Can a rough abdominal scan, cause harm to baby?

[i83]

I went to a private clinic on Saturday, to have a scan and nipt test done.

I was 9w3d but I suggested we go straight for an internal scan, as I’m quite overweight and carry it round my middle.

They said they always start with an abdominal scan.

The sonographer was so rough and pressed down so hard, to try to see the baby, before moving on to an internal scan anyway. (It’s my second pregnancy so I’ve had lots of scans before but none were like this.)

My stomach has been so sore and tender since then.

Does anyone know if this could cause harm to the baby at all? I’m really worried!

Why are you getting unnecessary scans if you know they are difficult anyway due to your weight

No. You should see what they do when they try to reposition the baby, it's very rough. Babies are safety swimming around in fluid.

However, you don't need extra private scans. Stick with the highly trained NHS people and you'll be fine.

No your baby is quite tucked away OP.

No, baby won't be hurt in any way. They are well protected in there. Because it's early on, I'm thinking the sonographer would have to press quite hard to see very much at all. It'll be easier to see when the baby is bigger.

I don't want to upset you but it was a rough scan that caused me to develop a hematoma at 6-7 weeks and I nearly had a miscarriage. It really pusses me off when sonographers are so cavalier about this.
I would have plenty of rest, feet up and no over exertion for a few days until everything settles down.

Thank you everyone.

I only had the scan in order to have the nipt test.

@ABirdsEyeView I’m sorry to hear this. How far along are you now?

I'm sorry, but you cannot possibly know this.

Thousands of women have abdominal scans, at all stages of pregnancy.

If they caused bleeding there would be an uproar.

U/S scanning is safe. And it doesn't cause harm to the fetus.

Please ignore @FTMaz they seem to have nothing better to do than leave unnecessarily harsh comments on people's posts.

I've had a couple of rough scans as baby was in a difficult position for certain measurements. Cause some cramping afterward but I'm 27 weeks now! Remember, your whole abdominal area will be more tender as it stretches to accommodate baby. You'll both be fine x

I had a sonographer try to get the baby to move by really roughly rubbing the probe over my lower abdomen. I was one huge purple bruise but baby was fine. They are well protected in there

My 20 week NHS scan was extremely painful, as they tried to get baby to move to see all of his positions and pressed down so hard my stomach hurt afterwards too.

I'm currently 28 weeks and all is well, please don't worry x

@TheShellBeach I absolutely do know it. I was fine at the scan, then within a day started bleeding and a repeat scan (internal that time) showed a huge hematoma. Sonographer was very rough.
I was on bed rest for half my pregnancy until it healed.
I can't prove it, but it's entirely logical that someone pushing too hard on your body, when pg can cause injury!

@i83 baby was totally fine in the end - as he grew, the hematoma reduced. The doctor said to go on complete bed rest and hope for the best - it may or may not make a difference (his words).

I was honestly in two minds whether to post this because I really don't want to make you stress about something which the vast majority of the time is absolutely fine. If done properly scans are absolutely safe. But I figured you should have a heads up if you did start to bleed. It might just be that for you it felt very rough but in reality it wasn't too rough iyswim.

You're conflating cause and effect.

You even say "I can't prove it" and that's the absolute truth.

I had my babies many years ago, and had no scans at all in two of them. I bled in one of those pregnancies, and had had no scans.

I'm a midwife. If U/S caused threatened abortions it wouldn't be done. Do be realistic.

Thank you so much.

I just feel like I’ve been kicked and punched in the stomach!

Just felt unnecessary, as I’d said I didn’t mind going straight for the internal scan so they could get the best measurements etc.

OP if you've ever had an external cephalic version (turning a breech baby round to head down) you'll know how much a fetus and mother can stand.

@FTMaz her post clearly states that she was having a NIPT test done and you are always scanned before the bloods are taken, so how was the scan 'unnecessary'? 🙄

Please don’t worry OP. At a growth scan, so much further down the line, the sonographer had to pin my baby down to get measurements! All was fine.

Thank you, that’s reassuring 😊

Ignore @FTMaz have seen this person leave twatty comments on others post not sure why you’re on here except to be a hater it’s a support group

Please don’t worry my sonographer pushed really hard at 12 and 20 weeks scans, and I’m 30 weeks now all going fine! Baby is very well protected in water

But why consent to that. It’s clearly not going to be pleasant, it’s quite obvious

To avoid a caesarean section.

I thought you might say that. My twins were both breech but l wanted a c section -didn’t especially trust the hospital to induce me.

@TheShellBeach normal ultrasound scans are not problematic or dangerous at all. But they do rely on the skill and judgement of the sonographer.

Spontaneous bleeding can occur but bleeding can also be caused.

Can I ask why you didn't get scans through some of your pregnancies? That's very unusual.

OP, I do think what happened to me is very rare and usually even though it feels like a lot of pressure, it's not so much that it would cause harm. But there's also no harm in taking it really easy for a few days if you feel sore and uncomfortable.

ECV would not be offered in a twin pregnancy though.