised it and pushed it hard and fast into my stomach over and over. It felt like she was punching me. I had a bleed for two days afterwards.

I never had her again, and all of the sonographers after that (incl for dc2 where I had a scan at 10 weeks and 14 weeks) were much gentler....by which I mean that they did have to put some pressure on, and in early pg it was a bit uncomfortable, but nothing like the assault I had from that first one.

M3lon · 13/10/2019 09:03

This doesn't sound anything to worry about, op, however, if you are very sensitive to pain stimuli in general (I very much fall into this category for reference), then please do think hard about having a planned C-section for the birth.

the NHS standard approach to 'managing' pain in labour is to wait till you can't handle it, then see if there is actually anyone available to help (which there often isn't), and only then start the process of finding out which painkilling options may or may not work for you.....

I honestly would not advise that anyone who has a known low tolerance for pain enter into that situation voluntarily. I did, and it has shattered my mental health in a way I still struggle with daily 8 years later. Elective C-section all the way.

20viona · 13/10/2019 09:08

@PixieDustt the precious comment wasn't actually directed at the OP more so precious posters as I said congrats to her Hmm

MustardScreams · 13/10/2019 09:15

To be fair to people being on this thread, it’s op’s first post and the reasoning behind the worry is slightly bananas.

MustardScreams · 13/10/2019 09:15

Being snarky that should say

JulieRat · 13/10/2019 09:19

Op in my first pregnancy I was so anxious about everything, especially early on. You are nowhere near the panic levels I was at, and all was fine. They do push hard, and that is nothing to worry about, but still you should have been better informed and they should have apologised for giving you the wrong info IMO, and reassured you. But it’s normal to worry. I found reading loads of factual and funny pregnancy books helped.

Good luck and congrats Flowers

jumbojelly · 13/10/2019 09:21

Op a while ago I had a scan where they actually leaned on my stomach while scanning to check something. It was to 'recreate' a contraction.

And you don't need to keep scans to a minimum. What an odd thing to suggest. If you need them you have them. Some people with high risk pregnancies have them frequently.

JulieRat · 13/10/2019 09:22

I’m a rational person but when I was pregnant “reasoning’ went out the window and I was anxious and emotional. Also normal. It’s not good for you to be in a state of high anxiety all the time, so ways of relaxing and reassuring yourself are a good idea. But “unreasonable’` worries are part of pregnancy for plenty of women.