Anyone else skipping most prenatal testing? - Page 2

[tracymom1]

Also, just to mention, I do not know the exact figures, but the HIV test does indeed carry the risk of false positives.  In the practice I worked at, within the 4 years I was there we saw 3 false positives.  Not a huge number, but something to keep in mind.  I would speak to your OB about which exact test they do and what the risks are so that you go into it knowing as much as you can.  

I am starting to think that I don't want an ultrasound now.  I am not sure why...

[SGVaughn]

Originally Posted by Buddhamom 

Thanks I will question the on that statement and , for me, anything requiring a needle is harmful in a stress related way.  I have severe needle phobia and I am not talking just fear.  I start to hyperventilate,  panic and get hysterically crying just walking into the office.  It generally takes them 5 sticks, two techs and an hour to get blood because nothing comes out. Needless to say my DH goes everytime!  With my oldest daughter he had to carry me out of there afterward and that was just for a preg. blood test!  I am definitely not worried about HIV so I will try and get out of that.

my oldest daughter whos 14 has a severe needle phobia...and Ive run into plenty of patients who do as well

research it, the law..this may surprise you but even in an ambulance setting in Ct..if one tech knows the pt has HIV they aren't by law allowed to tell their partner

we have some very strict laws regarding medicine that go above and beyond hippa

and don't take this as a criticism, but I trust and love my husband ...but I don't actually see him 24/7...so what he does when I'm not around I can't legitimately know, so i just assume get tested

blood work doesn't bother me in the slightest, but then I went through cancer...so I've had more than my fair share of sticks (and know bad things happen)..and done my fair share too

found a link about mandatory testing of the newborn not the mother...though somehow that bothers me more but I think might be easier to get around

its a well cited paper posted on an EDU..I'd print it and ask your care provider about it...and tell them if you havent already that you have a needle phobia

http://www.molloy.edu/sophia/ethics/bioforum/hivtesting.htm 

Edited by SGVaughn - 1/12/11 at 9:06pm

[SGVaughn]

Originally Posted by tracymom1 

Also, just to mention, I do not know the exact figures, but the HIV test does indeed carry the risk of false positives.  In the practice I worked at, within the 4 years I was there we saw 3 false positives.  Not a huge number, but something to keep in mind.  I would speak to your OB about which exact test they do and what the risks are so that you go into it knowing as much as you can.  

I am starting to think that I don't want an ultrasound now.  I am not sure why...

I didn't say it didn't...but it is incredibly low percentage, none the less I imagine debilitating to whomever it happens to

heres an interesting paper on the rapid tests...if you look at some other articles online they cite slanted info to one side or the other..this one seems fairly neutral

[cuddlemama0507]

I'm not getting much testing either.  I got some bloodwork done to test iron levels, will have my U/S on the 27th and will probably do the GBS test, but that's about it.  My CNM was super cool about it and believes less is best, as well.

[prothyraia]

I pee on a stick at each prenatal, and I may or not do the GBS swab towards the end (haven't decided).  Because I have a strong family history of diabetes, I'll probably check my blood sugar at home a few times just to see if there's anything weird going on there.  That's it for me!

[Buddhamom]

I told them and they mentioned the EMLA cream and my DH was trying to tell them that won't help as it is a phobia.  My DH had a battery of test recently HIV included because they were trying to figure out why he dropped 50 pounds in 2 mo. so again, I a not worried.  They already snagged me for the first HIV and other offensive tests with the initial 6 tubes they took and I didn't even know it which upsets me   Even after we both gave them our history which is we have been married for almost 22 years. Like one poster put in another thread, it's upsetting because that means they assume one or both of us is lying. I guess some people can't believe that soulmates can fall in love and stay in love and be faithful forever.  Very sad!  They claim I have to have one at 6 mo. too.

[LLtheTinkerbell]

Yes I pee on a stick, get weighed, and BP tested every month, and I did bloodwork before I abandoned my GP and went for midwifery care only.  No US's  for me.  I don't think it's unreasonable for people to want US, and I've been tempted because EVERYONE seems to get therm! But I know myself, and I would just be doing it to satisfy me/my dr.'s curiosity, peace of mind, or to acquire anxiety about what might possibly be wrong.  To my understanding there is no evidence that US improves birth outcomes, and after hearing some questions (but not much documented evidence) about US possibly being harmful I see no reason to have one.  I would probably have one if something serious happened to warrant it.

Conversely, there are a lot of things I've been told I shouldn't do when pregnant that I've done anyway (I had a bite of raw tuna! I had a hot bath! I had a drink before I knew I was pregnant!) so it's really easy to feel like I'm being a bad mother no matter what I do.  I just do my best with the information I have!

[Tumble Bumbles]

No testing except the ol' pee on a strip-bp-weight routine every month at the midwife's.She's never seen my lady bits, took blood, or urine tested me beyond the strip which I do myself at her office anyway (can you tell I'm considering a UC? lol)

I did have a 18w u/s because we did want to know the gender and since I've been secretly wanting a UC, I wanted to make sure placenta/cervix/uterus/babe looked fine (which they did thank God).