Male sonographer kept rubbing his arm on my pubic bone. Is this normal?

[RebeccaAndBump]

Hi,

I am having my first child and I had my 12 week scan today with a male sonographer.
Just wanted to know is it normal for the sonographer to be rubbing his wrist against my Pubic area and applying pressure whilst scanning? This happened well over 10 times. I had a scan at 6 weeks and the only thing that touched me during that scan was the sensor and the gel. Any advise would be great?

Thank you

If its an early scan it will be because the uterus is still tucked under there. Very likely trying to get better scan images

Yes it's normal - and there was a chaperone so they've covered their bases. Sorry for your experience but I don't think it's anything untoward.

To the pp claiming sexual assault- ridiculous. I've been sexually assaulted and this isn't bloody it. You don't know how damaging what you said is, to people who've actually been assaulted, and possibly to a completely innocent man. Life changing. Think before you speak.

Sounds normal to me, it’s what happened at my 12 week scan, trying to get a better image so her arm and wrists were digging in everywhere and it made me catch my breath a few times, especially with a full bladder, I’m on the chubbier side though and baby is quite far down on the left so was awkward 😂

My sonographer never said anything to me until she had done all her measurements so sometimes they are just quiet and lack bedside manner. Which I quite like cause I’m awkward 😂

My 10 and 12 week scans were like this, was female sonographer both times (different people and clinics). It all sounds completely normal to me.

Sounds normal to me.

If you feel you may have been violated you must report this incident. At the very least, it will be useful for training purposes.

I was sexually abused by a doctor in a hospital who overtly rubbed his penis against my side while scanning me. I was booked in for an abortion consultation and he did not hide his condemnation of my choice. There was a nurse in the room the whole time this was going on, it was a large U.K. hospital. I felt his erection as he pressed against me - it was gross. At the time I was in a controlling and abusive relationship, I absolutely did not want an abortion, but was being pressured by my then-partner to abort.
The whole experience of that pregnancy was utterly sickening and heartbreaking. I spoke to a friend who worked in the NHS a few months later and when I said the doctor's name she knew exactly what I was talking about. Be pragmatic and ask for an assessment of the situation. Sorry for my details, I don't want any other women to go through this. I hope your doctor was just clumsy. Not even sure if I should have posted this. I am sorry if it makes you concerned, your situation may not be anything like mine.

I remember the same and I had a woman.

OP this is very normal.

Gently suggest you speak with your midwife about what to expect going forward with other aspects of pregnancy should a male need to help you and for the benefit of both parties insist on a chaperone next time.

I’ve had two children and currently pregnant - in all scans combined I haven’t had any wrist/arm/hands touch my pubic bone. I’ve also never been scanned by a male, all females who talk me through what they are doing and even some who’ve asked me to tuck the tissue into my trousers. I don’t know if what you were through was normal but my instinct is if it sparked a concern for you then go with your gut and complain x

Third baby now. I remember the first lady digging what felt like into my vagina she was so low down, didnt say anything except 'good job your tiny'. Lol

I've had a male sonographer more than once, they all have tucked the tissue in, but I also make sure my trousers are pulled down low enough for them to access the baby. People also rest their arm on you to get a good position, again this is normal.

I hope the man is not mortified when he finds out about the complaint, if he thinks he has done nothing wrong and he has to write a statement about what has happened and talk to managers It could be so embarrassing for him. Obviously I wasnt there, none of us were to really advise you. We live in such a complaint culture, definitely take your partner or mum or someone along with you next time for support.

Also you can request female only if that would make you feel more comfortable.

Can't recall wrist touching my pubic bone during a scan, think it would be something I would remember. I've had low scans very early on in the pregnancy. Have to admit I've never liked it when a sonographer has automatically taken it upon themselves to tuck the tissue in my trousers, I've had some just give the tissue to me which I prefer.

I vaguely remember thinking “gosh I wish I’d shaved” and pressure on my pubic area.

However, if you even have a tiny inch of doubt, it if didn't feel normal or even if you just want some re-assurance. Raise the issue with the hospital, ask to speak to a woman sonographer to find out what might be normal and what isn’t. I’d complain anyway about how unwelcoming he was, the scans are scary enough without the people doing them being rude too.

One persons experience of normal does not mean every experience like that is normal. Only you were there and only you can make the decision whether you feel the need to report this.

I’m a female nurse and used to regularly perform a tricky procedure on the abdomen. Sometimes I would be so focused on the procedure I just didn’t realise that my elbow or arm was resting there. As soon as I realised I’d feel terrible and move it.

@anniee8ava
“ I hope the man is not mortified when he finds out about the complaint, if he thinks he has done nothing wrong and he has to write a statement about what has happened and talk to managers It could be so embarrassing for him. Obviously I wasnt there, none of us were to really advise you. We live in such a complaint culture, definitely take your partner or mum or someone along with you next time for support.”
Bloody Hell. He’s a professional and whether or not he feels ‘mortified’ is irrelevant. And as for complaint culture/ taking in a chaperone there are very strict rules at the moment.

The NHS info says that they may have to apply pressure to your “tummy” especially if the baby is in a difficult position. However, seeing as the baby isn’t actually IN your tummy, I think we can assume they mean uterus. The uterus can lie very low and so the sonographer may well have to rest their wrist on your pubis to get the correct angle.

Scares me how vulnerable NHS staff are to wild accusations. The people on here encouraging the OP to say she's been assaulted - all without any evidence of that whatsoever!

Op I've had 3 kids, What you experienced was totally normal in my opinion.. If anything his bedside manner could have been better - more communication for example. But it's possible he was just concentrating very hard on a tricky job - remember what they are doing is serious and it's crucial they get it right.

Op, this seems perfectly normal to me but I’m sorry you’re upset.

Sometimes the position of the baby will dictate how much pressure is applied, and where the sonographer will have to position the hand-held scanner. They need to take some specific measurements of some of the bones, it can be challenging depending on the position of the baby. For my DS2, the sonographer had to ask me to put my hands behind my bum to lift my pelvis up because my uterus is at a weird angle. It also depends on the position of the placenta, and on other organs that can be a little bit 'in the way'.

This is completely and totally normal. Please don't worry about it.

Happened to me because baby just kept wriggling out of position so he was trying to apply pressure to push it into view (to take measurements). Did catch me by surprise the first time so would have appreciated a warning.

Yesterday female midwife put her hands into my pants to feel babies head, also uncomfortable, and then said sorry, should’ve warned you was about to do that.

So does sound normal to me..
But yes, they should just inform beforehand what they’re doing

@etinox just trying to show the other side of what could happen with the complaint, after a lot of women on here egging her on about making the complaint, sexual assault ect...

There were clearly other people in the room as OP stated, although she didnt say she had any support with her. Even in covid times I thought every trust would let you take someone with you for 12 week scan if not that's mad.

I'd be inclined to think that the sonographer exercised some very poor communication skills, not 100% sure whether their physical actions were right or wrong.

For context, I perform musculoskeletal ultrasounds in my work, and often lean the side of my wrist on a firm body part if I'm struggling to get a good view so that I have an anchor point to make small adjustments to the probe position. think of it like writing with your arm completely off the desk, or writing with your wrist resting on the page.

@MissyB1

Scares me how vulnerable NHS staff are to wild accusations. The people on here encouraging the OP to say she's been assaulted - all without any evidence of that whatsoever!

Op I've had 3 kids, What you experienced was totally normal in my opinion.. If anything his bedside manner could have been better - more communication for example. But it's possible he was just concentrating very hard on a tricky job - remember what they are doing is serious and it's crucial they get it right.

Exactly this. It just shows why a male sonographer should insist on a chaperone to avoid situations with sensitive people, it’s not worth the hassle. God help whoever delivers the baby.

This sounds incredibly normal to me, and I've had three kids. Dangerously near the muff, but didn't bother me at all - it's a clinical procedure.
Obviously I don't know your BMI, OP, but I will say that he needed to press much less hard with DS1 than he did with DD, as I'd packed on some timber ('adipose' in the notes) in the intervening ten years.

Sounds normal.

So worrying how these poor healthcare professionals are just open to mad accusations in this way. Hopefully your complaint will hammer home to him that he needs to protect himself and always have a chaperone as opposed to losing him his job

Hang on everyone - so do you mean at the top of your mons pubis? Then I would say yes I have with both my scans as I’m quite large the sonographer had to really push to get a good view and very uncomfortable with a full bladder to I remember it well.