Stupid ultrasound/general prodding Q

[Har]

Ok very but please indulge... Just had my first ultrasound today (meant to be for nuchal fold but baby a few days younger than thought so just became ordinary ultrasound) and the prodding with the tool itself was much harder than I had thought (and the baby went crazy at one point, but at least I then got to see it move!). Tomorrow I'm due to meet the doctor, apparently he's going to prod some more (feeling for the uterus etc I think?). Now can two days of prodding in a row damage anything or stress the baby? I'm sorry if that is a crazily ignorant question and I know they wouldn't do anything that wasn't 100% alright but the way the baby hopped around (and the soreness of my tummy!) made me think. Sorry again, am just paranoid first timer and having finally seen the baby there (was sure it didn't exist) I just want it to all be ok! Thank you!

I was prodded a lot too Har, the Dr was trying to get baby to move round for him. It didn't hurt me but I didn't like him doing ot to the baby - but that's just Mother's instincts!!

Ah, thank you Deb for answering. See it was better when I stayed away, had to keep dumb questions to myself! I'm glad you felt the same, just seeing it hop around when it had been so calm made feel awful! (And it all feels so unreal, can't help feeling that the sac could pop like a water balloon if prodded too much!)

the force of the prodding can be a bit shocking but I honestly don't think any doctor would do anything that could cause harm to the baby. Some women are definitely more sensitive to the prodding than others so I would say it's worth saying to the doctor and midwives at your antenatal appointments that you find the palpating (I think that's the word) painful. Hopefully they'll go as easy as possible on you then.

I think it's really only chronic stress that would harm your baby not things like this. As my DP used to point out to me when I was pg, the things I was worrying about but were probably less of a danger to the baby than the worrying I was doing about them.

Easier said than done to stop worrying though. There are no stupid questions when you are pg for the first time by the way

sometimes a big cough can wake them up by the way. Might be worth trying before any other scans.

Another tip to get them moving is sex!! Funnily enough dh didn't agree to my request to sneak into the toilet together whilst waiting for the 2nd scan!!!

ps please come over to the June group now you feel able to, ask all the questions you want

Har, don't forget that babies do a lot of mad bouncing in there (as you will find out when yours gets bigger!!), so it could be that the sonographer woke your beanie and beanie decided it was time for a party!

Must say, the doctor who did my antenatal yesterday was the first one who did not hurt me (and I am 31 weeks), and she prodded quite hard. I think my beanie liked her to as he did not try to whack/escape from the sonic aid.

Here is the ultimate worryhead speaking, but...don't worry

Aha, so if I get it moving myself (DH not coming for dr app tomorrow so will have to be the cough Deb!) then they don't need to prod as much. That's good to know. Soooo many bugs careering round here so am sure I will have a real cough next week anyway!

Thanks so much about the stupid questions Talktothebees. Easy to feel like the Jade Goody of pregnancy sometimes! And you're (or DP!) absolutely right about the worrying thing, but as you say it is hard. Will say to the dr and sonographer about taking it easy if possible, think was also extra sensitive as have been pretty bloated for weeks, prodding is NOT what's needed at the moment!

God I am so slow writing my messages!

Thank you Deb, will absolutely bring myself and dumb questions over to June, might have to tear myself away now though as have guests in an hour and my flat is a tip (meant to go out for dinner with them but DH called them to say they should come round to ours for a drink first, 'to see how we live'. Hmm, need a lot of time to make it ELLE decor! Will come on later tonight or first thing tomorrow!

madmouse, love the idea of your baby trying to escape/whack the sonic aid. Very comforting to hear that you've found it painful too (not nice that you found it painful of course but ykwim!) And yes definitely party time with me, looked like a marionette!

At my 20 (actually 23 week scan) I was prodded LOADS. I was squirming around in discomfort, let alone the baby!

I just went with the thought process if they thought it would hurt me or the baby too much they wouldn't do it that hard.

ive never found scans or when mw feels tummy/listens to heart beat painful but at my last appointment she had to shove the baby down a bit so she could hear the heart beat and it knacked. also \was a bit rough with the general prodding as well and i felt achy after. if its like this next time then im going to say something as i dont think it should be uncomfortable

I had a 4D scan on Saturday and Baby was in an unfavourable position - legs and arms over face!

I had to have a walk around and juice, choc etc to see if she would move. No joy the sonographer tried some gentle shaking with the ultrasound thingy which at the time I didn't worry about.

However when we watched the DVD back at home on a couple of occassions you could see baby being shook about - not violent obviously - in an attempt to get her to move and I felt soooooo mean and then worried in case she had shaken baby syndrome

Stopped worrying as much now cos she is bouncing around constantly and all seems well but still a tad worried. My sensible side tells me she is well protected and not shook hard etc and the sonographer knows what she is doing. Think it's probably my mothering instincts coming in and feel mean that all she was doing was minding her own business and we were a bit mean to here just to get a good pic!