OB/peri question

[ksera05]

I don't know who/where else to ask this

When you have a high risk pregnancy, do you go to both a perinatologist and an OB or just a perinatologist?

I'm a little confused by some posts I've been reading on our local preemie list...but I don't want to ask there and look silly

[ktmelody]

As you may know, I was just diagnosed with IUGR. I am seeing my OB and the peri.
I go to the peri twice a week for NST/BPP, he forwards the results to my OB. They are making decisions of my care together. My OB will be the one to "deliver" me and the peri will be on hand for care of the baby during labor also. I was told to call my OB if my kick counts were low and go from there. Of course I can call the peri at anytime for advice.
If there is a problem on my NST/BPP and the peri want me in the hospital, I will most likely agree and my ob will be there also. I guess it is a "team" effort.

Hope that helps.....

[fstcargrl]

I had a similar situation where I saw both my peri & my OB. They worked together & I totally love them both

[alliteration]

It was recommended to me if I ever try to get pregnant again (no thank you, one near death experience is enough for me) that I should see both a peri & an OB to monitor my pregnancy and so on.

I statistically have a high risk of having early severe pre-eclampsia again.
Whee.
Then again I would have to get my insurance to agree.

[ktmelody]

BTW....
A perinatologist cares for an unborn fetus as an OB cares for a woman during pregnancy.....

[5xmom]

I just saw a peri for my last 2 pregnancies - she was part of a high risk maternal/fetal medicine team in Boston. I had all of my u/s there and was eventually hospitalized there too for pprom. I liked that i could see my doctor throut the pregnancy and also that I could participate in research I (anything to help reduce premature births!).

[egoldber]

I saw both. My peri was basically a consultant to my OB. Although the way it ended up, the peri made all the important calls, but the OB did the actual delivery.

I know that the peri group at Fairfax does a lot of deliveries, but I think my group is more consultant-like. But the group at Fairfax will also do consultant type work as well. I know there's an MDC mama who used the Fairfax group as her primary OB during her pregnancy. You can PM me for her name.

[ksera05]

yeah - that makes sense.

The peri delivered me but up until then I'd just been under a midwife because we didn't know I was high risk.

anyway thanks everyone, that makes a lot of the posts I've been seeing there make more sense

[usolyfan]

After 20 weeks (when we got dd's diagnosis) I only saw my peri. Up until 20 weeks I only saw an ob. My peri delivered dd. He was fabulous!

[OGirlieMama]

I saw my OB for all my regular visits, and the peri for Level II u/s every 3-4 weeks.

[irangel]

From 15wks onward I saw both the OB and the peri at least once a week.

[intorainbowz]

*OB mad the decision to deliver before I saw the peri, and the peri agreed.

[sehbub]

I'm high risk this time but have only seen an OB.

[susienjay]

I saw both with my last 2 pregnancies. I was seen by a Perinatologist with my twins just because it was multiples and my OB referred anyone carrying multiples to them. The main thing the Peri did was ultrasounds to check the babies and also checking on the cervix. I loved the ultrasound tech there. I usually got the same one and she really knew what she was doing. I'm not sure who was supposed to be at the actual delivery because I showed up 9 cm dialated at the hospital and got stuck with the on call staff doctor.

I didn't see a Peri with Lydie until I hemorrhaged at 15.5 weeks. I wasn't considered high risk until that happened. I had ultrasounds there every 2 weeks to check the cervix and the bleeding from the placenta. The OB did the routine prenatal stuff. The day I went into the hospital before dd was born I called the OB and said I was having heavy bleeding and they didn't even have me come in. They told me to call the Peri. I went to his office where they found I was 2 cm dialated and in labor. I had an ambulance transport from his office. I was in the hospital 4 days before I delivered. Both the OB and Peri saw me (although the Peri only came in twice). The regular OB delivered Lydie.

[tbavrbab]

I never saw a peri until the end, when I was obviously already sick.

My doctor says that if we decide to have another child I will see BOTH of them pretty frequently.

[munkeesmama]

I know when i had iugr i saw both. with next pregnancies typically you will just see the peri if they think you'll have problems again, otherwise the ob and then possibly ob/peri cobo again.

[doublesnap]

Originally Posted by egoldber

I saw both. My peri was basically a consultant to my OB. Although the way it ended up, the peri made all the important calls, but the OB did the actual delivery.

I know that the peri group at Fairfax does a lot of deliveries, but I think my group is more consultant-like. But the group at Fairfax will also do consultant type work as well. I know there's an MDC mama who used the Fairfax group as her primary OB during her pregnancy. You can PM me for her name.

I saw both a peri and my ob group. I saw the obs more often but I saw my peri for US's and my peri also performed my cerclage surgery. Nic was 5 weeks early but my ob performed the c-section. My peri was consulted throughout the pregnancy and both my ob and peri were consulted on a gallbladder surgery I had at 26 weeks.

I used the group at Inova Fairfax, Perinatal Associates and my peri, Dr. Khoury, is head of perinatal at Inova Fairfax. I absolutely love him and his practice.

I've been told any future pregnancies will involve cerclages and I have a current friend who is going through this and will also be working with my peri. I wouldn't go to another practice, I was very happy with the care I received during this pregnancy.