With this being my first pregnancy some things that are done at prenatal appointments I question. Reason being is because you guys talk about how that you are dialated and they never check to see if I'm dialated. At my last appointment two weeks ago, If I would have never asked how do they know if they baby is breech, transverse or head down she would have never checked. Sometimes I believe these appointments are a waste of my time because once the Nurse Assistant or whoever checks my weight,urine, blood pressure I go into the room they listen to the babys heartrate and wait on the doctor. They're in there maybe 5 minutes at the most unless I have some questions and they're only checking to see where I'm measuring at and thats that. I believe so much more should be going on. Am I wrong?
am i receiving adequate medical attention?
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
Joined
·
2,772 Posts
Quote:
How many weeks are you? That is completely normal what they're doing...at least in hospitals it is.
![]()
I went to my local hospital for the first few visits before I found my midwife and that's exactly how it was. I even had an ultrasoud and the woman was literally pushing me out the door when I asked her where the head was in the picture.
Have you looked into a midwife? They spend between 45 and 60 minutes (on average) per visit and they will check anything you want them to and they discuss your diet, your emotional wellbeing, etc.
As for checking to see if you're dilated, that seems to be more common in hospitals (from what I've heard) because they're in a rush to get you delivered and overwith. Ask them if you want them to check you, but it's really not necessary. My midwife offered when I was 39 or 40 weeks and told me it was completely up to me. I just had her check me the once and I wasn't dilated at all and it was uncomfortable to be checked. The next time I was checked was when I was in labour and got ot the birth center and I was about 5 cm dilated, and I never got checked again.
![]()
Originally Posted by msnadia With this being my first pregnancy some things that are done at prenatal appointments I question. Reason being is because you guys talk about how that you are dialated and they never check to see if I'm dialated. At my last appointment two weeks ago, If I would have never asked how do they know if they baby is breech, transverse or head down she would have never checked. Sometimes I believe these appointments are a waste of my time because once the Nurse Assistant or whoever checks my weight,urine, blood pressure I go into the room they listen to the babys heartrate and wait on the doctor. They're in there maybe 5 minutes at the most unless I have some questions and they're only checking to see where I'm measuring at and thats that. I believe so much more should be going on. Am I wrong? |
Have you looked into a midwife? They spend between 45 and 60 minutes (on average) per visit and they will check anything you want them to and they discuss your diet, your emotional wellbeing, etc.
As for checking to see if you're dilated, that seems to be more common in hospitals (from what I've heard) because they're in a rush to get you delivered and overwith. Ask them if you want them to check you, but it's really not necessary. My midwife offered when I was 39 or 40 weeks and told me it was completely up to me. I just had her check me the once and I wasn't dilated at all and it was uncomfortable to be checked. The next time I was checked was when I was in labour and got ot the birth center and I was about 5 cm dilated, and I never got checked again.
Joined
·
1,193 Posts
During my entire pregnancy with DS, I didn't have a single internal exam. There really is no need since you can walk around dialated for weeks, or you can go from 0-10 in no time at all. Plus, it'll minimize the risk of infection and other complications. Try not to worry!
Joined
·
5,671 Posts
It's never too late to find a midwife. My visits with her are 60 minutes, she'll even schedule longer if one needs it. She doesn't do any unnecessary testing unless I ask for it, so last visit I asked how heavy she estimates the baby and it was really cool to see how she palpated my belly and then told me. Though they do shove you out the door, there's no reason for internal exams at all so that's a good thing.
Really, not seeing an OB anymore makes all the difference for me, before I had the care that you have now.
Really, not seeing an OB anymore makes all the difference for me, before I had the care that you have now.
Joined
·
1,432 Posts
Eh, I've not seen a 'mudical professional' this entire pregnancy... And I've received adequate medical attention. I'm more worried about what they'll screw up than what they'll miss...
![]()
Cara
Cara
I'm 33w6d along! The doctors office I go to have MW and OBs. I see them all alternating because you never know who's on call. A MW will deliver if its not a highrisk and a OB will deliever if it is highrisk. I have noticed when I see MWs they are more one on one than a doctor is. I thought they told you how far you've dialated routinely because I'm scared that I will not know once I've gone into labor. Thats my biggest fear that when I start getting contractions I will not know because I can tolerate pain quite a bit and I'm afraid I will not be able to distinguish if its early or active labor. Thanks to you all for you advice but its helps to feel better than if they're not doing an internal then everything seems to be going good. I'd just like to know how much they estimate my baby weighing because people are constantly telling me I don't look like I'm going to make it to 9/26 and am I sure its one in there. People can be cruel at times I think. When I look at myself and others who due when around the time I'm due we look the same.
You are better off without any internal exams - they DO NOT predict when you will start labor. You could be at 5-6 cm for weeks, or you could be at 1 cm and have the baby a few hours later. Your dilation will tell you nothing about when to expect labor to start. And internal exams can introduce germs that could lead to infection.
You'll know when you're in labor, even if you tolerate pain well. Sometimes there are other signs like nesting, diarehea, loss of appetite, bloody show - other than contractions - that will give you a clue something is happening.
You'll know when you're in labor, even if you tolerate pain well. Sometimes there are other signs like nesting, diarehea, loss of appetite, bloody show - other than contractions - that will give you a clue something is happening.
Most VEs don't start until 37-38 weeks.
But, as others said, your dilation and effacement is not going to tell you ANYTHING about when labor will start. Your cervix can have 0 dilation and no effacement and you'll be in labor in 2 hours, or you can be dilated at 4 for weeks!
If you would like a VE, you can always ask for one. But, they won't tell you anything and can cause infection.
You say you are scared that you won't know when you are in labor. Trust me, YOU WILL! It may be hard to tell in early labor, but once you are in active labor with steady contractions, you will know. It's rare that a woman has no clue until a head is coming out!
Hang in there! These last weeks are hard.
But, as others said, your dilation and effacement is not going to tell you ANYTHING about when labor will start. Your cervix can have 0 dilation and no effacement and you'll be in labor in 2 hours, or you can be dilated at 4 for weeks!
If you would like a VE, you can always ask for one. But, they won't tell you anything and can cause infection.
You say you are scared that you won't know when you are in labor. Trust me, YOU WILL! It may be hard to tell in early labor, but once you are in active labor with steady contractions, you will know. It's rare that a woman has no clue until a head is coming out!
Hang in there! These last weeks are hard.
That is about what happens at my mw appts. More than anything we spend alot of time talking about any questions I have.
Internal exams are not necessary & the more that you have, the more you increase your chance of introducing bacteria & getting an infection. I never had one w/ DS until I was 8 cm dialated. My guess is it'll probably be about the same this time too depending on how labor goes.
As odd as it sounds the more boring your appts & pregnancy in general are, the better. You don't want lots of commotion & upset
![]()
Internal exams are not necessary & the more that you have, the more you increase your chance of introducing bacteria & getting an infection. I never had one w/ DS until I was 8 cm dialated. My guess is it'll probably be about the same this time too depending on how labor goes.
As odd as it sounds the more boring your appts & pregnancy in general are, the better. You don't want lots of commotion & upset
Joined
·
4,658 Posts
I think you are fine. A midwife or an OB both shouldn't give a VE until about 37 weeks unless there is reason to suspect preterm labour etc. Even then, the better ones will wait. And about the position of the baby, if you are due the 26th then you would only be just over 33 weeks (I am due the 27th
![]()
) and so the position of the baby has much more potential to change many times still than say 38 weeks (although it still can change)!
Not to mention these are both things you can learn to check yourself, or you can request of your care provider if you are curious!
![]()
Not to mention these are both things you can learn to check yourself, or you can request of your care provider if you are curious!
Joined
·
429 Posts
My OB appts were very much so the same. There was no bonding with the doc at all, even though I saw the same one for the whole time. She did not deliver either one of my babies, since she was not on call. What I wanted was bonding time, that personal relationship with someone who is going to be attending one of the pinnacles of my life.
I think a midwife, doula or a family practice doc can do so much better than an ob who sees a million patients. Of course, there are some GREAT obs out there just like there are great ob/l&d nurses too. I have been very happy with my new doc who is family practice and spends about 1/2 hour at least at each appt and is 90% sure he will be at the birth, which we are doing natural at the hospital.
I think a midwife, doula or a family practice doc can do so much better than an ob who sees a million patients. Of course, there are some GREAT obs out there just like there are great ob/l&d nurses too. I have been very happy with my new doc who is family practice and spends about 1/2 hour at least at each appt and is 90% sure he will be at the birth, which we are doing natural at the hospital.
Joined
·
503 Posts
I agree with the others who said you don't really need internal exams, certainly not until at least 37 weeks. I walked around 2 cm dialated for a couple weeks, and if anything it made me more anxious thinking I was about to pop the baby out at any minute. It didn't mean that at all! So far I haven't had any internal exams this pregnancy.
I think that length of appointment is pretty typical for an OB. I was with an OB the first few weeks of my first pregnancy, and even though I think she is a great doctor, I don't think I spent a lot more than that with her at any appointment. My MW spends time asking me how I'm doing emotionally, how are things at home, do I have any fears, etc. An OB is just never going to spend time doing that.
I think that length of appointment is pretty typical for an OB. I was with an OB the first few weeks of my first pregnancy, and even though I think she is a great doctor, I don't think I spent a lot more than that with her at any appointment. My MW spends time asking me how I'm doing emotionally, how are things at home, do I have any fears, etc. An OB is just never going to spend time doing that.
Joined
·
503 Posts
Oh, and I had the same concern about not knowing whether I was in labor or not. I think a lot of people worry about that! Trust me, you'll know. I had been having pretty decent little contractions for a couple days but once I was in active labor, I was like, "Okay, so THIS is what it feels like!"
![]()
Big difference.
Sounds pretty much like my ob experience the first time around. I'm using midwives this time and love the longer appointments. Of course, it's mostly just chit chat about questions I have or other random things going on. As far as actual "medical" stuff that they do at each appointment, it's urine check, bp, measure tummy, and listen for heartbeat. My midwives don't do internals unless I'm 40 weeks and really want one. I'm quite happy with this policy!
They do check the baby's position, but only because I ask (or maybe they would anyway, but I ask each time
![]()
). I'm due around when you are and each time they check position, they assure me that it's much too early to worry about whether or not the baby is head down. I personally am paranoid about having another posterior baby and so have asked a lot of questions and done research on how to encourage optimal fetal positioning. Anyway, they said around 25/36 weeks is when they would encourage me to get the baby to turn, if breech.
Hope that makes you feel better!
They do check the baby's position, but only because I ask (or maybe they would anyway, but I ask each time
Hope that makes you feel better!
I'm 35+ weeks along and haven't had, nor do I want, an internal exam.
My doctor always seems rushed, too, but she always asks "Any questions" just before walking out the door. If I say yes, she is readily available and eager to talk to me. But if I don't have any questions or concerns, it's a three-minute visit - most of it with the nurse - for weight, BP, urine check, doppler, then doc comes in and makes sure I'm measuring correctly.
My doctor always seems rushed, too, but she always asks "Any questions" just before walking out the door. If I say yes, she is readily available and eager to talk to me. But if I don't have any questions or concerns, it's a three-minute visit - most of it with the nurse - for weight, BP, urine check, doppler, then doc comes in and makes sure I'm measuring correctly.
This is my 4th baby. I was checked once at about 20 weeks because I was having a lot of contractions and I have a history of preterm labor. That's it though otherwise, it sounds about right. Weight check, urine dip, BP, wait for OB. Fundal height check and heartrate with doppler. Any questions? Out the door.
Quote:
Trust me. you'll know when it's LABOR
Quote:
OB's are NOTORIOUSLY bad at estimating birthweight. Even WITH an U/S to guide them. My 1st ds was a c/s for transverse. He was born at 37 wks 3 days and weighed 7lbs 9oz. My Ob questimated the last two to be about as big as he was. Even though I had an ultrasound for one of them that said over 7lbs already. They came out over 1lb bigger than him. And they should. They were born 39 wks 5 days for each of them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by msnadia I thought they told you how far you've dialated routinely because I'm scared that I will not know once I've gone into labor. Thats my biggest fear that when I start getting contractions I will not know because I can tolerate pain quite a bit and I'm afraid I will not be able to distinguish if its early or active labor. |
Quote:
| Thanks to you all for you advice but its helps to feel better than if they're not doing an internal then everything seems to be going good. I'd just like to know how much they estimate my baby weighing because people are constantly telling me I don't look like I'm going to make it to 9/26 and am I sure its one in there. People can be cruel at times I think. When I look at myself and others who due when around the time I'm due we look the same. |
Joined
·
4,570 Posts
I agree with everyone else, pertty normal for an OB office, and there's no need for vag exams.
They can pretty much tell the position of the baby by where the heart beat is, but when I went to my OB appts when I was pg with DD they always felt for position too...just to make sure the head was down where it was supposed to be.
They can pretty much tell the position of the baby by where the heart beat is, but when I went to my OB appts when I was pg with DD they always felt for position too...just to make sure the head was down where it was supposed to be.
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
