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January 2016 Moms
SunshineBaby26
member
Anyone Else Extremely Disappointed with Their 20 Week Ultrasound?
SunshineBaby26
member
Is anyone else extremely disappointed with their 20 week ultrasound?
I'm not sure if I just chalked it up to be such a glorious event, that I let myself down, or if it was really supposed to go over so poorly.
When I was called into my appointment, things started off normal, and I was laying down while she examined my baby, but then things took a turn for the worse. The baby seemed to be hiding, so I had to pee twice and lay on my side for half of the appointment... Which really didn't help and was completely unusual for my baby as he/she has usually been extremely cooperative during all of my appointments.
But further, the technician wouldn't show me anything during the ultrasound, or talk to me about my baby other than to get me to move (again very unusual and felt really cold compared to my last ultrasounds).
My baby's dad wasn't aloud in the room until the very end (3 minutes out of the 45 I was there), in which time she showed us just the limbs and head (not whole body) and made a failed attempt to show us the sex (as the baby's legs were crossed!)
And finally, she didn't take any pictures worth showing to my family. Top of the head, close up which is too blurry to see, and then a hand here or a foot there.
I'm extremely disappointed as I thought this was supposed to be an exciting time to meet my baby and see how he/she is doing. I didn't think it was supposed to feel like an alien examination.
The only result that actually came from this ultrasound, is a possible c-cection (just another bad experience that came from this), and to repeat in 7 weeks.
Did anyone else feel this way during their appointment, or did I just have really bad luck with my technician?
I'm not sure if I just chalked it up to be such a glorious event, that I let myself down, or if it was really supposed to go over so poorly.
When I was called into my appointment, things started off normal, and I was laying down while she examined my baby, but then things took a turn for the worse. The baby seemed to be hiding, so I had to pee twice and lay on my side for half of the appointment... Which really didn't help and was completely unusual for my baby as he/she has usually been extremely cooperative during all of my appointments.
But further, the technician wouldn't show me anything during the ultrasound, or talk to me about my baby other than to get me to move (again very unusual and felt really cold compared to my last ultrasounds).
My baby's dad wasn't aloud in the room until the very end (3 minutes out of the 45 I was there), in which time she showed us just the limbs and head (not whole body) and made a failed attempt to show us the sex (as the baby's legs were crossed!)
And finally, she didn't take any pictures worth showing to my family. Top of the head, close up which is too blurry to see, and then a hand here or a foot there.
I'm extremely disappointed as I thought this was supposed to be an exciting time to meet my baby and see how he/she is doing. I didn't think it was supposed to feel like an alien examination.
The only result that actually came from this ultrasound, is a possible c-cection (just another bad experience that came from this), and to repeat in 7 weeks.
Did anyone else feel this way during their appointment, or did I just have really bad luck with my technician?
Re: Anyone Else Extremely Disappointed with Their 20 Week Ultrasound?
Furthermore, a lot of ultrasound techs DON'T say anything because they are not our doctors, if anything were wrong, they aren't supposed to voice it to the patient. Instead they send it to the doctor to examine for themselves, and your office would call you. So other than the tech not being overly friendly, sounds about normal. Ours was friendly enough, but still didn't talk much, even though she had a trainee/student with her.
I usually am not bothered by redundant posts, but do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with the board. I am genuinely sorry that you had a bad experience, but remember it could have been much worse. Also, you just need to roll with it, and make yourself an appointment at one of those 3D imaging places or something....
My first U/s went similar to yours where the technician would not say anything, didn't allow anybody inside even for one min and didn't even turn the monitor towards me.
After that I made sure I booked a better technician and the experiences have been so much better.
Although a technician isn't your doctor - there is nothing wrong to expect them to talk to you or reassure you..
Also, this whole argument that other people have it much worse is getting too much.. It's like saying you don't get to complain abt anything here unless it's serious health issue.
I hope u get someone better next time ..
If you want an ultrasound with a more recreational feel, there are ultrasound boutiques specifically for that.
Doctor or not, the tech is specifically taking pictures of certain parts. While with DD it wasn't ideal due to horrific head on pictures of her face (talk about creepy skeleton face! But she's cute now so it's ok haha!) the tech still told us what they were taking a picture of and what they're looking for with each measurement. I found it really interesting to learn about what's all in there. Your baby, your body- they should cue you in!
Once again, sorry to all you ladies who had techs with bland etiquette and social skills.
She was great telling me what we were looking at and says looks like its a girl. After appt reception gives me 1 u/s pic which i have no clue if its a bottom shot of genital area or weird shot of the head.
Frustrating thing is i know she got really amazing clear shots of baby and i'm stuck with some blurry round image.
Anyways mid next week will be having my 1st obgyn appt and u/s scan so hopefully he gives me really good shots.
I understand ur frustration and dr should be talking u through it and no reason why ur partner should not be allowed in. Mind that, my hubby was busy on his phone dealing with work bank stuff as he's a banker and didn't look at dr and baby on the screen. I didn't even get to hear a heartbeat this appt too...
And most of the people bashing, just assumed that everything went well, and that I'm still complaining, but that's not how it went at all. I did get a call from my doctor the next day, and no things are not all peachy. I don't know where everyone else is from, but where I am from, your 20 week ultrasound is the last time you get to see your baby before its born. Ultrasounds are covered by health care for medical purposes, so if nothing is wrong, you don't get another one. I however do have to have another one because I was one of those mothers who got the bad news.
But that's not the point of my post. The point is that this is a very magical time in a family's life. Family is becoming whole and growing, and whether something is wrong with my baby or not I still love him or her to death and I want to cherish every second I have with my child.
That being said, the technician could have been more friendly. She is as someone said, just a technician and not my doctor, and so would it hurt for her to say "congradulations on the baby, but it looks like it's being a stubborn one today?" Rather than nothing at all? Or maybe explaining to us why my partner wasn't aloud in the room instead of just shutting him out. I can understand medical stuff, if you tell me. I can't understand a mute.
Further I have had ultrasounds from the start because of complications, and it's just a little disappointing that the last time I thought I was going to see my baby, he/she decided not to cooperate.
I'm not saying everything should always be rainbows and butterflies, but I am saying I am disappointed. Am I not aloud to be disappointed as a first time excited parent?
I think you're being dramatic and overly sensitive and need to chill out. The magic comes once the baby is here. Most of pregnancy and associated appointments feel like an alien probing, just wait until the magic of having your cervix checked every hour by 8 different people.
Since now you're telling us that the tech found complications it would explain why she was so quiet. This is, above all a medical scan and if she is seeing something that isn't right she will be very quiet. It isn't the techs place to tell you that things aren't right. They are not radiologists who have advanced training. That is for your doctor to discuss with you.
I'm sorry that it wasn't the experience you'd hoped for and they found something bad at the scan. If you don't mind me asking, what did the doctor say?
I think your expectations are off. You were thinking this would be a magical experience and you were meeting your baby. This is a diagnostic medical test. Especially if something is found (I'm guessing placenta prévia by your post), the techs job is to do the best scan they can. It's not meant to be a rainbow experience.
Again, if you would like the rainbow experience, go to a boutique. Their job is to give you warm fuzzies, not check on the health of your child.
Your insurance pays for the medical work up. It isn't a medical professionals job to let you see your baby etc. Most people do not get a scan after 20 weeks unless it's medically necessary. That's standard of care, not just where you are from.
But like PPs said, that's not the point of the a/s anyway. It actually sounds like your tech did everything they could to get the best pictures, having you empty your bladder multiple times and change positions. The baby didn't cooperate and they have a schedule to stick to, other patients to see. Please try to understand the bigger picture before you start taking things personally.
And for goodness' sake, if it's that important to know the sex of your baby before birth go pay for an elective ultrasound.
Eta sorry to hear things are "not peachy" with your baby, I hope the further ultrasounds/consults you have will bring you and your provider better understanding of the situation.
If by support you were looking for everyone to agree with you and tell you you were right then that's not how the board works.
I hope whatever is wrong resolves itself and maybe at your next scan it will go better.
Mediocre service? It sounds like the tech did a lot to get the baby to cooperate by having OP empty her bladder and change positions. It's certainly not the tech's fault that the baby was in a difficult position. As lots of PPs have stated, lots of times the tech isn't chatty because they are, you know, trying to do their job. They are medical professionals, not cruise directors.
As for being left in the dark, many, many women on this board have had to wait a week or two to even discuss anything about their ultrasound with their OB. This is not out of the ordinary.
You can't call BS if you weren't there. My first 20 week scan with my boys was cold. She took the necessary pictures needed for the anatomy scan, and sent them to my OB, where he explained everything to me. Sometimes the technicians cannot talk about the scan, and can only give you what they are allowed to say.
My second one was great, she showed me everything. The anatomy scan is normally 40-45 min long, and how long was the OP planning on having her family watch the baby float around? There are other appointments, and people waiting. If she saw the baby was healthy and moving around, then she should be happy. You can't make the baby take a good picture for the technician... if the baby is active, you get what you get. Mine was moving around a lot and the pictures I got were blurry. BUT that means it was moving around so I should be happy.
Op, I'm sorry your tech was cold and you didn't have a great scan. My tech is very warm and talkative and tells me what she's taking pictures and measurements of the whole time and I would hate if I felt like I was there in silence the whole time. As for not allowing DH in the room, what a bummer. My husband loves going to U/S with me and it's great for him to see baby move when she's still too small for him to see or feel physically. It's a great connector for him, so I would be disappointed too if he couldn't come into the room. I know the 20 week AS is a medical screening, but it is amazing to see your baby for such an extended amount of time, and like pp said, for some women it's the last one until birth. I hope your next scan goes better and I hope you and all the other moms on this board have good scan results and healthy babies.
This isn't so much directed at you OP as its directed at some of these responders but..
A MEDICAL EVALUATION IS NOT A SERVICE. I cannot emphasize this enough. NOWHERE in a techs job description does it say "must be good with people". Sorry. Is it nice when you get a tech who is personable? Yes. Is it the standard against which we measure all other techs? No.
I went to the DMV yesterday to renew my license. Would it have been nice to have a cheery front desk person take my picture? Sure.
I could tell on initial observation that our tech at our AS was a naturally shy person. Did I expect her to be excited or gregarious in her exam? Absolutely not. 80% of our scan was silent. At times she had to work a little to get the baby to cooperate. But she did a thorough exam and explained what she was looking for. Might've been a little underwhelming but I don't care. I got to see glimpses of the little girl who I'll soon know and hold the rest of my life, and as my DH saidwhen I asked why he didn't show any emotion during the appointment "shadowy images of my daughter are fine as long as she's healthy, but all I care about is getting to hold her in person in 20 weeks"
Married: 7.23.11
DD:10.17.12
EDD #2!:1.17.16
Yes your pregnancy is special for you and your loved ones, but it's the day in the life of an ultrasound tech. Imagine how many ultrasounds they do in a daily basis.
I agree that if you want to guarantee the warm and fuzzy movie feeling, find a boutique. And, you never know, maybe the ultrasound you have in 7 weeks will be more of the experience you're looking for.