Thinking to get an ultrasound...suspect possible twins???

[dayiscoming2006]

I want an ultrasound but I don't want regular prenatal care. Do I just call in for an appointment for that and go with whatever doc is on hand? What do I tell them? Do I just pretend I'll be back?

Do I have to see a doctor to get an ultrasound?

I don't have insurance so it'll be out of pocket.

***
I suspect possible twins because my fundal height seems really up there at the moment. I just wanted to know either way to have an idea what to expect.

[Chula13]

I think you need a referal to go to a regular u/s place, I would just go to one of those 3d places if i were you.

[dayiscoming2006]

Do you need to have a doctor's permission for the 3d place? Or can you just set it up on your own?

[medicinemansgirl]

Every place we checked that's just a "peek and see" 2,3 and 4D place all have to have dr's permission and you also have to be over 16 wks. We found this to be one of the biggest drawbacks to UPing. Now having had 2 sets of twins I know for sure I'd want to have 1 u/s just to know. I have quite a few friends that never have a u/s in their entire pregancies but I just don't really want to do that. One of those friends thinks she is currently carrying twins but is just choosing to forgo a u/s and just going with the "surprise" aspect. For me personally, I just want one u/s each pregnancy...especially after our loss at 14 wks.

The only thing I've found with potential is a college that has an ultrasound school and trains students. They typically are open to anyone at any stage for training purposes. It might just take some calling around. Another not so wonderful option would be to go in to an OB for an "intitial appt" where they'll probably do one at that one and only appt and then just conveniently decide you don't want to pursue care with that dr. Less than optimal but all I can come up with for us next time around.

A Crisis Pregnancy Center may also be an option. Not all centers have u/s machines but many of them do.

[NewSolarMomma]

I got a 3D and didn't need any docs permission, but the US is for entertainment only, not for medical diagnosis. I've never heard of needing permission, here (CA) you can go at anytime. Where I live in Mexico you can walk in off the street and get a medical one for like 30 pesos (2.75). The 3d places suggests a later date so the pic is better but I went at 13 weeks to get my baby's sex. I just couldn't wait!

Crisis pregnancy center is a good idea, and it will be free.

[TrishWSU]

How far along are you? If you're siggy is right you're only about 10 weeks, right? I think that's a little too early to worry about fundal height. If it is consistently measuring ahead for several weeks, then it's more likely that you could be expecting twins. I don't think most care providers even start measuring fundal height until around 20 weeks.

I've gotten two 3d u/s (in TN and SC.) Both places required some kind of proof of care.

The first place required you to have proof that you already had a 20 weeks diagnostic u/s-I totally fibbed on this by scanning a picture from my first pregnancy on my computer and using paint to change the date. Then I printed it on photo paper and used that as my "proof."

The second place had a form for your care provider to fill out, but it looked like something I could come up with in word. Your care provider just puts their name, office address, and phone number. Then you take it with when you get the u/s-they didn't actually call the office, so technically you could make up a phone # (or use someone you know so if they called your friend could pretend to be your midwife.)

I think most of those places require it as a way to cover their butts. Those places are really only for "fun"-most of the techs aren't actually properly trained u/s tech so they can't make any type of diagnostic measurements.

If you don't have insurance you should be able to get medicaid. If you make an inital appt with a doctors office they will probably offer you an u/s at that appt, especially if you say you're not sure when you got pregnant.

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by TrishWSU

How far along are you? If you're siggy is right you're only about 10 weeks, right? I think that's a little too early to worry about fundal height. If it is consistently measuring ahead for several weeks, then it's more likely that you could be expecting twins. I don't think most care providers even start measuring fundal height until around 20 weeks.

Thanks. I am actually 12 weeks 3 days and have been feeling my uterus up higher for quite a few weeks. I know it could totally still be just one baby in there but it does make me wonder. I don't want to be on government assistance really. I'm avoiding it. I don't have money for any ultrasound right now so I'll just have to wait and see how things progress.

[Chula13]

I didn't need a dr's referal or anything when i got my u/s at the 3d place they just wanted a caregivers info so i just gave them the name of a midwife i knew even though I hadn't seen anyone yet, they didn't check.

[rainbow_mandala]

I just want to say that I hope you come back and let us know when you find out!

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by rainbow_mandala

I just want to say that I hope you come back and let us know when you find out!

Will do.

[dayiscoming2006]

I feel kind of dumb right now but I never took out my tape measure to see how far my fundus was measuring. It really seems up high but when I measured it, it measures around 13-14 cm which is pretty close to where I'm supposed to be at. So, I'd have to say the chances of twins are about as good as they ever were. My uterus is all the way up to my belly button but I guess I have a low belly button or something. I'm thinking I probably have 1 in there.

[rainbow_mandala]

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006

I feel kind of dumb right now but I never took out my tape measure to see how far my fundus was measuring. It really seems up high but when I measured it, it measures around 13-14 cm which is pretty close to where I'm supposed to be at. So, I'd have to say the chances of twins are about as good as they ever were. My uterus is all the way up to my belly button but I guess I have a low belly button or something. I'm thinking I probably have 1 in there.

That's understandable...fundal height can be confusing. I actually was suspecting twins for awhile, but an ultrasound a few weeks ago showed there's only one. It's both relieving and disappointing

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by rainbow_mandala

That's understandable...fundal height can be confusing. I actually was suspecting twins for awhile, but an ultrasound a few weeks ago showed there's only one. It's both relieving and disappointing

Yeah, exactly what you said. I might still look to get an ultrasound later, but I'm not sure. I know chances are so slim that there is more than 1 and I don't know if I really need one. So, I'll just wait and see how I'm feeling about it. I'm still deciding whether or not I will want any official prenatal care. If I do decide to get some I'll have to do medicaid and that is annoying but I might do it just cuz. I just hate the stress of the doc getting upset that I will probably refuse lots of things that would just annoy them.

[TrishWSU]

FWIW, I got medicaid during my UP so I would have it "just in case." I did not except or anticipate any problems to come up, but it gave me peace of mind knowing that I wouldn't get stuck with a huge hospital/doctor bill. I never had to see anyone, either. I just went to the health department for my proof of pregnancy. They actually filled out all the paperwork at the health department and that was it.

And I know how you feel, the relieved/disappointed thing. I think I start every pregnancy hoping its twins!

[EllyMayMomma]

I had medicaid with my last pregnancy. I was really on the fence about getting it but it turned out to be fantastic. I ended up changing doctors two days before he was born (my nightmare birth story was not actually the birth but the doctor I had until I changed - drove 6 hrs to go "back home" to my old provider at the last minute and stayed in a hotel when I got out of the hospital) and medicaid did not fuss a bit. The doctor's office did the paperwork. Anyway, I had a last minute c-section because the ultrasound at the hospital showed what I had been trying to tell my old doc the whole time - baby was not head down - no, he was a stubborn transverse. The ultrasound showed the pretties 4 chamber heart right where the head was supposed to be engaged. As the doctor put it - no way is he coming out that way. So, I had my section which I NEVER regretted and medicaid paid the bills that I would NEVER have been able to pay. Getting the medicaid at first was a pain in the butt but totally worth it in the long run.

[Almi]

I love Medicaid too, I always get a hospital bill every month, and it gives me an itemized list of all my medical expenses, and at the bottom of the page it says Patient Responsible: $0.00.

[dayiscoming2006]

Thanks ladies. I think I will probably apply for it. It probably won't go through til I'm almost 20 weeks so then I should be able to get an ultrasound if I want and then pick and choose what else I want if anything.

Will I have any problems UCing with medicaid. Do I HAVE to bring baby in for a checkup if I have medicaid? Just wondering. I usually don't bother bringing my children to the doctor unless they have something wrong with them since I don't vaccinate and I can tell if there is something wrong.

Also, for those who have used medicaid, when should I notify the doctor or hospital midwife(if they are covered?) that I've had my baby if I go with prenatal care til the end?

[kittywitty]

I also just went to an "entertainment" u/s place to rule out twins and get a peek at gender this time. I have a midwife with this baby, but it's not exactly legal here, so it was either that or go to an OB and then leave which would have been a pain. They said you had to have a diagnostic u/s first and whatever but I just ignored that, put down a mw name and they asked no questions nor did they try to find anything out. I think it's just a liability thing.

I have medicaid and have not had issues because of that. You do need something saying you are pg from a "medical professional" in a lot of states. I forgot to do this, but did go to the ER to get abx for a bad UTI awhile back and they did FHT, so I will try and get a copy of that record to "prove" it.

[MamaRabbit]

I was doing UP and at 12 weeks when the fundus was to my belly button I suspected twins and U/S confirmed it. By 8 weeks I could feel the top of the fundus when it shouldn't be able to be felt at all. Either you're off on your dates or it sounds possible.

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by MamaRabbit

I was doing UP and at 12 weeks when the fundus was to my belly button I suspected twins and U/S confirmed it. By 8 weeks I could feel the top of the fundus when it shouldn't be able to be felt at all. Either you're off on your dates or it sounds possible.

I could feel my fundus pretty early on too. I can't remember exactly when but I was wondering if I was just imagining it or what. That's kind of exciting. I'm still feeling like my fundus is way up high for this early on. And I'm definitely not off on my dates. I'm signing up for medicaid so once that goes through I should be able to get an U/S to see what's going on in there.