Transition from transvaginal to transabdominal ultrasound

mimimari

When did your doc/tech switch from transvaginal to the external one?  My last appointment was at 10 weeks and I'm hoping my next appointment is the transabdominal one.  Also is the nuchal screening an external one?

jc51723

My first u/s was around 8 weeks and the tech said she always likes to try and see if the abdominal will work before she makes anyone go through t/v. Thankfully we were able to see baby abdominally that day

My first pregnancy the only t/v one I had was the first at 7ish weeks and every one after was abdominal.

Samiantha101

I haven't had a transvaginal ultrasound with either my dd or during this pregnancy. The tech was able to do the abdominal ultrasound at 9w4d this time around and roughly the same time frame with my dd.

Beauxbaton

I've never had a transvaginal ultrasound. With my first pregnancy my first u/s was at 8 and external. They could see everything fine..

mmooki

I was 7w6d at my first one this time and they did abdominal and could see baby.

Milagros315

Huh. I hadn't thought about this because I'm so used to the t/v one. Am I the only one who prefers transvaginal ultrasounds? I've only had the abdominal ultrasounds during IF testing but I really didn't care for it. It was so uncomfortable. 

Maybe it's not as bad when they don't have to press so hard to find what they're looking for? Do you always need a full bladder?

ktkoala

When I had my ultrasound at 7w4d, the tech did abdominal at first, but switched to t/v to get a better picture. Although she said the first pictures were fine. I am sure my next will be abdominal. I am also pretty sure the NT scan is abdominal.

BackseatDriver

Milagros315 said:

Huh. I hadn't thought about this because I'm so used to the t/v one. Am I the only one who prefers transvaginal ultrasounds? I've only had the abdominal ultrasounds during IF testing but I really didn't care for it. It was so uncomfortable. 

Maybe it's not as bad when they don't have to press so hard to find what they're looking for? Do you always need a full bladder?

I definitely prefer to keep my pants on when possible! I don't remember them pushing hard, but it can be difficult when your bladder is very full. Last time I had to have a full bladder for NT and anatomy scan. I had an empty bladder and transvaginal u/s at 8 weeks. I also had a couple quick random scans in the 3rd tri with an empty bladder.

Megs528812

Last time I had one at 8 and 11 weeks transvaginal and regular abdomen one at 13 and forward

Milagros315

BackseatDriver said:

Huh. I hadn't thought about this because I'm so used to the t/v one. Am I the only one who prefers transvaginal ultrasounds? I've only had the abdominal ultrasounds during IF testing but I really didn't care for it. It was so uncomfortable. 

Maybe it's not as bad when they don't have to press so hard to find what they're looking for? Do you always need a full bladder?

I definitely prefer to keep my pants on when possible! I don't remember them pushing hard, but it can be difficult when your bladder is very full. Last time I had to have a full bladder for NT and anatomy scan. I had an empty bladder and transvaginal u/s at 8 weeks. I also had a couple quick random scans in the 3rd tri with an empty bladder.

Ugh I hate that. My bladder is/was really affected by my endometriosis so it's really painful to have a full bladder. Embryo transfers were torture for me. Hopefully it doesn't take them too long to do my scan!

Thanks for the info!

thumper7912

Had a transvaginal up until 10 wks.  He was able to do the abdominal one then and I had just emptied my bladder right before! 

LadyXaverian

Maybe it's because I'm overweight, but with DD, I had the t/v ones for the early u/s. My first trans abdominal was my anatomy scan at 21 weeks, I'm pretty sure.

KJsbabe

I had t/v at 6.5w and 9w. That early on I've come to expect it. I'm pretty sure my next one at 12w for the NT will be abdominal. That's the way it was with DD.

Curbs12

I had a t/v at 8 wks and had an abdominal at 10 wks.

luciddreamer106

I had the t/v at 7 weeks, but my RE never tried abdominal. At 8 weeks, my OB tried abdominal first and we were able to get a good view without a lot of pressing.

kayham12

@Milagros315‌ I also have a messed up bladder due to endo. It's been interesting being pregnant with it too. Sometimes it's very painful to have a full bladder and other times I can't tell if it's full. It's annoying. I had a transvaginal at my fist appt. 8weeks I would probably expect another one, I have a tilted uterus

Mrs_Bennett

I've never had a transvaginal ultrasound either. I saw both of my boys with the abdominal around 8 weeks, and this LO around 7 weeks.

Tapsalteerie

I just had an abdominal at 11 weeks with a practically empty bladder and baby came in clear. Dancing (or hicupping) like crazy.

NatureLovers

I had the dildo cam at my first one, I'm assuming my NT scan will be on my belly.

Stargirlb

never had a trans vag. Here in canada, a low risk pregnancy typically only gets 2 or 3 ultrasounds total. I've never had more than two and both were abdominal. 

First time around I had an OB (though I didn't deliver with him,) and he told me he wouldn't send me for a second ultrasound (I had my first at 14ish weeks,) because he questioned how safe they were and he said there were NO concerns about the baby at all. I was super impatient to see the genitals, so I ended up paying for a private 3D one at 33 weeks just to satisfy my curiosity. 

Both times I followed the "full bladder" instructions and omg i was soooo uncomfortable. Then they made me "empty just a little bit" like 4 times!!!!! until eventually they said, ok just pee it all out. Then "Oh, that's perfect now."  I coulda punched someone at that point. 

nah82

Milagros315 said:

Maybe it's not as bad when they don't have to press so hard to find what they're looking for? Do you always need a full bladder?

The full bladder thing depends on the equipment they are using.  I have NEVER had to have a full bladder for an u/s.  There are signs all over at the perinatologist's office I go to telling you to empty your bladder.  They have the good 4D machine since they are specialists.  It's still uncomfortable to me when they push down.  I am overweight so I'm assuming they are pushing to see through the fat.  My first baby was not in the right position for the NT scan and I swear they were literally trying to turn him around with that wand, I was there forever.

I have not even had my first appointment with this pregnancy yet, but at my previous first appointments it has been t/v at the 8 wk appointment and abdominal at 12 weeks for the NT.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Milagros315

Thanks for the info ladies!

@kayham12‌ - I'm sorry you're dealing with that too. My general pelvic pain has mostly been gone since I got pregnant, but I sometimes have severe pain when I have to go to the bathroom too.

Pips09

We switched at 8.5 weeks. My first two were t/v, and the most recent one was abdominal.

Babytime1778

I had my NT scan last week it was an abdomen scan and my bladder was empty when I got there and she started the scan and stopped to make me drink water.  I have IC (painful bladder syndrome) and having a full bladder kills me. 

SpaceGirlSpiff

My first pregnancy they did transvaginal for my first U/S which was around 8 weeks, and then I didnt have another one until the A/S around 20w where they of course did abdominal

This time, they had a fancier newer machine and was able to pull it up nice and clear with an abdominal u/s at only 8w2d ... I was pleasantly surprised

My NT scan is tomorrow... woohoo

Roxycc55

My first was 7 weeks 2 days and was abdominal. Full bladder does suck though, and I know our picture wasn't as good as some peoples who are t/v instead.

KaylaK1987

I had TV at 5 weeks and 9 weeks- not set to go back to Dr until July 17th so we'll see how they do it then. I'm hoping for abdominal mostly because I don't feel like taking my pants off again lol. However, the T/V didn't bother me at all. Truth be told, I don't even really feel it inside me.

goldengal72

I had a vaginal at 5 weeks, and was able to have an abdominal at 7w5d

Jen524

I had an abdominal at 9 weeks with this baby and with my last baby. First baby I had a vaginal one at 9 weeks. I think it depends on the sonographers' preference. I have to say the vaginal picture at 9 weeks was much clearer than the abdominal ones.