Pressing On Belly - How Much Is too Much? 2 part question

[gummibears]

I had my first exam with a totally new doctor last week and he really pressed pretty hard on tummy (and during pelvic exam) it rather HURT! How much is too much for pressing on tummy in terms of harming baby?

DH has been pressing his ear up against tummy to listen for heartbeat and tells me he feels it move sometimes. I've been trying last 2 nights to feel it as well (reassurance needed post vax) and haven't felt nothing. I don't believe that'd hurt it, though would it? I've been doing it not hard with medium pressure and usually with a flat palm no fingers digging into belly. No pain doing this I'm more gentle just incase - which is likely why I'm not feeling nuttin. LOL

None of that would harm it, though, right? Because of the fluid and such padding, correct?

[Youngfrankenstein]

Baby is very, very protected. But if it hurts you, you should speak up. When the mw was feeling the baby, it was uncomfortable but not painful. I would have told her.

It always made dh uncomfortable to watch me palpate but he never saw mw do it!

[gummibears]

That's kinda what I thought, and I know they know what they are doing.. and believe me I let him know I was in discomfort with cringing and ows. LOL.

As for me, I was much gentler, as I have no clue what I'm doing, but I guess I'll let DH do the monitoring for me to be safe, though I'm positive all's well. erring on the side of caution and all. Soon there will be an u/s just have to wait on a callback to schedule it.

[WifeofAnt]

I'd be a little more iffy on if it was painful but as long as you're not hurting yourself the bubs is probably fine. I actually push on mine all the time now trying to figure out what position he's in.

[gummibears]

I have had mild cramping but that was an hour afterward and I had it in 2 different spots - same intensity and all - and one of those spots I didn't press on. It's just your normal growing pains.

As for when doctor pressed I did have a full bladder, so I'm guessing that added some discomfort.

[macandcheese]

Originally Posted by Youngfrankenstein

It always made dh uncomfortable to watch me palpate but he never saw mw do it!

LOL, mine too. He's always like, "Hey! Stop pressing so hard! What if you're smashing its face?!"

[gummibears]

LOL Smashing it's face? Reminds me of something a friend's friend told her. She was a bit further than I am now and she'd keep poking baby to make it move off her bladder. The friend said she's going to give it brain damage if she keeps doing that!

As for DH only time you can catch him cringing is the time you let him view a pelvic exam and PAP. OMG he cringed and it was my FIRST EVER PAP that year. I'm like gee, you make me feel better things are going well. Sheesh.

Many times since I've learned why it's the women that bear the children, LOL.