Maternal Body Habitus

[Minimin]

Hey Ladies! :wave:

Just got back from 20w scan and all looks well. I am going through the notes and saw the sonographer put 'technically difficult examination due to maternal body habitus'. From what I understand, this is typically due to body weight/BMI etc. I am now approaching 8st 7lb, am 5ft 1" and prior to pregnancy was near 8 stone. BMI of around 22- so all in the normal range- now how does that affect my scan as 'maternal body habitus'

Did anyone else get this- seems to me an excuse as the sonographer mentioned several times during the examination the image was blurry (equipment, sonographer or my MBH??) grrrhhhhh

I know all is well so I shouldnt be irked- but really!

 

[mumtobeplus1]

You sound tiny so no i think it was probably more to do with equipment.
Im almost 12st and 5'7 and they had no problem getting clear images with me.

MBH usually indicates the mother was too large to get clear pics. x

 

[Pippasdvision]

I dont think it can be that as I am a big girl and they had problems with the babies position and I did not get that comment

 

[Minimin]

I thought it weird they would consider my weight as a problem- if anything I need to put on weight!I googled the term (our dear friend) and it came up with the notion of body weight and BMI

Still all is well so I cant complain- just irks me that they are covering their backs. So they cant have someone say later on that the scan didnt pick this or that up. The statement kinda blanket covers them for later.

My pregnancy has been closely monitored due to obstetric history of 2mc and Ectopic and I have not had that comment before!

thanks for taking the time to reply ladies!

 

[Gemie]

Bloody hell! I was upset when they put that in my notes and I'm 20 stone!!! I can't believe they said that to you

 

[Minimin]

Gemie- I think they are doing it all the time- irrespective of our weight hun. Way of covering their backs!

 

[Gemie]

Well in a way I'm glad to hear that b/c it actually upset me even though I know I'm a big girl lol x

 

[Minimin]

Awww hun

 

[lynzlogan]

How ridiculous is that!!!

I'm 5ft 5" and 11 stone, so a good few stone heavy than you!!

What utter crap (sorry my new phrase this week) how can your tiny size affect the scan!

 

[mislaww]

How very strange...I saw your pic hon, you're anything but "big"! Perhaps your stomach muscles are just really dense? Ha!

 

[KandyKinz]

That's interesting they would write that....... I've only ever seen or used maternal habitus as being a problem if the woman was obese and it was the adipose tissue causing the problem.... that doesn't seem to be an issue for you..... though I honestly haven't a clue how much weight 8 stones are.... So I guess it depends on if we're talking tiny pebbles or big boulders.... lol.... sorry overtired.....

 

[Minimin]

LOL feel like it is boulders right now hun! Maybe I have more fat around my tummy I did have a lovely wine pouch I spent years investing in

 

[Minnie_me]

I suppose it could mean anything from position of baby within your body to amount of water you have or haven't drunk prior to scan but it still sounds like a crappy excuse to me and surely can't be weight related! Get a new scanner Mr Sonographer!!!

 

[Minimin]

Thanks MinnieMe- They do really take the mick huh!!!

 

[MissMatey]

Body habitus (or "bodily habitus") is the medical term for physique, and is defined as either endomorphic (overweight), ectomorphic (underweight) or mesomorphic (normal weight). I am overweight, but they won't say that is the reason they are unable to see clearly on some aspects of the ultrasound.

 

[Marumi]

Idk stones but a BMI of 22 does not sound heavy...very odd.

 

[KandyKinz]

Wow... this is old....

 

[minties]

When I was pregnant with Sophie and was morbidly obese, I remember apologising to the sonographer about my fat at the nuchal scan. She said I didn't actually have much sub-muscular fat and that she had no trouble scanning me. She did say that some slim women she scanned had a surprising amount of sub-muscular fat, especially women from India(!?) and it was often the case that certain races of people had differing amounts of abdominal fat.

I don't think it is meant as an insult and could mean anything - it could even be from a uterus not in the optimal 'tilt', or a bladder not very full. In scans here it will always mention adipose tissue for 'this chic was just too fat to see much', lol.

This is old, but I thought I'd comment because I found it interesting.

 

[Bekah78]

I would say you're in the ideal weight group. I'm 5"1 too but was only 7st 2lbs when I was 8 weeks pregnant. I'm now 7st 12 lbs. my bmi was only 17.5 at the start and both the midwife and consultant told me I needed to gain weight. Not easy when suffering with bad morning sickness.

Like the pp's have said they were probably just covering themselves.

Glad all was ok though with the scan. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.