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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

20 week scan with raised BMI

17 replies

HerNibs · 04/06/2014 17:07

I had my 20 scan today and the sonographer has made me feel awful to be honest :(

I had booking bmi of 33 (unexpected pregnancy due to coil failure, so certainly not planned or at optimum health) have had numerous scans due to the early complications caused by coil, 12 week nuchal scan and also scans at 16 weeks and this Monday just gone due to previous premies. Nobody else has commented or made any reference to my bmi or had any issue with seeing babies bit via abdominal scanning. On my nuchal scan we could even see all of babies fingers and her tiny tongue moving in her mouth as she sucked her thumb!

I am bigger round the middle now than I was at 12 weeks obviously but haven't gained any weight and don't understand why today's scan ended up being such a problem. I feel quite humiliated to be honest...

Sonographer also mentioned several times that I only had a scan on Monday and seemed quite peeved about it...scan on Monday did quickly look at baby but not in any detail as was primarily checking cervix length at the preterm labour clinic.

Maybe she was just having a bad day, but it's made me feel really shitty :(

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Jumblebee · 04/06/2014 17:09

What did she actually say that has upset you?

Original poster

HerNibs · 04/06/2014 17:26

It's not very clear, can't get a good picture , three of four times each. I can just about make out the bits I need to see... Had me laying on my side a couple of times with lots of heavy pressing and jiggling of probe ...

She never actually said 'your a big fatty and I can't see your baby' but did write 'reduced visibility due to raised bmi' on scan report in bold.

I guess coupled with the repeated comments about Mondays scan, I just felt like I was a bit of an inconvenience and a bit humiliated is all.

Obviously I know I'm fat and have a raised bmi, I just wasn't expecting it to be such an issue with a 20 week scan when it was such a non issue at all of the others.

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Jumblebee · 04/06/2014 17:30

That does sound depressing, I'm sorry you went through that I gained a lot of weight when pregnant but no one ever even mentioned it which was something I dreaded coming up into conversation!

Just remember though that they wouldn't give you extra scans if there wasn't a good reason for them, so sod her and how she made you feel!

Congratulations on your little girl, don't let her attitude get you down, any time you get to see that beautiful little baby is happy time and should not be ruined!

ecuse · 04/06/2014 17:36

I have high BMI and that phrase is always written on my scan report as a matter of course. I think they do it to cover their arse if they miss anything. I think with scans some days are better than others. I had a clearer picture at scans at 7wks and 11wks than 13 weeks for whatever reason. Nobody has been rude enough to say, but they do sometimes spend a while jiggling around and pushing hard to get a decent picture

Original poster

HerNibs · 04/06/2014 17:37

Thanks Jumble, I thought maybe I was being over sensitive during the scan but even DH mentioned the bee in her bonnet re Mondays scan. He was too tactful to mention the visibility comments as I had gone very quite by the time we left...

On the positive side, baby is gorgeous, growing perfectly and cervix has stayed the same for last two scans so all is well on that front (and your right, the nhs don't just scan for fun, so her issue should be with hospital appt booking policy not me!)

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Original poster

HerNibs · 04/06/2014 17:39

Ecuse, I'm wondering whether different machines can also have a big impact on imaging?

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weebairn · 04/06/2014 17:44

Just to mention I'm not overweight at all and I got plenty of jiggling and sighing and pushing me very hard with the probe when baby wouldn't cooperate at my 20 week scan. I also had to go back 2 weeks later for a repeat scan.

Not a nice thing to have written in your notes but don't feel bad, sometimes it's just not easy to see stuff for ALL sorts of reasons. And not everyone has the best bedside manner.

Congratulations on your lovely baby.

Jumblebee · 04/06/2014 17:54

Exactly, maybe she was just having a bad day, or maybe she's always miserable. I remember at my 20 week scan I was so excited to find out what we were having but the midwife was just miserable. She didn't ask us if we wanted to know what gender baby was so I had to ask at the end, she said she couldn't see, gave it another minute and then said we'd just have to wait.

I know to them it's just a job and after doing so many scans it's nothing new or exciting to them, but to expectant parents it's a huge deal so a friendly face just makes it all the more special!

Redling · 04/06/2014 18:18

My first scan wasn't clear enough to get nuchal fold measurement and there was loads of jiggling and pushing (about 30 mins!) and my notes said poor scan due to 'Maternal Habitus' which I believe is medical speak for big belly! I have no idea what my BMI is but I know I'm a couple of stone overweight, unfortunately in medical circumstances you can't be too bothered about them saying this as it's presented as a fact, not an opinion or a judgement. Also medical notes are only seen by a handful of people. Glad you got a good look and it all went well though!

ThePrisonerOfAzkaban · 04/06/2014 18:33

I had the not being able to see baby properly etc, it's not about weight at all, if baby is lying wrong, baby is lying wrong. No amount of losing weight will.change that. But you've obs took it that way, there is no need too of honest :)

ThePrisonerOfAzkaban · 04/06/2014 18:35

Different machines have different results too, I had an emergency scan a few weeks back, they couldn't pick up wanted to see on one machine so I had to change rooms and have it redone in another room

ohthegoats · 04/06/2014 19:11

I think mine might have said something like that too. It's true for me though, and it's also true that too much belly fat will possibly affect the quality of the picture. Don't get offended by it! It's a physical medical thing, not something about saving your blushes.

Noodledoodledoo · 04/06/2014 21:45

Some of them do seem to have a way of making you feel an inconvenience and rubbish for having a high BMI, mine is 37.

I had to have two scans at 20 weeks as bubba wasn't playing ball the first time, the first sonographer got some great views etc just couldn't get one measurement.

The second sonographer got the measurements was really curt and abrupt and didn't really make any comments apart from get cross we wanted photos. I was really upset as she didn't comment at all about visability but wrote on my notes about it due to my habitus - basically to fat to see clearly and it says something best available measurement due to poor visability. Doesn't instill confidence. I did get the impression she didn't want to say anything incase I suggested an internal scan as it would be extra work!

I know my size doesn't help but being honest rather than just write it on my notes would be better! It quite clearly states I am under consultant due to weight on my notes so won't be a shock to me!!!

rightsaidfred · 05/06/2014 00:24

I have a BMI 25 and they wrote that on mine too...... I think it's incompetent scanners covering their own ass in case they have missed something rather than it actually being an actual problem with the view.

TheMuppetsIsWhereIShouldBe · 05/06/2014 00:34

When I had my DS I had this so I feel your pain! She even had me pull my stomach to get a "better view"
I was in tears as she told me in front of a room full of patients it was harder for her to see my DS because I was "cuddly" I wrote a complaint! Some sonographers can just be horrid and inconsiderate!

splendide · 05/06/2014 08:43

I've got my scan on Monday. Bmi 33 here too (as I've put on 10lbs in the last 20 weeks). I was nervous about it being a problem at 12 weeks but as it wasn't I assumed it would be ok at 20. I'm actually quite glad to have read this as forewarned is forearmed (emotionally!).

Hope you feel better anyway and that all goes well for the rest of your pregnancy.

Lottiedoubtie · 05/06/2014 08:52

My BMI is higher than yours OP and there have been some ahem visibility issues, which I know is my fault...

BUT there is no excuse for rudeness from the sonographer. I've had to have extra scans because of complications ( complications not caused by the BMI issue, well at least that's what the consultant said). All in all I've been scanned by 3 different sonographers and two consultants, and only one sonographer felt the need to be rude like yours. for you! It's shit isn't it?

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