every 4 week ultrasounds just because I'm fat :0)

[Snacks]

it is 'hard to locate and feel for the fundas of overweight women'

That gives me the impression the dr is pretty underskilled. I'd be suggesting that even though it might be slightly tricky that he gives it a try. What a tosser.
I've heard a couple of my friends say their drs/mws didn't really bother much with fundal height anyway.

[Megsy181011]

I am not overweight, 23 weeks pregnant 70kg and 179cm and have had a scan every 4 weeks since I was 6-7 weeks pregnant - I actually had one scan at my OB. and the detailed scan 5 days later. He scans me everytime and did 14 years ago with my baby girl.

Me 34 DH 43

Miss Gabby 11/12/97

DUE 10/10/11

[~*Niadalla*~]

Yep they forced me into this too. Non complicated pregnancies, no GD.
They did eventually use the 'abnormalities' found on both of my children's morph scans as their excuse, but it was mainly for weight (which is what they told me).
I didn't mind too much. I had the scans, my kids grew perfectly I had uncomplicated relatively drug free (a little bit of gas) Vaginal births with no post partum complications. It was kind of good to 'stick it to the man' when they couldn't find anything wrong. It was all it felt like they were doing with me.... trying to find something wrong with me because someone of my size should not have such easy pregnancies and births.

If you really don't like the idea of so many scans, talk to them about it. Tell them that you'll have a scan every 8 weeks maybe? There's not alot to do to get OB's off your back... because all they know about every single overweight pregnant person is what is written in all their text books. We all get GD we all have High BP we all have c/s and all because of our weight because we are ridiculously unhealthy people who are a burden on the health care system and should not have gotten pregnant in the first place. I know it happens, but it would be nice if they could treat EVERYONE on a case by case basis.

I hope you have a wonderful pregnancy!!

[[M]umma[M]ia]

omgoodness... every 4 weeks.. how absurd. I would be voicing my concerns to your OB and see if it can be changed to every 2 months or something. Ive never heard of anything like that.. unreal.

[8weeks]

I'm going in for tons of ultrasounds for high risk stuff..but if it was a normal kinda pregnancy and being overweight is the only issue..probably wouldn't be able to make some of those ultrasounds

[Traveller]

Good on ya! I was offered a heap of scans with my twins but only agreed to one (after my first at 21 weeks when the twins were discovered). They were pretty happy once they knew I had made an informed decision, more surprised that I didn't want to see the babies at every opportunity Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy

[~*Kat*~]

I am obese too and have never heard of that. If ur uncomfortable I would be getting another opinion.
I had lots of scans with DS cos I had a condition during pregnancy that ment I had HUGE amounts of amniotic fluid so my DS needed monitoring.

[WannabeMum]

I'm glad you stuck to your guns - it's hard to do that sometimes! I'm overweight, and bigger than when I had DS. My Ob has never weighed me, never asked me my weight, never commented on size (most of my fat is on my hips and thighs, but I was close to 90kg when I got pg), never said anything about birthing choices (even though DS was an emergency c/s) and never suggested extra scans. He only ever occasionally uses the doppler (usually just listens with a stethoscope), and can easily feel fundal height. As someone else suggested - it's about doctor/midwife skills rather than anything else if you ask me! Also, do they see birth as something to be "managed" or a natural process that they're assisting with? Thankfully my Ob is the latter.

[StrawberryFields]

I've been having them every 4 weeks since I was 8 weeks pg and after the next one we'll be on fortnightly visits and scans. I thought it was because I'm having twins but the OB said its just the way they do things up here - the hospital and private OBs apparently all operate the same way. It helps with prevention and research into miscarriage and loss if they know whats going on at regular intervals during the pregnancy, and they can nip any problems in the bud nice and early. Tbh, if I wasn't having them that regularly I'd be freaking out not knowing how things were progressing!

I don't see how its a bad thing, he's probably being over cautious but then what if he wasn't and did miss something? I do think it was very rude of him to say its because of your weight when he could've just said thats the new policy for everyone, very, very tactless indeed! Can you get him to agree to just a doppler or something if you're concerned about exposure?

[toomanyshoes]

I've been having them every 4 weeks since I was 8 weeks pg and after the next one we'll be on fortnightly visits and scans. I thought it was because I'm having twins but the OB said its just the way they do things up here - the hospital and private OBs apparently all operate the same way. It helps with prevention and research into miscarriage and loss if they know whats going on at regular intervals during the pregnancy, and they can nip any problems in the bud nice and early. Tbh, if I wasn't having them that regularly I'd be freaking out not knowing how things were progressing!

I don't see how its a bad thing, he's probably being over cautious but then what if he wasn't and did miss something? I do think it was very rude of him to say its because of your weight when he could've just said thats the new policy for everyone, very, very tactless indeed! Can you get him to agree to just a doppler or something if you're concerned about exposure?

Must be a new thing for townsville because both private OB's I saw there didn't scan me every 4 weeks.

[StrawberryFields]

Tms - Yeah he said its only been a new change this year, I think its a trial type thing to see how people go with it, like how many people take issue etc. But one of the other army wives who's pg at the moment said the TGH let her opt for dopplers instead because she wasn't comfortable with the exposure, so its not something they're being super strict about.

[Cranky Kitten]

My ob (private) hasn't said anything to me about having to be scanned every time I see him - he usually offers though if I want one, we skipped the NT test and have been advised an additional detailed scan will be needed at 30 weeks due to bub showing signs of possible pyloric stenosis on my 19 week scan.

All he's said about my weight (and I am pretty big) is that he doesn't want me to gain any and it would be good for me and bub if I can try and lose a little but not to go crazy. He really doesn't seem that fazed by it.

[delphmoon]

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses. I have thought alot about it today and I have decided I will only have the 34 week one and thats it.

I want as minimal interventions as possible and just don't see the point in all these scans...

This whole experience has made me feel like a fat old whale to be honest and I am embarrassed to even have DH come to the appointments with me because I am scared they are going to talk about my weight all the time...Maybe its just pg hormones but the whole situatoion has got me feeling down

Thanks for your responses guys

[starligh1]

Tms - Yeah he said its only been a new change this year, I think its a trial type thing to see how people go with it, like how many people take issue etc. But one of the other army wives who's pg at the moment said the TGH let her opt for dopplers instead because she wasn't comfortable with the exposure, so its not something they're being super strict about.

Hi , I would be questioning the whole 'new policy' thing for Townsville. I am in my 18th week of pregnancy with my 4th child in Townsville and have had a 6 week dating scan, the 12 week downs scan and am due to get my last (19 week scan) next week. I have always had two or three scans in all of my pregnancies in Townsville too

[delphmoon]

I met with my midwife today and told her I would be refusing the 28, 32 and 40 week scan- but I will do the 36 week one.

I also refused to be weighed and have my BMI calculated and recalculated everytime I visit as I find it demeaning and embarrassing when all they want to do is refer to me as bariatric and obese and talk about BMI etc ALL THE TIME I don't want to be humiliated in front of my husband.

I am the same size as I was when pg with DD. No diabetes...fit and healthy.

Anyway- they can shove their policies. I'm not an idiot. Pfft to them!!!

[mel_cur]

Good on ya!!!

[Miss.B]

Good on you hun!!!!!!! Tell them to bugger off

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Woohooo, well done hunni I tried to give you rep points for that but im not allowed just yet.


I had a conversation with a good mate of mine and his wife is going through the same thing!! Shes in Geelong. Ive told him he doesnt need to do that etc but its their first kid, so they are kind of doing what they are told. I feel for them