BMI 55 and terrified of ultrasound

[Bellaamore]

As the title suggests, I'm very overweight.
I never thought I could have children so being fat and pregnant was never a concern. Finding out I was pregnant was the best news I have ever had but from the very start I have been absolutely terrified.
I have my first scan next week, I'll be 12 weeks and the fear is eating me alive. I just don't see how someone my size can have a successful ultrasound experience, I also have this weird guilt about some poor nurse having to push around my fat.
I guess I'm just hoping to speak to people who can relate to my situation and any positive experiences would be incredible to hear right now

I am a sonographer. I am not going to lie it is harder to get clear images and you do have to push quite hard. They may offer to do an internal scan if they are struggling. You will get lovely views that way. It is not a big deal. Internal scans are very common. They may also offer to repeat the scan in a few weeks once the baby is bigger. Please don’t worry about it. It is not a big deal to the sonographer.

Thank you so much for that.
I am more than happy to have an internal scan if necessary, I just have serious self fat shame and guilt.
Can I ask, at the later scans will it be possible to do external more easily as the baby would have grown? That sounds like a ridiculous question, I know, but I just worry that sooner or later the baby will be too big to be scanned transvaginally and there will be no way to check them properly.

I have a higher BMI and more than just a bit of belly fat and my sonographers have never made me feel ashamed or embarrassed. Generally they're apologising for having to push harder on my tummy!

I had a 6 week scan that had to be internal due to BMI and such an early gestation but it was absolutely fine. My 12 week was perfect. At my 20 week they had to tip the chair really far back and at a 28 week scan I had to shift onto my side but it's never stopped us from seeing the baby and getting the measurements they need. It's just one of them really, nothing the sonographers haven't seen before and don't know what to do with!

It gets easier to see the babies details as it gets bigger and grows. At the 12 week scans there are a few basic thing that need checking ( i.e is the skull formed properly, an accurate length to date it) so it would be preferable to get them there and then and do an internal rather than wait till it’s bigger.
At the 20 week scan you are looking at more subtle abnormalities such as abnormalities of the heart. You are more likely to be asked to come for a rescan in a few weeks on that one as it amazing the difference a few weeks makes looking at the detail of the heart. The heart is ideally viewed at 24 weeks really but 20 weeks scan is a balancing act in terms of the time you scan. 20 weeks gives the health professionals times for further tests if necessary.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! What great news!
Please do not worry. You've as much right to be having a baby as anyone else. Nobody should be shaming you. As previous posters have said, internal scans may be necessary but they aren't a big deal at all and do not hurt.

My BMI was 48 at booking. I had vaginal scans at 7 weeks (bleeding) and 9 weeks (private reassurance) and over the tummy at 12 weeks. If you make sure your bladder is nice and full it can help. The sonographers are always lovely. They do have to push a bit harder which can be uncomfortable, and my pictures are not as clear as others I’ve seen, but they’ve been able to do see what they needed to. It does say on one of my scan reports ‘view very restricted due to maternal BMI’ which made me feel bad to read BUT at no point during the scan was anything said etc.

My BMI is 34 and I’ve been recommended to weight management classes. Not very nice given I’ve recovered from an eating disorder but hey ho. They saw my bub fine and I also have a LOT of scar tissue due to previous abdominal surgery. Good luck!

As others have said I had internals upto 12 weeks and then on tummy. At one of the scans the sonographer had me hold my tummy up and as taught as I could make it. They can press hard and one of the scans I was left bruised but the sonographer must have been having a bad day. Don’t be alarmed if you are given extra scans, they do it for everyone with a high BMI but didn’t tell me that to start with.
Mostly though congratulations, pregnancy can be stressful so do try to enjoy as much as you can.

My BMI is quite high as well (now slightly lower due to the "morning sickness all day every day" diet) and while they did have to push quite hard, I got some good pictures at the scan to the point where several people commented how clear they were. So it's definitely possible and my sonographers have all been lovely. One thing I'd suggest maybe thinking about beforehand is that they might ask you to pull up your belly, as the baby is quite low that early on and that helps them get a better picture. It's no big deal!!! And you'll get to see your baby and hear the heartbeat and really that's one of the best bits of pregnancy so if you can, never mind all the rest of it and focus on the lovely stuff.

Many congratulations 🌺

My BMI is around 53 (I'm currently 6 weeks pregnant) but about 12 months ago it was higher and I had to have a scan of my ovaries has I had prolonged bleeding and this was done externally and the sonographer was lovely about it, they got everything they needed. :) hope this helps and congratulations and good luck for tomorrow x

The scans can be uncomfortable because they press hard, they will add a disclaimer on your paperwork to say restricted due to BMI

My BMI was the same as yours for my first pregnancy.

I had abdominal ultrasounds with no difficulty from 8w. The papers contained the usual disclaimer of high BMI (I think it's automatic), but it was never mentioned and my pictures were as clear as everyone else's. My appointments took no longer. I carry most of my weight on my butt and legs rather than my belly though, which might have helped.

You'll be fine. no one ever mentioned my weight except for the diabetes test (which came out fine). You'll be fine x

My BMI is similar and I've had three babies in five years. Umpteen scans and never had any problems with view etc. Don't apologise, Just be willing to help (I have a very large apron and always offered to hold it up for earlier scans)

I even had an MRI scan at 9 months due to placenta accreta - that was claustrophobic!

Good luck and congratulations

Given I can't edit, I misread your on the title. I was 35, not 55. Hopefully your scans will be fine etc, but I don't want to mislead...

@Bellaamore how was the scan ?

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I have just gotten out of the scan and the experience was nowhere near as horrible as I expected it to be. They did try to do an abdominal ultrasound which didn't work as I had told myself it wouldn't before entering the room so I did have a transvaginal ultrasound. A little embarrassment was totally worth it to know everything was okay in there so thank you again for your replies, they really helped.

Glad to hear @bellaamore was thinking about you!

Thank you so much, sounds silly really but I'm already worrying about my 20 week scan now and I've only just got home from the 12 week one

Maybe just remember that positive worth it feeling and try not to stress about the 20 week one, it won't help 😊 x

Congratulations x