Is this normal - ultrasound piccy

**Tieko** · 28-05-2010 20:20

Well I had an ultrasound today due to bubs heartbeat not being able to be detected with a doppler (I'm 16 weeks) and the first thing I noticed was that my placenta looked HUGE!! The sonographer said that she thought I was having a braxton hicks contraction which was pushing the placenta up - but it stayed like that for the entire scan??? Poor bubby looked so squashed in there!! Is it normal for the placenta to squash them up so much and look so big and round? It looked like the bub was balancing on a massive ball lol! Also how long do braxton hicks contractions last for? I thought it was only supposed to be a few minutes? Should I bring it up with the doctor or do you think it's completely normal for a placenta to look that big? Here is the piccy:

Placenta and squished up bub

**NonnyMouse** · 28-05-2010 20:23

I haven't seen anything like that, but I'm sure if it was worth worrying about they would have made a note of it for your doc to see.

It looks mighty uncomfy though!

**overitand36** · 28-05-2010 20:27

sorry I just don't get it how sonographers can leave an appointment with such an unanswered question

you are obviously worried would have been a lot better if all your concerns where addressed at the time on the day or you where referred for follow up if needed

**Mischief** · 28-05-2010 20:27

Im sure if it was abnormal, you would have been able to tell.

Call your doctor first thing Monday and ask if the results were all clear, or do you need to see her.

Your baby is beautiful!

**Hollywood** · 28-05-2010 20:37

It is big, yes, but the Dr is trained to look for abnormalities and I'm sure they would have said if they were concerned. As long as the placenta is healthy and keeping bub growing and healthy, I'm sure there's nothing to worry about.

Better to have a big one than a small one! Someone I know had a very low birth weight baby (2kg at 37 weeks, induced and birthed then, to commence helping bub grow quicker on the outside) and when the placenta was birthed it was apparently really small.

**Tieko** · 28-05-2010 20:46

She did mention it as soon as she saw it - but just said I must be having a braxton hicks, and asked if I could feel anything (I couldn't), and then at the end she asked if I was going back to see my doctor today. The dotors were closed by the time I finished with the scan, but perhaps I should bring it up when I go anyway, just to put my mind at ease. But I agree - it just looks SO uncomfortable

**LnW** · 28-05-2010 20:55

all of my ultrasounds have looked like that and at my 12week one i asked about it and he said it was just a contraction of the uterus muscle as opposed to it being the placenta. he said it was just a coincidence that it was the same on two scans.
he was a pregnancy specialist sonographer.

congrats on such awesome news. wat a stressful arvo!!!!! how wonderful u got to c bubs!!!!!!!!

**LFurness** · 29-05-2010 00:08

Originally Posted by Tieko

She did mention it as soon as she saw it - but just said I must be having a braxton hicks, and asked if I could feel anything (I couldn't), and then at the end she asked if I was going back to see my doctor today. The dotors were closed by the time I finished with the scan, but perhaps I should bring it up when I go anyway, just to put my mind at ease. But I agree - it just looks SO uncomfortable

I think the ultrasound ppl generally aren't allowed to give you information anymore, even though most do. I would ring up the dr's surgery tomorrow and ask about it. But if she said that you must be having BH then safe bet is you are. Sometimes mine can last forever its seems like maybe 20 mins(just the tighting of the stomach).