A/S today..not what I was expecting.

Jams1002

So I suppose after reading all of your A/S's, I was thinking the whole experience would be much different. Aside from the fact that the tech had ZERO personality, she was basically just looking at the screen for a good 15 min, told me to empty my bladder b/c she couldn't see anything clearly, and then had me lay on my side (???) while she scanned away. She then went and got DH, and we looked at the baby for all of 45 seconds. She kept trying to get baby to "wake up" by poking my stomach extremely hard over and over. I sort of knew the baby wouldn't be very active anyway, as I never feel him or her moving around that time of day. I was ok with it not moving, and she kept being extremely forceful about it. I jokingly said "It's ok, let it sleep!!"..............crickets.

I then said to her, "oh by the way, we don't want to know the sex, so if you could please just leave it out of the file." And she snarkily replies "That's better for me, I can't tell you anyway."

And then it was over. She didn't point out anything, barely told us what we were looking at and sent us on our way with a very blurry photo. I was so excited for A/S and left feeling very cheated out of what was supposed to be a wonderful moment. Can anyone else relate??

MeatballEsq

I'm sorry you had such a bad tech. We luckily had a chatty tech that told us everything that we were looking at, but she did have a hard time getting some shots and was really pokey at my stomach. My little guy was sleeping with his leg under his butt, so she couldn't get a good shot of his left leg. Then when she was trying to get shots of his heart he kept putting his arms or elbow over his heart and blocking it. She was really forceful (I'm surprised there were no bruises actually), but she explained that she needed to get shots of pretty much EVERYTHING that had to do with his anatomy.

bonjourbelle05

We had pretty much an identical experience....our techs (there were 3 of them in there by the end of it) left the room so quickly after we felt like something was wrong.  It was an awful experience and as soon as we got our of the hospital I burst into tears.  We didn't get a picture ("We don't do that") and I didn't get to see the baby hardly at all (DH did a little more than me).  Like you said, I wasn't even upset about not knowing the gender, but more upset that this wonderful moment was essentially wrecked by crabby techs. 

hunter91011

My tech wasn't that bad. But DH did have to sit outside for 45 minutes while she took measurements, and I couldn't even see the screen while she was doing it, so that really freaked me out. When she finally let DH in the room we both got to see the screen for about 5 minutes, she pointed out a couple if things, but all we got was a picture if his foot, and the picture of the family jewels, and that's it. I was really disappointed I didn't get a profile picture.  She was nice enough, it just wasn't the experience I was expecting.  I thought I would be able to look at our LO the whole time, but, no!

leffe1

That sux! My tech was awesome and patient. This is how they should be. I am sorry that happened to you,

aaturnwald

I'm sorry you had that experience! I'd mention something to the OB or the office about her manner.. 

I didn't have anything like that at ours, DH was in the room the whole time, and the tech would explain what she was measuring and I jumped in and asked questions about things I saw.

Lanibee

Your experience is very similar to my A/S with our DD, ours was done at our OB office after we left I was so pissed off I called the office and complained ( I needed to call them anyway because the tech couldn?t get all the pictures so we needed to come back)  I told them how I left not knowing if everything was ok with our child and if she was developing correctly.  They apologized to me and booked me with a better u/s tech for the follow up visit.  The better tech was amazing answered our questions and showed us everything!

In hindsight I think it was good that I did complain because I noticed the tech was no longer working there by the time I returned from maternity leave, and they've replaced her with a wonderful tech who did my N/T scan this time around and she is amazing.

 

macy42

I'm sorry this happened to you. It should have been a much more positive experience for you and DH.

 

hmp1

So sorry for your experience. With DS, my doctor actually did all the u/s so he was really good about showing us all the chambers of the heart and the blood flow and all the various details that I can't remember now.  Since we moved, I see a tech for the u/s. The tech was very nice in my dating u/s so I am hoping to have a positive experience this time too.

GreyLove

I'm so sorry that you had a bad experience!  The tech's attitude would make me want to report her for being so awful.

esalyi

Well really, they aren't there to create a wonderful moment for you though, they need to get measurements and its hard to do when baby won't move the way they want it to etc. and it takes forever. Mine just concentrated on the screen getting all her measurements etc. that took a good 30 mins and then called in my DH and showed us both the screen and told us the sex. She printed out photos etc and we were on our way. They are there to do a job, they should be friendly, but they don't have time to walk you through each measurement either. Sorry you thought it would be different, but I had a TON of ultrasounds and this is mostly what they are like.

They show you the screen a bit, point some stuff out and that's it. Also, you won't see the whole file anyway, will you? I've never seen the full file and if you didn't want to know the doc wouldn't tell you. And, most photos are kinda blurry. Sometimes you get a good one, but mostly they are wonky.

I had a crap one as well before my repeat A/S but she really was unprofessional she spelled my name wrong and she didn't even ask if my DH was there to come in etc. she didn't get half the measurements she needed and didn't try (they usually shake or poke you or have you walk around).

esalyi

Lanibee:

Your experience is very similar to my A/S with our DD, ours was done at our OB office after we left I was so pissed off I called the office and complained ( I needed to call them anyway because the tech couldn?t get all the pictures so we needed to come back)  I told them how I left not knowing if everything was ok with our child and if she was developing correctly.  They apologized to me and booked me with a better u/s tech for the follow up visit.  The better tech was amazing answered our questions and showed us everything!

In hindsight I think it was good that I did complain because I noticed the tech was no longer working there by the time I returned from maternity leave, and they've replaced her with a wonderful tech who did my N/T scan this time around and she is amazing.

Um techs are NOT supposed to be telling you if things are ok and if your baby is developing correctly, the doctors do that. And you dont' find that out til the next appointment if nothing is wrong. So I don't see what is wrong with your scenario. They are not allowed to diagnose. What if she told you everything was fine and it wasnt?

 

esalyi

PinkLily1234:

I'm sorry you had a crappy experience!  Why would they not allow your DH in the room?  I would be so mad about that alone. 

If you are still feeling disappointed in a few weeks, you could consider doing an elective 3D ultrasound.  Then run about $100 in my area.  It's not a medical test at all and is purely for your enjoyment so the tech there should be much more relaxed and give you the profile shots and viewing time you missed out on. 

 

Most places do not allow the DH to come in until after all the measurements are done. This is a medical procedure not just for fun for you and your DH. They usually get everything, make sure something isn't totally wonky and call your DH in to see the baby and learn the gender etc. That's standard practice at all the places I've ever been to.

blindvictory

esalyi:

PinkLily1234:

I'm sorry you had a crappy experience!  Why would they not allow your DH in the room?  I would be so mad about that alone. 

If you are still feeling disappointed in a few weeks, you could consider doing an elective 3D ultrasound.  Then run about $100 in my area.  It's not a medical test at all and is purely for your enjoyment so the tech there should be much more relaxed and give you the profile shots and viewing time you missed out on. 

 

Most places do not allow the DH to come in until after all the measurements are done. This is a medical procedure not just for fun for you and your DH. They usually get everything, make sure something isn't totally wonky and call your DH in to see the baby and learn the gender etc. That's standard practice at all the places I've ever been to.

I'm having our baby with one of the best hospitals in the South, at Vanderbilt. And based on what you're saying, the medical staff around where you're from must really suck. 

Both of my ultrasounds with Vandy have been top notch. DH was in the room the ENTIRE time. Not only did both techs have great, gentle natures, they thoroughly explained everything that they were allowed to explain. We watched the entire ultrasound on our own monitor mounted on the wall, and they also included a DVD of the whole thing after our anatomy scan. You're right, the a/s is for them to get measurements and make sure things are fine with your baby, but that doesn't mean that they have to be detached and/or rude. There's zero reason to not allow someone's husband or SO into the room. What's he going to do, play with the machine? It was really comforting having my husband in the room, because they did spot a couple things out of the ordinary and I wasn't ALONE when I spotted stuff myself on the screen. 

Just my two cents.  

Jams1002

I'm having our baby with one of the best hospitals in the South, at Vanderbilt. And based on what you're saying, the medical staff around where you're from must really suck. 

Both of my ultrasounds with Vandy have been top notch. DH was in the room the ENTIRE time. Not only did both techs have great, gentle natures, they thoroughly explained everything that they were allowed to explain. We watched the entire ultrasound on our own monitor mounted on the wall, and they also included a DVD of the whole thing after our anatomy scan. You're right, the a/s is for them to get measurements and make sure things are fine with your baby, but that doesn't mean that they have to be detached and/or rude. There's zero reason to not allow someone's husband or SO into the room. What's he going to do, play with the machine? It was really comforting having my husband in the room, because they did spot a couple things out of the ordinary and I wasn't ALONE when I spotted stuff myself on the screen. 

Just my two cents.  

 WOW. That sounds incredible. I knew going in that my experience wouldn't be like that but yes you're right, would it have killed her to crack a smile or point out the heartbeat and a couple other things? I'm not asking to be worshipped or anything just because I'm pregnant, but she knew full well that I'm a FTM; I don't see how it would have made her day worse to show some kindness.

Lanibee

blindvictory:

esalyi:

PinkLily1234:

I'm sorry you had a crappy experience!  Why would they not allow your DH in the room?  I would be so mad about that alone. 

If you are still feeling disappointed in a few weeks, you could consider doing an elective 3D ultrasound.  Then run about $100 in my area.  It's not a medical test at all and is purely for your enjoyment so the tech there should be much more relaxed and give you the profile shots and viewing time you missed out on. 

 

Most places do not allow the DH to come in until after all the measurements are done. This is a medical procedure not just for fun for you and your DH. They usually get everything, make sure something isn't totally wonky and call your DH in to see the baby and learn the gender etc. That's standard practice at all the places I've ever been to.

I'm having our baby with one of the best hospitals in the South, at Vanderbilt. And based on what you're saying, the medical staff around where you're from must really suck. 

Both of my ultrasounds with Vandy have been top notch. DH was in the room the ENTIRE time. Not only did both techs have great, gentle natures, they thoroughly explained everything that they were allowed to explain. We watched the entire ultrasound on our own monitor mounted on the wall, and they also included a DVD of the whole thing after our anatomy scan. You're right, the a/s is for them to get measurements and make sure things are fine with your baby, but that doesn't mean that they have to be detached and/or rude. There's zero reason to not allow someone's husband or SO into the room. What's he going to do, play with the machine? It was really comforting having my husband in the room, because they did spot a couple things out of the ordinary and I wasn't ALONE when I spotted stuff myself on the screen. 

Just my two cents.  

I am 100% with BV on everything she said especially the bold parts

I don't know where you are going but my DH has in the U/S room the whole time while we were doing measurements as well.  I think we are all clear here that the A/S scan is about measuring and checking your child over, but there is no reason a tech cannot answer questions or at least tell you the measurements and so forth.  I also would be outraged if they found something didn't say anything and we just had to wait to see a Dr until sometime at our next appointment.  Really?

 

FirstTimer02

Our ultrasound had sad results, it ended with a high likelihood of a fatal genetic illness (kiddo might not survive past birth).  We had a second ultrasound that day that was also very emotional since they were trying to diagnose.

 However, the best thing about that day was seeing our little guy swim around.  Even though it was sad, it was like we got to meet him and spend the day with him.  We asked for pictures of him and they gave us some!

At the 2nd ultrasound, they asked us if we wanted to see, if we wanted the monitor on.  I think sometimes medical personnel are afraid it will be "difficult" for the parents or we'll get attached.  To me it's already difficult and we're already attached, and we just wanted the chance to meet him, even if we don't get to keep him.  I was very grateful that the medical personnel respected that.

In my opinion, it is your kiddo, your health, and your call.  They are there to help and support You.  If they don't respect that, maybe you can find another provider for ultrasounds, if you wish.