How do you ladies cope with the ultrasound scanner pressing so hard sometimes?

[AlwaysBelieve19]

Hey ladies just done my anomaly scan at 22 weeks Bec the baby was in a weird position at 20 weeks thankfully he was in a better position this time ... however it's soo uncomfortable when they put pressure sometimes is this okay for the baby ?

Yes it's okay for the baby, there is a lot of tissue and fluid between the scanner and tge baby.

Honestly I just put up with it. I've had many losses and a stillborn so for me it's more important to know that they had a proper look than that I am uncomfortable for a few minutes. I need it more for my emotional state and don't care that much anymore what will happen to my body. Although I appreciate that for a woman with a normal pregnancy history it might be more difficult to just go with it.

I had to have weekly scans due to cholestasis. And yes it can be a bit uncomfortable while they push down during scans. But they wouldn't do it if it was unsafe.

Hundreds of babies are scanned everyday.

If putting pressure on while scanning wasn’t okay for the baby, there would be a very high number of babies affected, and it would no longer be ethical to scan babies in that way.

It’s a few moments of discomfort once or twice in pregnancy. If you are struggling to cope with this discomfort, you may want to think about coping strategies for later pregnancy and birth, and the weeks after birth, as you will be in considerably more discomfort then!

They are just doing their job. You put up with it so they can see the baby clearly

The radiographer really had to press hard in both my 20 and 22 week scans as the baby was in the oddest positions and not staying still. They got the images they needed, which gave me such peace of mind, but I was tender and a bit sore the next day. It has had no effect on the baby that I can see, they're still wriggling away and being in akward positions at 27 weeks.

It would have been helpful to know that I'd be a bit tender the day after as I was worried at the time.

Just keep telling yourself that that is absolutely nothing compared to the birth and just suck it up 🤣

Thank you ladies soo much for your replies I guess I have suck it up 😂💕

I found it slightly funny that the sonographer said "ooh your bladder's really full" then jabbed a probe into it... I was more worried I'd wet myself lol

@Poppyismyfavourite 😂😂😂 100%! I was kept waiting nearly an hour and 15 mins for my 12 week scan as they were running so late 😅 obviously went in with a nice full bladder as it was so early in the pregnancy too - I’ve never felt discomfort like it 😂 Sonographer commented on how full my bladder was while jabbing the probe into it 😂 offered to go and let me “let half out” 🙈 not sure how much control she thought I had but there was no was I’d have been able to do that! just kept my fingers crossed for a healthy scan report and not to wet myself on her table 😂

To give another perspective - sometimes they don’t realise quite how hard they’re pressing and can actually get the views without pressing so hard - it’s totally fine if you just ask them for a little break, or tell them where you’re tender. They should be keeping an eye on you and telling you when they have to press a bit more, plus giving you a chance to change position etc if you need to. You shouldn’t have to put up with lots of pressure for longer than a couple of minutes at a time.

@RWK29 haha yes I had the same - waiting half an hour and I'm a nervous wee-er anyway! She sent me to "let out half" and I had to come back and apologise for having no control but I couldn't stop half way!

@Poppyismyfavourite

I found it slightly funny that the sonographer said "ooh your bladder's really full" then jabbed a probe into it... I was more worried I'd wet myself lol

Ha! Totally. I think I was quite naive at first thinking they just rolled it over your stomach & the baby would magically appear. I didn’t realise how hard they would press down or that it would hurt afterwards.

I find it less sore now that I’m further along!

I don't think it should hurt? Have had two scans so far, neither one hurt. She pressed very gently for my 12 week scan, just felt like a comfy amount of pressure. For the other one pressure was a bit firmer but still comfortable. It definitely didn't hurt afterwards! Maybe the difference is the baby was in a good location already? I think you should be ok to ask for them to ease up a bit, they might not realise how they're hurting you!