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

[NorthernGirlie]

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!! :(

What difference does it make whether it's online or to your face? You felt the need to come on to a thread where being overweight and pregnant was the subject under discussion and pass on an insult about overweight pregnant women. It had no relevance to the thread at all, was it a veiled attempt to insult people like me or did you want a pat on the back for standing up for the underdog? I can't think of any other reason to post what you did.

Funny how I thought mumsnet was a place to share thoughts. Seems you can't even share other people's views, let alone one's own. Sorry.

Come on. You must be able to see that was spectactularly badly placed. If it had been a thread about abusive twats you've come across on your travels then you might have had a point but really. All you've done is give those prats a wider audience.

Come on now, I think yes it was tactless but I dont think there was a hidden agenda perhaps let it pass?

No, neither do I really. But I don't like someone who comes on and says something so nasty for whatever reason then telling me I'm taking it too seriously.

Oh well Man up

Ok this thread has me worried now! I've got my 20 week tomorrow. I'm 19 weeks, 5'6'' and 12 stone: a size 14-16.

I'll be mortified if I get comments like that. Sounds like it could happen though!

It doesn't sound like anyone here is obese - my BMI is in the mid-high 20s - and my midwife said that wasn't a problem at all: a healthy balanced diet was more important than being skinny!

Ugh.

I had to have my 20 week scan twice too. I'm a size 10/12 normally and now still a 12 at 28 weeks. (5'5") My BMI is not high.

When the sonographer said she was having trouble I said 'wow - is it because I'm fat?!' and she said no - that sometimes very slim women (not talking about me - I'm not that!) can be difficult to scan because of their muscle mass. In my case she said the baby was hiding his/her organs behind the shadow of my navel and I have a band of scar tissue running all the way down my front from a laparotomy, which makes things a bit fuzzy.

The notes say 'scan incomplete due to position of fetus and maternal habitus' which means that I was too fat! So I don't know what to think!

I know that I've have 3 scans since and noone has had a problem, though.

It must vary I was large had to have one of those gt tests coz of BMI, but both my scans were incredibly clear.

Well, my BMI hovers round the 35/36 mark at the moment (has been a great deal higher in the past).

First pregnancy and no scans yet - now dreading them as I carry a lot of that weight on my stomach.

Size 16 is hardly heffalump status, I'm sure they get much bigger than you OP.

I'm going to add another point here to echo another post, but cautiously because I don't feel popular on this thread: yes I'm pretty slim but I'm also a short arse, and my 20week scan had to be an internal one because the abdominal scan didn't provide a clear view anyway. I doubt weight is an issue in scans, the technology is there, just baby is often being awkward. I do apologise if I caused offence, there was no hidden agenda at all.

I am a size 20/22 BMI 39 and my scans were ok. There was a note to say it was 'difficult' but it clearly wasn't impossible even at my huge size . I had a private scan at 23 weeks to find the gender and there were no problems at all - took 10secs!

first1 sorry you don't feel popular. That's my fault. As you might have guessed, I'm a leetle bit sensitive. I should have let it drop, sorry

Have a biccie on me gwen!

:o

I'm so glad someone has a good word to say about sonographers. We do a very exacting , caring , intense job in sometimes very challenging circumstances. Medicolegally we are responsible for the health of a very precious part of the future generation whichever sex it is!

Thanks it makes all the difference for someone to say something positive about a hardworking and caring and thoroughly well qualified profession!!

it's not your weight, I was very heavy with my pregnancies but the scan still worked. they had to press a bit hard.

sorry you're feeling down.

I did have same said at scans with ds now 2 ... Not sure what BMI was (much higher now ) but I was 5ft 5 size 14-16 & weighed 11 stone 9 ish.. After 2 previous sections & weight gain & weight loss I do carry lots of weight on my tummy.
Came across 1 quite blunt verging on rude sonographer but my consultant was kinder she said I had lovely slim legs but a plump tummy!!

I have come across other medical staff who are very rude when they comment about weight, I wish they would be more thoughtful.

Zombie thread alert!

I've got a bmi of 42 and mine were fine yeah ok it was a tad grainy but it was all fine they pushed a bit to get images but it wasn't helped by a un coperative baby, never had a problem.

aaargh, sorry!