The Appointment Thread - Page 2

[amyrobynne]

I had my 22 week prenatal on Monday (I last went at 16w and next go at 28w, then they're every 2w after that). I found out that my favorite midwife quit to work closer to her house -- I don't blame her, I wouldn't deal with an hour commute either. I don't dislike the other 2 midwives, I had just connected the most with the other.

The midwife was just as surprised as I was that the u/s tech wasn't very forthcoming on the baby's sex. She later called the radiology dept to see if they could tell us anything more, but nope. Boo.

My weight is up 9 lbs (which is on track or slightly less than my 2nd pregnancy, less than my first). I tend to gain close to 15 lbs between weeks 20-30, so if I can stick to one pound a week for that time, I'll be happy. I gained 35 lbs with preg #1 and 30 lbs with preg #2, but started preg #2 5 pounds less, so my highest weight was 10 lbs higher with preg #1 than preg #2. I started this pregnancy just under my preg #2 weight. I'd love to stick to 25-30 lbs gained this time to see if I can get a baby under 9 lbs and not tear so badly. I had winter third trimesters before so it should be easier to be active towards the end.

My b/p was 100/52, which was pretty standard or slightly higher than usual for me.

I brought my 4 year old for the first time. I thought he'd enjoy hearing the h/b (he got to push the doppler button and everything) and I knew it would be a short appt. I did the GTT at 16w and will again at 28w because I had 9+ lb babies.

I was measuring 24cm at 22w3d and the baby is lying transverse-ish, cradled sideways for now. I'm definitely feeling bigger kicks and big lumps of body parts now. The heartrate was in the 160's.

She suggested prenatal swimming when I mentioned that my tailbone and hips are getting wonky. I think I might look into seeing a chiropractor -- my first baby was positioned poorly and it made labor so much harder. If my joints can get back into position and labor go smoother, that's worth it to me.

[LindsayK]

Originally Posted by LZP

I might also go to a LLL meeting on the 28th in the morning. For some reason I'm intimidated to go there alone, but dont have a buddy to drag along. I'll go to work late that day.

Maybe I'll add in the appts we have to interview peds if I get around to making them...

If I were you, I'd ask the moms/leader at the LL for pedi recommendations. At the very least, they will tell you who in the area is BF supportive, and moms there tend to be a little more on the crunchy side, too.

[LindsayK]

My next appointment with my OB is Thursday 4/22.

My mom is coming, too, to meet the dr. I need to find out when my OB is going on summer vacation - she hadn't planned it yet when I asked. She works with only 1 midwife, and I like her a lot (I think she had both her kids at home) so even if I don't have my OB there when I deliver, I am ok with that.

Is it just me, or are your appointments really short? I really don't have any questions. Things are going well, and if I have questions in between appointments, I do my research, and don't have much to ask when I get there. In a couple of appointments, I'll start going through what I see the birth experience to be like, so we're all on the same page, but for now, there's not much to do other than pee in a cup, and listen to the heartbeat!

[amyrobynne]

Originally Posted by LindsayK

Is it just me, or are your appointments really short? I really don't have any questions. Things are going well, and if I have questions in between appointments, I do my research, and don't have much to ask when I get there. In a couple of appointments, I'll start going through what I see the birth experience to be like, so we're all on the same page, but for now, there's not much to do other than pee in a cup, and listen to the heartbeat!

When I met with a homebirth midwife for my previous pregnancies, appts lasted 30-45 min. They had a ton of stuff they'd ask about my diet, exercise, various symptoms -- just going through the list would take 20 min. We'd also do weight, pee stick tests, hemoglobin stick sometimes, and then talk about things on my mind.

My CNM appts have been at least 15 minutes with the CNM, up to 45 when there's a lot to do or if I'm having complications to deal with.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by LindsayK

Is it just me, or are your appointments really short? I really don't have any questions. Things are going well, and if I have questions in between appointments, I do my research, and don't have much to ask when I get there. In a couple of appointments, I'll start going through what I see the birth experience to be like, so we're all on the same page, but for now, there's not much to do other than pee in a cup, and listen to the heartbeat!

My appts. are all 45-60 minutes. We talk about all kinds of things: birth, breast-feeding, parenting, how I'm feeling, etc. The appts. are also in my living room, so that helps!

[MissMorgan]

Mine are like 5-10 minutes max!!!! I weight myself, check my urine and report the results to them, get my blood pressure taken, get asked if I have any questions (and get one word answers mostly.. so I have been just researching on my own if I need to know something right away) and then we do the doppler. Seriously, that's it. I'm so doing a homebirth for baby number 2.. when I have more money!

[limette]

Mine are all short as well. They schedule the appointment for about an hour but in 4 pregnancies I've needed the hour.

There just isn't anything to say. They check my blood pressure, fundus and baby's heartbeat. Ask me how I'm feeling. Doesn't take long.

[Taylah]

Had my growth ultrasound yesterday - the baby is measuring just the tiniest bit big - I pointed out my husband was a 10lb 3oz baby so it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that this child would be larger.

They are scheduling me for another GTT at my next appointment in May (blah) I passed the last one with flying colors, I don't want to do another! Are there other options rather than drinking that nasty stuff, waiting an hour and doing a blood draw?

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by Taylah

They are scheduling me for another GTT at my next appointment in May (blah) I passed the last one with flying colors, I don't want to do another! Are there other options rather than drinking that nasty stuff, waiting an hour and doing a blood draw?

Why in the world are they having you do it again? There are much more reliable ways to check for GD such as a 24 hour urine catch or testing your blood sugars after eating over the course of a couple of days. If you are showing signs that you have GD (which a baby measuring slightly big isn't one IMO) then I would definitely opt for one of those options over the drinking stuff option. If you do a search in the I'm Pregnant forum you can probably find lots of threads about the false positives and other problems women have with the GTT test.

[JamieFay]

Originally Posted by LindsayK

My next appointment with my OB is Thursday 4/22.


Is it just me, or are your appointments really short? I really don't have any questions. Things are going well, and if I have questions in between appointments, I do my research, and don't have much to ask when I get there. In a couple of appointments, I'll start going through what I see the birth experience to be like, so we're all on the same page, but for now, there's not much to do other than pee in a cup, and listen to the heartbeat!

When I saw an OB practice I'd wait for sometimes 2 hours for about 3 minutes with a doctor. I did my own research and stuff, too. In a way it was good because I've educated myself about pregnancy...which is what lead me to midwives this time around.

Now my appts are as long or as short as I want them to be. If I have impatient children, they'll run through the checklist really quickly and let me go. If I wanted to skip a month, they'd be ok with that, too. Usually I go in and very leisurely go through a checklist where the ask me about my diet, exercise, stress, strange symptoms, etc. Then we kind of sit around and laugh and talk until my kids get impatient. Sometimes that can be 20 minutes, sometimes 30-40. Even 20 seems long because it's such focused one on one time. I love it <3

[Fruitful4Him]

Chiming in, (what a great thread idea!). My last appointment was about a week ago, at 23 weeks. Just a month earlier I had measured below my belly button...but merely a month later my fundal height had exploded. The dr. measured 30 cm!!! He chuckled when I asked if this huge measurement was because I had some extra pudge He replied that he just attributed it to my overly generous uterus knowing just what to do after 6 pregnancies. He is pretty great

I started weekly chiro visits again due to some aches and discomforts. My chiro also has several massage therapists on staff and I am very thankful insurance covers this as part of my prenatal care. My last baby was breech and I am wanting to do what I can to have things alligned to allow baby to do what he needs to do for the birth.

I think I finally have a friend who is willing to commit to being my doula for this birth. I know it isn't necessary...but it is sure nice.

[Taylah]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

Why in the world are they having you do it again? There are much more reliable ways to check for GD such as a 24 hour urine catch or testing your blood sugars after eating over the course of a couple of days. If you are showing signs that you have GD (which a baby measuring slightly big isn't one IMO) then I would definitely opt for one of those options over the drinking stuff option. If you do a search in the I'm Pregnant forum you can probably find lots of threads about the false positives and other problems women have with the GTT test.

No clue why..

My test results on 12/29/09
Glucose 1h post dose
Your Value 116
Standard Range < 131 mg/dL

The only possible reasons I can think of they may want to test again...my mother has diabetes (adult onset) & I started out the pregnancy overweight (though I've only gained 5lbs at 24 weeks). (but don't most overweight women have slightly larger babies? And my husband is 6'3 and well over 300lbs so he's a big guy too.)

I did a 24 hour urine catch on 3/16-17 to establish some baselines (at my March appt my blood pressure was up a little and she said she didn't want me to get caught up in pre-E hysteria later on) and it was perfect but I'm not sure exactly what they tested for (creatinine, AST, Uric Acid, CBC were the names of the results they reported to me).

I may decline it - I haven't declined anything yet so I don't know how uncomfortable it will be for me/how well the doc will accept it. Or ask if I can do the blood sugar testing over a couple days like you mentioned.

[Fruitful4Him]

Originally Posted by Taylah

No clue why..



I may decline it - I haven't declined anything yet so I don't know how uncomfortable it will be for me/how well the doc will accept it. Or ask if I can do the blood sugar testing over a couple days like you mentioned.

Oh I have a clue why....your size phobic docs are practically beggin for ANY reason to make you high risk and get you signed up for an elective induction or cesaeran. Boo for them.

[amyrobynne]

Taylah, I have a history of big babies (and wasn't tested for gestation diabetes in the past) so my CNM's are testing me at 16w and 28w, also. They told me that the way the body deals with sugar can shift at those points in pregnancy, which is the reason it is worth testing at both times for people at high risk. I got 95 at 16 weeks, so I'm not too worried about passing next time. My plan had been that if I failed the 1 hour, I'd ask to do something other than the 3 hour test -- probably testing blood sugar multiple times a day for awhile to see what my body is doing in normal life rather than as a reaction to their crazy sugary stuff.

[kimkim]

thanks for sharing your weight gains with me. i feel more normal now! i have no idea how much i'll gain but my mw says about a pound a week is fine and that seems to be the track i'm on. i'm eating more lately and am definitely popping out more, 2 people have acknowledged my belly that didn't know i was pregnant, so that says something! i have my blood draw in a few days, hopefully i'm getting my platelets back up there!

[TangoMama]

Originally Posted by Taylah

They are scheduling me for another GTT at my next appointment in May (blah) I passed the last one with flying colors, I don't want to do another! Are there other options rather than drinking that nasty stuff, waiting an hour and doing a blood draw?

I'm sorry they want to make you do the test again - that must be really stressful!

I told my MWs I didn't want to drink it, that I wanted the breakfast option instead. What you do is eat 50 grams of glucose for breakfast and then go in and have your blood drawn an hour later. My MWs have given me the following 2 options for that breakfast:

2 scrambled eggs
2 slices of whole wheat/whole grain toast
2 pats of butter/margarine
8 oz OJ
8 oz whole or skim milk
water

Or

1/2 block tofu
2 slices of whole wheat/whole grain toast
2 pats of butter/margarine
8 oz OJ
8 oz whole or skim milk
water


If you do the test, I'd definitely suggest talking to your OB/MW about this.

[limette]

I've never done the glucose test. It was never offered with dd1 and when they asked me if I wanted it with dd2, I said no, and that was that.

The only test I've had this pregnancy was the ultrasound.

[LZP]

Originally Posted by Taylah

Had my growth ultrasound yesterday - the baby is measuring just the tiniest bit big - I pointed out my husband was a 10lb 3oz baby so it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that this child would be larger.

They are scheduling me for another GTT at my next appointment in May (blah) I passed the last one with flying colors, I don't want to do another! Are there other options rather than drinking that nasty stuff, waiting an hour and doing a blood draw?

My MW gives the option of drinking 16 oz of orange juice (you have to drink it down in 5 minutes or so) or doing the 4 oz of disgusting stuff. I chose the OJ. I'd rather chug 16 oz of my own choice of OJ than drink that gross drink, even if the volume is so much more!

sorry they're making you do it again... it does seem that once you're considered "overweight" they think that you're automatically high risk. Meanwhile, I might be overweight, but havent gained much since the beginning (still below pre pg weight) and eat better now, and for the last year or so than I have my whole life. That should count for something!

Good for you with sticking within "their" guidelines for weight gain, and letting your body determine what's best.

and... good luck with the 2nd round of testing- or declining it.

[detroitgirl77]

My next appt is tomorrow, which will officially be my 2nd prenatal appointment exluding the ultrasound. I would've went as soon as I found out I was preggo, but I had to wait until my insurance kicked in, which wasn't until I was nearly 17 weeks preggo. Looking forward to hearing the heartbeat even though I already saw it on ultrasound.

[LindsayK]

24-week appointment

I just got back from my regular appointment. Everything looking good and on track. Had a good conversation with OB about checking out of the hospital early (6 hours after birth or so) and she gave some good feedback. I guess its usually the hospital pediatrician who puts up the most fuss about letting a baby go before 24 hours, but my OB said if I could have my pedi's office write up a letter saying that they can see the new baby within 24 hours of birth (which they can) then it goes a lot more smoothly. My OB said with her second kid, she was out the door 12 hours after birth, so it seemed like she got where I was coming from.

Next visit we do a blood check for gest. diabetes (not sure what, but this is in place of doing the glucose challenge test) check my blood for antibodies (I'm rh-) and get a Rhogam shot in the rump. Oh boy!