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Original poster

Too fat for a decent scan @ 23 weeks - so ashamed

87 replies

NorthernGirlie · 10/11/2011 19:15

I'm so ashamed - just been for a follow up anomally scan (the baby was lying in the wrong position at 20 weeks for them to check the heart properly) and the sonogropher really struggled to get a decent image because of my BMI - not sure exactly what it is but I'm 5'3 and a size 16. I was so embarassed I could have cried - anyone else had trouble with scans? Got to try to keep my weight under control!! :(

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Xmasbaby11 · 10/11/2011 20:26

That's rubbish OP. Sometimes they just can't get a picture.

I'm an 18 on a good day, with a hefty stomach, and there was no problem getting a clear picture.

Please don't feel like it's your fault.

Crosshair · 10/11/2011 20:28

Keep in mind whatever your bmi is people carry weight in different ways. Try not to let it get you down, im sure its just one of those things.

Hope you feel better soon. :(

frasersmummy · 10/11/2011 20:29

that sounds like rubbish to me op. i have no idea what my bmi is but given your height and size I can tell you its higher than yours
And it was absolutely no issue
Sounds to me like the sonographer couldnt get it right and decided to pass the buck and say its your fault

cheeky cow .... Angry for you

MeconiumHappens · 10/11/2011 21:02

Unfortunately bmi does effect scan images. Its just the nature of getting images through a bit more tissue. What an odd comment to say to you that her arm was hurting because everyone had a raised bmi Hmm. Dont feel embrassed about the scan though, just focus on having a healthy pregnancy, eat well, move lots and enjoy.

georgethecat · 10/11/2011 21:05

You aren't fat! you are a normal lady size. I am a skinny and they had same problem with my scan, couldn't get the right angle to check baby, had to do a few salsa moves to shift it then when that didnt work, return for another scan.

Wormshuffler · 10/11/2011 21:07

Mine was worded as "due to maternal build"

reastie · 10/11/2011 21:22

zombie glad it's not just me then Blush . Although the sonographer made a comment on my scan notes saying 'view restricted due to excess adiposity' - that was the day I wish I hadn't googled adiposity Sad

Bue · 10/11/2011 21:33

I'm sorry this happened to you, OP. I can well imagine you didn't feel great about it, but try not to take it personally. It is ridiculous for people to be suggesting that it is the sonographer's fault, however. Scanning larger women can be very difficult and what happened here is not uncommon. I don't think it helps to pretend the sonographer is some kind of witch.

ZephirineDrouhin · 10/11/2011 22:31

It happened to me too. They were very tactful about it, but I had a trainee sonographer who was really struggling to get a decent picture, and the more experienced one muttered something about it being a problem where there was a lot of adipose tissue. Was a bit of a shocker (depsite all the evidence I still think of myself as a thin person carrying some temporary fat reserves) but I wouldn't be too worried about it. They'll have seen worse than size 16.

Rollon2012 · 11/11/2011 00:10

thats odd i was a size 20 but still got a decent image.

DianaXXX · 11/11/2011 00:11

I'm 5ft7 and was size 10 prior falling pregnant but had complications too. My first scan lasted 2.5 hours as the baby was too active and they had to do virginal one in top of the a nominal scan as apparently the pic wasnt clear enough Angry
The sonography did say that he was surprised considering that I was skini well that's not what I would call it I'm size 14 now and I'm still happy Grin so ignor all that as long as the baby and your healthy who cares Wink

womanlytales · 11/11/2011 09:21

Please do not worry about dieting while pregnant.
It sounds like it was one of those off days for the sonographer. On my 12 wk scan the sonographer poked and pressed on my tummy to 'get the baby in the right position' and I ended up soaked in a huge gush of blood. She did get the nuchal measurements and added in my notes that the picture was not very clear due to bmi. WHen I initially read it I was hurt but then chose to ignore it.

The fact is you are pregnant at the current weight that you're at. Your body has all it needs to carry this pregnancy forward. You are also in the best place to know if you're feeling good or not. Sometimes we afford the medical staff too much power when we rely on them to tell us how we're doing. I prefer treating all comments (good or bad) with a pinch of salt. Most of all I try to tune down comments that get me excited or anxious and instead prefer to maintain some level of balance... Pregnancy is an uncharted course after all with all sorts of twists and turns - we can do ourselves a big favor by letting go of the small stuff.

first1 · 12/11/2011 06:16

This is NOT at all my own words, I heard some blokes saying it on the train last night re a, yes, very very large lady, "how on earth do fat women get pregnant, who could possibly be turned on by them?". I'm a size 8 myself but it infuriated me so much I had to move seats to restrain myself from bopping them one. I just don't understand how people can be so rude Sad

reastie · 12/11/2011 08:37

first it's people like that that make me sob in a corner of misery

BelleRomford74 · 12/11/2011 09:02

I am a size 14/16 & my consultant has been doing growth scans since 16 weeks on me (previous history) my scans are not particually clear & my 20 week scan also took 2 attempts... My consultant eased my embarrassment with the words "You have lovely slim legs but carry all your weight around your belly"!! which I am well aware of my reply was to ask if when they sew me up after my c-section can they do a tummy tuck free of charge too!!! I did however come across a very rude anaethnatist (not sure of spelling) when I had my 1st dd by emergency c-section, when she was doing my epidural she said "I am having trouble because of your fat"!!! My 1st baby & after a 19 hour labour & in front of my dh, my mum & midwife I was mortified & so upset so I can understand how you feel... (I did'nt consider myself fat either time.) Neither are you at a size 16!! try to shake it from your mind & put it down to a very rude uncaring person rather than a medical opinion!!

Lookattheears · 12/11/2011 09:06

It's not healthy to be fat. it's terrifyingly unhealthy to have a BMI of 57%!!!

If you don't like HP making comments, do something about it, really.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 12/11/2011 09:54

first1 I'm not sure what exactly the point of that post was, except to make most of the women on this thread feel worse.

Lookatheears that's staggeringly unhelpful too. As pregnancy is the only time you are specifically told not to diet, what exactly would you like women in this situation to do? And I know that most on MN think it's ok to be rude about weight but there actually is no excuse for rudeness. There are ways of saying things which get the point across without making the speaker look completely ignorant.

Rollon2012 · 12/11/2011 09:56

bmi of 57! where was that.

first1 · 12/11/2011 12:00

Gwendoline - if you read my post carefully, you'd have noticed that I made a strong point of saying how ignorant the people were who said it. Not me.

Crosshair · 12/11/2011 12:06

You also pointed out how you're a size 8, but thumbs up for being all caring about the larger lady. :o Posting something like that on a thread where someone is already upset about weight is insensitive at best.

rocksandhardplaces · 12/11/2011 13:13

It's not that easy to do something abut BMI in pregnancy really.. dieting not recommended and all that.

Although if you are a size 16 at your height, I guess you have quite high BMI as I was a 16 this time last pg and my BMI was about 28 (I am nearly 5ft 9). Slimming World will take you on recommendation from a m/w and can keep things healthy.. I am lucky that this time I have not put on weight like I did last time, was up about a stone on a higher pre-pg weight at this time whereas I have gained nothing this time round.

Dirtydishesmakemesad · 12/11/2011 13:49

I was size 16 pre pregnancy and the same height , I had a scan at 4 weeks 6 days which had to be internal but they next scans at 12,16 ad 20 weeks were normal and in fact at 20 weeks she commented how clear the pictures were.
My sister who was size 12 prepregnancy had terrible trouble getting clear pictures and had to go back a second time for the scan as they couldnt get clear measurements. I am trying not to gain too much during the pregnancy but my bmi isnt high enough that the consultant is worried so i wont be gogin on a strict diet while pregnant.

Dirtydishesmakemesad · 12/11/2011 13:50

first thats a very odd thing to post on a thread like this pretty rude and with no actual advice.

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 12/11/2011 14:20

Yes, it really is stunning how ignorant and tactless some people can be, isn't it?

first1 · 12/11/2011 18:07

And it's really "stunning" how people worry so much about things written online! I meant nothing by it personally, I was reiterating how SHOCKED that I was by OTHER PEOPLE'S ignorance. And trust me, you hear snide comments about skinny people too which some deem insensitive.