So ANGRY! 20 weeks NHS scan!!

[VickyLou]

Sorry but I just need to rant.

Today I had my 20 week scan on the NHS. They have made me feel terrible.
She couldn't see anything apparently, it wasn't very clear at all so she couldn't get any measurements. She wasn't saying anything to us or showing me the screen so I asked her if baby was breathing, she said baby doesn't breath when it's inside you. I said 'obviously' I meant is her heart beating! She said yes and theres abit of movement but she couldn't really see. Personally I don't think she had a clue what she was doing, she didn't apply any pressure to my belly, she just lightly run the ultrasound stick over my tummy.

My other half started saying come on little one behave and do what the lady needs you do, she said it's nothing to do with the way baby is lay, so he asked if it was my placenta cause it's attached to the front, she again said it's not that but she didn't elaborate on what the problem was. So I guess it's my SIZE!! No I'm not the slimmest of people, but I've not had problems with any other scan I've had. 6 weeks, 9weeks 12weeks, 16weeks (private) 18weeks (private) so why today have I been treated like crap.
She honestly made me feel like I don't deserve to be pregnant because I'm on the larger side.

I'm gutted with the experience we have had today, I'm gutted I never got gender confirmation ( told I was having a girl at my private scan) but most of all I'm so upset I didn't get to see my baby on the screen! Didn't get any pics either. Well we got one which cost us £10 even though I told them not to bother.

Sorry it's a long post. I'm just so angry!!! Why do people do these jobs if they don't care!!!

 

[littlelegs91]

So sorry u had this experience Hun have u been rebooked in? Hopefully u will have a better one next time x

 

[VickyLou]

Thank you

Yeah they have rebooked me for 3 weeks time. I won't hold my breath for the next one to be any good either. My 13 week was I was treated like rubbish, today I was treated even worse, I wonder how bad the next one will be!!

 

[Yo_Yo]

Sorry you had a bad experience Hun. I had a bad scan after a bleed at 14 weeks with an obstetrician. It sucks.

They normally ask you to go to the loo, walk around a little or eat some chocolate to get baby to move position before giving up.
Hope your next ones better

 

[VickyLou]

That's what I thought but she didn't. I think she just couldn't be bothered. The fact she said it's nothing to with the position of the baby but wouldn't say what the problem was makes me think it's my weight. But again I have had no problems at other scans. She just couldn't be bothered and didn't have a clue what she was doing.

Thank you xxx

 

[MindUtopia]

I would say it sounds like she is just a miserable person that hates her job, and unfortunately, you find people like that everywhere. But it isn't fair to you that you got made to feel badly simply because someone else was in a bad mood. Personally, I would look into making a complaint just to say you don't feel like you were treated with respect. You don't have to make a huge deal of it, but just an email or letter to the head of the unit might be worth it.

But don't feel bad, I'm not particularly overweight, and I had to have THREE 20 week scans because they couldn't see what they needed to. Sometimes it just happens.

 

[izzlesnizzle]

That's a real shame she treated you like that. Its such an exciting milestone the 20 week scan and they should know this and treat you with some respect. I had a private gender scan at 17 weeks with DD so I knew she was a girl. She was misbehaving and had her legs crossed so the sonographer told me to get up and move around and still LO wouldn't let us see so she let me go for a walk and come a bit later. Theres no way they would have done this on the nhs! Good job I did have the private scan though coz at the 20 wk scan the sonographer did the business then just took the thing off me and gave me some paper towel to clean the gel off. I said "oh is there any chance you can tell us the gender?" (as I wanted a bit of extra confirmation not coz I needed it, just coz im an awkward sod and wanted to hear it again!) and she huffed and puffed and rolled her eyes and banged the thing back down on my stomach and said half heartedly "looks like a girl but I cant be sure" and that was it. If i'd hadn't had a private scan I would have been reeling at this! Looks like a girl but cant be sure! WTF! I would have been infuriated!

 

[qe76]

oh that sounds sooo much like my 20 week scan but the lady that did mine had no problem saying over and over it's the girth of the mother!! I actually lost wight and still have not gained any at 31 weeks now. and I have been to private scans both before and after my 20 week scan - The two I have had after couldn't believe I was told I was too fat! They said first of all you never say that to someone even if it's true and more important- they could see everything just fine and I was in no way too fat! My 20 week scan was at a high risk hospital too and suppose to be top notch- It was sooo upsetting.
because I have GD I have to have extra scans- the place I was recently sent to... the lady was sooo nice but they don't let the husbands back for the scan and there was no screen for me to see anything!! she showed me the screen once by turning it- I got pic too but only one was the face and the other few I have no clue what they were of- She was a very nice lady but I want my next scan to be where I did my private ones- I already asked and they take referrals from the clinic- but I was told at the clinic I have to go to the place they want- Im gonna try and fight it.

At the 20 week scan the lady took one look at me and started shaking her head as we walked to the room- and kept sucking her teeth and shaking her head saying it's the girth of the mother as she was doing the scan- It was horrifying.. she even threw down the wand and gave up!! Im not skinny but every other scan they could see just fine.. so she was just bad at her job .. very angry woman.

 

[Brightxeyes]

Not a very good attitude to have, is maybe make a small complaint because to me, to not be told what the problem may be or to be huffed and puffed at with lack of effort, just creates worry for yourself.

There may be reasons why she can't see anything properly but she should at least explain what the problem may be.

I've heard the NHS routine scans they're always a little more, quiet, and less likely to tell the sex. So I try not to talk too much with my scans knowing they've got to take their measurements and do their job. But mine have always been polite and nice, and they explain everything as they go along to me.. Like what we're looking at. (Our hospital has a screen above the bed so we see what they see.

I'm sorry your experience was disapointing I hope they can take the correct measurements and see everything properly.

I wouldn't have thought weight would make such a big difference that they could see 'nothing'. I think she was just being awkward.

 

[VickyLou]

Thank you ladies. I'm slowly starting to calm down now. I'm still baffled how she could blame my weight when I haven't had a problem at any other scans. I just feel disappointed in myself more than anything for allowing myself to become pregnant at the size I am. But then again my baby is a miracle, I was told for years that it wouldn't happen for me. I had finally it into my head that I was never going yo be a mummy then bang I'm pregnant. I was actually losing weight before I found out and now I've gained it all back and then some

Ah well at least her heart is still beating. xx

 

[AP]

You know, I used to think NHS scans were meant to be quiet kinda things. I had a crap experience with my first. I was treated like a child at my scans.

My second pregnancy, at 20 weeks, I realised its all down to the sonographer. We had a wonderful guy, who I had coincidently had during a miscarriage years ago. He explained everything, he told me what he was looking at, explained her brain was looking fine, checked my cervix length. I was close to tears that he was so different and took that moment to explain parts. And it took no longer time than the miserable cows who had seen me in my previous pregnancy.

I guess the sonographers don't need to be as nice as that, but it makes a world of difference to expectant mothers. It takes no time at all to be nice.

 

[emmi26]

Omg poor you
Complain !! She had no right to treat you like that hun that's just awful. My friend is a size 24 she had an c section after getting pre eclampsia the woman weighed her for the epidural and incase they needed to give anesthetic and said ..... I've done smaller elephants than this. I'm not joking that's what she said my friend was in tears as it happens she put in an official complaint but what gives why should people be treated like that !
Seriously complain her attitude needs adjusting !!

Emma

 

[emmi26]

Oh and I agree with atomic pink it depends who is doing the scan I had a lovely man at 13 weeks with Harry the woman at 20 weeks basically ignored me was rude and only told me the sex reluctantly saying it's a boy

Emma

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

So sorry you have had a bad experience. Even of she was struggling to get measurements she could at least showed you baby! Have you put in a complaint? I would seriously consider doing so if not hun

 

[VickyLou]

To be honest I don't think complaining will do any good. The woman at my 13 week scan wasn't very nice to us either, we complained when I saw my consultant a couple of weeks later, alls they said was sorry about that usually she's so nice to people. Perhaps she was just having a bad day. I figure I'll just get the same again about the woman I saw today.
I've decided I will go to the rescan at the end of July, if they are horrible to me I will get up and leave and refuse any more scans from them. I'll have private ones done instead and they can contact the place I have the scans for the details.

 

[USAFWife319]

Is there someone you can call and report it to? I know when I've had ultrasounds done I had to have a full bladder and they pressed so hard I thought I'd pee myself! I hope you get the results you want!

 

[izzlesnizzle]

Omg poor you
Complain !! She had no right to treat you like that hun that's just awful. My friend is a size 24 she had an c section after getting pre eclampsia the woman weighed her for the epidural and incase they needed to give anesthetic and said ..... I've done smaller elephants than this. I'm not joking that's what she said my friend was in tears as it happens she put in an official complaint but what gives why should people be treated like that !
Seriously complain her attitude needs adjusting !!

Emma

My jaw dropped when I read that. That's terrible!

 

[nesSAH]

Sorry you had to go through that hun!
I wish all u/s techs were sensitive and caring. Some of them can be very irritable and crude.

I hope you get a better tech next time. U/s are supposed to be exciting and something to look forward to

 

[Cangaroo]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. It's so unnecessary to be rude like that! I'd speak to PALS at the hospital if you're upset about it.

I had my 20 week NHS scan today and it was fantastic. The sonographer showed us everything and spent time waiting for the baby to move etc. There are great sonographers out there; I'm sorry you had a grumpy one.

Oh, and babies do breathe before they're born. They obviously don't take air in etc, but they do make breathing movements to "practice" breathing and help their lungs grow. So your question was entirely valid!

 

[VickyLou]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. It's so unnecessary to be rude like that! I'd speak to PALS at the hospital if you're upset about it.

I had my 20 week NHS scan today and it was fantastic. The sonographer showed us everything and spent time waiting for the baby to move etc. There are great sonographers out there; I'm sorry you had a grumpy one.

Oh, and babies do breathe before they're born. They obviously don't take air in etc, but they do make breathing movements to "practice" breathing and help their lungs grow. So your question was entirely valid!

Glad you got a good one. I'm sure there is a good one at my hospital but it's finding them lol. Thats 2 scans I've had there now and they were both horrible. Perhaps it's me? The way I look or something lol.

Yes, I have been reading that baby will practise breathing in and out but obviously they are not taking in air, she hew what I meant though so I don't know why she had to try and correct me. X