Am I too fat for a scan?!

[SkylinesTurnstiles]

Sorry I’m just freaking out a little as I have a private scan on Saturday when I will be 8+1.
I am a size 14 and short - due to eating too much, particularly in the last month, I have accumulated some extra baggage around my middle.
I am just worried they won’t be able to get to baby through my fat! Have read a few horror stories and it would just be totally mortifying!
Please tell me I’m being stupid!

Eh you’re being stupid, much much bigger women are scanned and it’s fine,

Nope I don’t think you can be, that’s not really how it works, however at 8 weeks it will likely be vaginal. It was for me and I’m slim.

I was a size 20 when I was pregnant and they had no problems with the scan. You have nothing to worry about.

I didn't even know this was a thing? I was a size 14 and 5ft2, when pregnant with dd 3 years ago. Don't worry about it, you'll been fine!

@SkylinesTurnstiles I'm a size 16 and had a scan at 7 weeks and we could see baby through abdomen!
They may do an internal scan since its early still so I wouldnt worry too much! You'll get to see baby one way or another!

I was a size 16 before pregnancy and yes,it is a bit harder to scan if there is fat in the way but I have had 2 healthy pregnancies with all the usual scans and each one told them what they needed to know.
They might need to try a few different angles or press down a bit harder than you expect but it should be fine

Are you obese? If not then don’t worry

OP I was a size 18 when I had a scan last year. People of all shapes and sizes have babies, it's all going to be fine! Congratulations and enjoy seeing your little one

No you’re not too fat at all, women much bigger than you have successful scans, but at 8 weeks most women are likely to need a transvaginal scan due to the size of the baby, they’re really small then. I had a private scan at 10 weeks and only just missed needing transvaginal.

Thanks everyone! I thought I maybe getting my knickers in a twist for no reason.
@GrumpyHoonMain yes I am technically obese according to BMI though which is why I was worrying a little 😳

Scans before 12 weeks are generally a wand inserted vaginally not on the tummy.

I'm a size 14 had an early scan and was done on my tummy at 8 weeks with no issues don't worry

OP, you need to be morbidly obese before signal attenuation (through the fat) becomes a problem. Size 14 is not even in the ballpark!
Mothers nowadays are vastly fatter than previous generations - hospitals have had to adapt, with longer epidural needles to penetrate the inches of fat, reinforced bariatric operating and delivery beds, etc. Sonographers will be well used to increasing the signal gain or using internal scans, but you are nowhere near that level. For your own health, though, try to limit too much excess weight gain during your pregnancy - eat healthy food rather than junk and snacks.

Don't worry, if they can't see the baby through your abdomen they'll do it with a wand up the vagina. You'll be fine!

I'm a similar size and have had abdominal and internal scans pre 12 weeks. If it's a private scan, then IME they'll try the abdominal first and then move to internal if they can't see (abdominal worked in my first pregnancy, not in my second, not a big weight difference). NHS will go straight to internal.

You will be fine! Obese women (including women much bigger than you) have successful scans all the time. Sonographers are well equipped to get a good scan.

Try and have a really full bladder - drink at least a pint of water an hour before your scan and don’t pee til afterwards.

We see women with BMI of 40, even 50 come through maternity services. They get scanned. The view isn’t always as clear but there does have to be quite a lot of fat for it to b an issue.

At a size 14 you will be absolutely fine.

It is possible for fat to obscure the view. But youd have to be a lot, lot bigger than you before it even starts to have an affect, and even then it would just be a less clear scan.

I think sonographers in the uk would struggle if they couldnt scan someone whos a size 14!

Also at 8 weeks, if they cant see the baby well on the abdominal scan it doesnt mean its because fat is obsuring it, so it wouldnt be embarassing. It would most likely be because of position of the baby and the fact it is pretty small at 8 weeks

Awh OP I was 15 stone with a BMI of 37 when I found out I was pregnant and I’m only 5ft bugger all so it’s not like that weight was evenly distributed!!

Every single one of my abdominal scans were perfect and the only reasons they weren’t clear was because my baby is a wriggler!!

Your scan will be a vagina scan though at that gestation and it’s not possible to have a fat vag so don’t worry for a second 😘

Trans vaginal*

They'll just go up the vag. I had an up the vag at 6 + 3 and it was fine

@SkylinesTurnstiles you'll be absolutely fine!

@SkylinesTurnstiles you'll be absolutely fine! I had a Evan on 7w it was external and I carry fat around my belly, they were able to see everything just fine.

I have tons of fat and I mean that. Size 22/24. I had an early scan at 9 weeks and they could see fine. Not an issue my lovely. Don't stress. 14 is not a large size. I was my healthiest at a size 14. I was almost a 10 and anything below a 14 I looked ill.

This was my 9 week early scan. Just a blob at that point but they could see the heartbeat etc no probs