Can a rough abdominal scan, cause harm to baby?

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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!

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

I didn't want them. I had scans for clinical reasons with DD and DS (one for each baby).

Yes, it is. If twin 1 is in the right position then Labour is allowed to proceed. If twin 2 doesn’t right themselves or switched out of position then they do ECV. If you run out of time then it’s c section for twin 2

That's only after the first baby is delivered though.

I didn’t say it wasn’t?! I know it’s after the first was delivered -l just explained that to you

If you’re fat the risk is in not getting a clear image not rough handling as the fat will protect the baby. Rough handling is only really a risk for women with very low bodyweight (if at all).

You can't have the NIPT test until 10 weeks and you don't need a scan to have the NIPT, I wouldn't be having any unnecessary scans if I knew my weight was an issue at that gestation. I'm sure baby is just fine as they are well protected x

The clinic I went to, can do the nipt test from 9 weeks.

I had to have the scan first though, to make sure I was at least 9 weeks.

I respect peoples’ opinions but to us, the scan wasn’t unnecessary.

I’m 41 and my husband is 40 so we felt we wanted to have the nipt test (the NHS agreed but wouldn’t do it till further down the line).

We’ve had many losses and I would just rather know, sooner rather than later, if that was going to be the case again this time.

Our previous scans, have 95% of the time, been with the NHS but we decided to have the nipt test with our DS and for this pregnancy.

It’s a bit harsh to imply that it will be my fault if anything does go wrong, due to having what you deem ‘unnecessary’ scans!!

It absolutely would not be your fault - don't let anyone who says that shit get into your head.
Scans and testing are really important and are totally normal, helpful things to do. Particularly if you have higher odds of an issue that you need to be prepared for.

I hope you are feeling a bit better today.

@ABirdsEyeView thank you for your kind words and support

OP, at 9 weeks your uterus is still in the pelvis so the fetus is well protected in there.

The Sonographer was pressing on the subcutaneous fat to try and visualise the baby - not on the fetus.

A transvaginal scan should always be a last resort, abdominal should always be attempted first at 9 weeks - the sonography was correctly following the guidelines.

As for previous post re twins - a malpresenting twin two may be born via internal podalic version, which is different to ECV. Nowhere would induce breech twins though!

Wow. Why so snippy?
There are ways to extract a second breech twin, once twin one is delivered.

The lie of a second twin very often changes once twin one is delivered, anyway.

OP this was your choice and you shouldn't feel the need to explain your decisions.

I hope your NIPT result is normal, and the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly.

you made a completely reasonable choice and I don't understand why you've had so many weird responses. Of course an NIPT is a good reason to have a scan but even if you just fancied seeing the baby again you wouldn't need to defend that.

I hope you get good news and that the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly.

It is your choice but I do think that some of these private early scans exploit people who are emotionally vulnerable due to previous loss and seem to lack care for the women they see.

Probably because you said “ECV would not be offered in a twin pregnancy though”. I correct you as it sometimes is and then l mention the circumstances. Which you re-tell me but l had already said that in another post.

I would love to see the evidence about scans damaging a baby, as l just don’t think that’s true. I had extra scans during my pregnancy at the consultants request and everyone is fine

Obviously I meant prior to the onset of labour.

ECV is never countenanced once labour has begun.

There are a few studies where ECV has been done for twins: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32434414/

Yeah, even our hospital wouldn’t induce breech twins! They insisted on one last scan but they were both still breech. There was an air of disappointment -not from me though! The hospital are very c section avoidant 🙄 so l wouldn’t have been surprised if they tried to convince me to be induced if twin 1 had turned

OP please don't feel you have to justify your decision. The vast majority of miscarriages are caused by chromosomal issues and nothing could be done to stop them. People suggested a scan could cause a MC is wildly unhelpful, and only adds to the shame and questioning those of us who've had MC go through.

Thank you for all of the lovely replies.

I do feel slightly less tender and beaten up today which is good!

First foray into the pregnancy forum today. There really are some dreadful people on this thread, I hope that isn't the norm.

OP, no justification required. Everyone chipping in with criticism: piss off frankly. You don't know someone's reasons - entirely their business.

Thank you @sirensong and welcome!

Nearly everyone is very helpful and supportive! Just got to ignore the few who aren’t!