Does this normally happen in an ultrasound?

[ParisJeTadore]

I had my 20 weeks scan this morning and although it seemed to go well (they don't tell you anything so it's hard to know!) I am already being a worry wart about the whole thing. At the end of my exam the tech scanned right under the right side of my rib cage and told me to take two big breathes. Has anyone had this done before? I don't know why she did this and for some reason it really bothered me.

Mind my terrible sense of anatomy but what would be right under my rib cage? Diaphragm?

 

[moter98]

I have not ever had that happen, but the way it works where I live is they give the scan and you speak with the Dr. directly after and the Dr. tells you the results right there. Can you call and request your results? Cannot believe they would make you wait to find out!

 

[Zeri]

Yes, my doc has done that a couple times before. I'm not sure why...but a couple times he did tell me to take a breath and hold it, when he wanted me to be as still as possible to detect something - my heartbeat or the baby's? I can't remember. He did a general physical check at 13 weeks too, and that included listening to my l lungs, heart etc - and he asked me to take deep breaths for that too.

 

[kimmy04]

When I was being checked for appendicitis I had an ultrasound where the entire time I was asked to breathe in and hold my breath while she pushed around different areas. She checked under my ribs and up and down both sides. She told me she was looking for causes of my pain - kidney stones, gall stones, checking my appendix etc (everything is pushed up during pregnancy so my appendix scar is actually in line with my belly button).

It's fairly normal to have gall stones during pregnancy but they usually clear up on their own - she said I had a large stone as well as appendicitis but the gall stone will fix itself and it's never caused me any pain. So my guess would be this is actually more related to you than baby! Could have just seen something and wanted to check you out for anything like that as it's quite common! I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Frustrated42]

I had this also at my 20 week scan. The tech told me it was to check my kidneys while she was doing it.

 

[ParisJeTadore]

Oh lovely ladies, thank you for making me feel a little better! My imagination runs wild when I go for ultrasounds. In fact, unlike last time (which took ages), this time the tech scanned me for 5 minutes then told me to empty my bladder and get my family. I almost panicked as I thought something must be wrong! Last time they took about 40 minutes before letting my husband in to look.

moter98, that's awesome! I would love if the system worked the same way here but unfortunately you have to wait until your next appointment to get results. The only silver lining is that my doctor is great and told me to call him after my scan so he could let me know the gender of the baby. I'm assuming he would look over my report at the same time.

 

[Kezzybear]

Hi Hun, I'm a sonographer. They would have been checking your kidneys as it's common to get reflux of urine back into your kidneys due to the pressure of the uterus on your ureters. It's nothing to worry about xx

 

[Gnomer]

I have this each time I have a scan too. It's to check my kidneys. I had recurrent kidney infections and stones with my first, and a kidney infection right at the start with this baby. Now they just have a nosy to make sure everything is at it should be. I was told it's pretty common anyway, a lot of sonographers do it just to check.

 

[ParisJeTadore]

Thank you Gnomer, I had no idea it was common place for techs to do this. I'm probably comparing my scan from my last pregnancy though as the lady didn't do it.

 

[Gnomer]

I never had it with my first either, until I had the kidney issues. The man who performed my kidney scan then said the sonographer should have had a look at my previous scan.
If they have found anything of concern with my kidneys, im usually told there and then to go visit my doctor for antibiotics, or they would sit me in the waiting room and have a doctor see me then.

 

[Jess19]

I went to school to be an ultrasound tech, the reason for holding your breath is so the tech can get a good pic. When you inhale and exhale your organs move and it can make it difficult for certian pics, esp if the baby isnt in a good position.
Its nothing to worry about. In fact when I go in for scans and it seems the tech is having difficulties getting a good pic ill hold my breath and try not to breath(move) for her

 

[ParisJeTadore]

I went to school to be an ultrasound tech, the reason for holding your breath is so the tech can get a good pic. When you inhale and exhale your organs move and it can make it difficult for certian pics, esp if the baby isnt in a good position.
Its nothing to worry about. In fact when I go in for scans and it seems the tech is having difficulties getting a good pic ill hold my breath and try not to breath(move) for her

Oh man, I definitely read into stuff too much I was going to ask if anyone was an ultrasound tech who could explain to me but thought that was asking for too much...guess not! Thanks for the explanation Jess19

 

[Kezzybear]

I'm a sonographer Hun so any questions about ultrasound feel free to message me in a thread or privately. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy! Xx

 

[ParisJeTadore]

Missed your previous post kezzybear. Thank you for the offer and glad to know what they were looking for! Really hoping I will get results tomorrow for peace of mind and so we can find out what we're having

 

[MamaLa]

Maybe checking out your gallbladder to see how it's doing? I cholestasis

 

[Ashley8806]

It sounds like they might have seen gallstones. I have been having gallbladder attacks and had an ultrasound to check for stones and that's where it was and what they did.