Starting to hate my doctors office

Annascr1

Hi all, I am just really starting to hate my obgyn office. I am 35.4 and so I go twice a week for appointments. One NST and one sono/dr appt. They have me waiting close to 20 min each time, and it's stressful because I'm taking the time off work. Then yesterday during the NST they hook me up and left me in there for an hour without ever coming to check on me. It's supposed to be twenty min. I ended up taking the monitor off myself and finding the medical assistant and she goes "oh shit, I forgot you were in there". I also have a sonogram tech who will NEVER show me the screen or print me pictures for going on 3 weeks. Does anyone have any experience with this? I feel that I'm too close to baby to switch doctors. I'm going to try saying something to the dr at today's appointment but I'm just frustrated.

kynbar5

Waiting is completely normal since dr's offices in general tend to be busy and they have other patients too so I'm pretty sure you're not the only one waiting. Not getting pictures printed out is also not that big of a deal imho because really soon you'll be holding your baby and that's always better than a pic. As far as seeing the baby on the monitor maybe just ask if you can, if not, again you'll be holding baby soon. I'm sorry you were left in the room and forgotten about but everyone makes mistakes. Maybe there was too much going on that day or they may have been understaffed. You really don't have much longer to go so I'd just try to stay as calm as possible and look forward to the fact that you will get to personally see and hold your baby soon.

marajay6

That does sound like a pain having to take that time away from work. However, I wouldn't change doctors so close to delivery especially if you have complications which I am guessing you do since you are going frequently for ultrasounds and NSTs.

blansaw

Waiting for 20 min is not that bad, but the being forgotten about would be frustrating.  I would ask the ultrasound tech to show you the screen. I can understand if they don't want to print off pics every time, but looking at your baby is your right.

eamarat

I've had to wait for over an hour and a half to see my doctor before, on a couple of occasions actually. Then sent into a room to wait for another 30 minutes. And all for a doppler and a "see you next week." Sometimes things are hectic, there are emergencies, or they just get a little overbooked. I'm not going to complain that my appointment took longer than I thought it should because my doctor was over at the hospital delivering a baby, that will be me in a few days and if it's time during the middle of a work day, well, there's not much anyone can do about it. It's not like they can hold the baby in until after 4.

If they begin to make it a habit of forgetting about you I would maybe ask them to set a timer to remind them or even just get up when the allotted time is up.

The sonographer is there to make sure your baby is healthy, they're not concerned about pictures. I would ask if you could have a picture at say 38 weeks, but otherwise leave it. There are other more important things you should be focusing on.

Annascr1

Thanks everyone. I probably will just continue with them since I am getting so close at this point. But it's not the pictures I really care it - it's scary to go into a sonogram and not be able to see the screen. Then when I ask if it looks ok, they say 'you'll have to talk to a dr'. Then I have to wait another 20 min on top of the 20 I just waited for the sono. And Usually I don't mind waiting, and I totally get that things are hectic at all healthcare jobs ( I have one lol ) but when I'm taking the time off work , it just gets so frustrating so I guess I had to vent. I definitely just want what's best for baby and I know I should feel blessed to even have a provider that does a sono every week. I guess I need to learn to advocate for myself and speak up when I don't see the screen or when I don't get any results after an NST

CharminglySouthern

kynbar5 said:

Waiting is completely normal since dr's offices in general tend to be busy and they have other patients too so I'm pretty sure you're not the only one waiting. Not getting pictures printed out is also not that big of a deal imho because really soon you'll be holding your baby and that's always better than a pic. As far as seeing the baby on the monitor maybe just ask if you can, if not, again you'll be holding baby soon. I'm sorry you were left in the room and forgotten about but everyone makes mistakes. Maybe there was too much going on that day or they may have been understaffed. You really don't have much longer to go so I'd just try to stay as calm as possible and look forward to the fact that you will get to personally see and hold your baby soon.

This. All of that doesn't seem like a big deal.

LIly436

Next time ask them to not forget about you like the last time and keep saying it every time you come - they should feel very guilty.

Also ask them to make appointment first thing in the morning - this way you would not have to wait for a long time , since you will be the first patient

Wicked4589

My OBs office has a monitor specifically for the parents to see the baby. I thought all offices had this. That way the tech doesn't have to show you their screen. But honestly most of the time I have no idea what I'm looking at. And to date, no profile or facial shots since he's stubborn so all of our ultrasound photos are of a random leg or arm. Not too exciting. Just a white line.

Annascr1

Thanks to everyone that commented back with helpful feedback. I don't even know if I've been explaining it right, but it's just frustrating and causes me a lot of anxiety. Being pregnant is much scarier than I ever imagined it would be

itstheblackwidowbaby

If you're truly over and done with it, I switched practices at 39 weeks - after about a three week wait while the new OB reviewed my paperwork. But I am a low risk pregnancy as well. If I was high risk, they wouldn't have taken me or even touched my paperwork. It's annoying, but you may be better off where you are. I second the suggestion of first thing in the morning OR the first appointment after lunch.

If let the forgetting about you slide this one time if I were in your shoes. If it happens again, I would speak to the OB or their office manager about it.

taysun

I have an ultrasound and NST in addition to OB appointment every week and have since 29 weeks. I don't get pictures unless the tech happens to get a good shot. At 33 weeks, baby is often not cooperative for anything other that the necessary shots. The tech doesn't tell me anything, just gives me paperwork to give L&D and my OB. At my NST I usually have to be there 45 minutes. Sometimes it's quicker sometimes longer. And then after all that I have to wait at least 20 minutes, sometimes more, to see my OB for them to give me all the results.
While spending 4-5 hours at the hospital every week is not fun, it's necessary and I bring a book. I am not the only patient there and I can't expect them to cater to me.
If being out of work is an issue, perhaps you can schedule end of day appointments. You may have to wait a little longer but at least you won't be anxious to get back to work.

Annascr1

Yeah I understand the picture thing but can you see the screen? I work 8-5 everyday. There aren't any before or after work hour appointments. I take the earliest appointment at 9am two days a week. I've heard about NSTs being longer but when it's only supposed to be 2 min and goes over an hour - and you have to detach yourself and find help - it's frustrating. I spend about two hours at the doctors twice a week, and I'm seen for a total of about 15 min combined. It's the provider that's the issue and it's frustrating

Annascr1

20minutes*

Annascr1

It's not at a hospital, it's just a obgyn office. One that I'm starting to feel is not on top of its game and that is my concern. Doctors appointments are obviously necessary but so is getting the best care and not being forgotten about and being able to get timely results from your provider.

taysun

They can't predict how long a NST will be. It depends on how quickly they get what they need.
But you should bring up your concerns and see what can be addressed.

sanayeli

I usually have to wait longer than 20 minutes . It's understandable you get frustrated . It's always good to vent in any way possible .

vneverett7

I have been in this scenario when I first found out I was pregnant in April. I finally got so frustrated that I made a little ordeal about having to wait so long and how it was frustrating because we in fact do have lives and other children as well. I am an outspoken person anyways but I do try to stay respectful. When I voiced my issues the doctor was nice enough to apologize and they haven't wasted my time like that again.

tdart14

The only part that sounds bad to me is the being forgotten. And mistakes happen. The way my Dr office is set up is that Dr is on call during the week if one of his/her patients goes into labor. So my doc running late is due to someone having their baby. And that someone will be me and someone else will have to wait for their appointment. Taking time off work is something that some of us have to do. I'd rather ensure the health of my baby and sit there and wait (not saying you don't want the same, just explaining how I feel).

kynbar5

You kind of need to keep in mind that once you have a child, things tend to run on their time. You may need to wait 20 minutes or so extra than what was planned because something was spilled and now clothes need to be changed, someone got sick, your potty-training toddler decided right as you were walking out of the door he needs to poop, there was a meltdown of some kind, something was forgotten and you had to turn around, etc. Life gets kind of unpredictable and you get some curve balls thrown your way. I hardly think throwing a fit, getting upset or huffing and puffing around is going to be the best option. I mean, you can't change kids after they make you late for a few things or don't follow your schedule to a T. I'm thankful for a busy doctors office because that just shows me how sought after my doctor is and that he doesn't rush his patients through the door just so the next one doesn't throw a tantrum because she had to wait.

PedsIsHardcore

I'm high risk and I have never had any of those issues. I have never been forgotten during an NST or not been able to watch the whole ultrasound the tech is doing. I have type 1 ddiabetes with a history of low amniotic fluid. I would tell your OB the issues you are having. It's one thing to have to wait every once in a while due to an emergency, but my opinion is it doesn't sound like they are respectful of your time and commitment to ensure your baby is healthy. If it was me, my OB knows I would throw a huge fit and no one would be happy. I have other appointments too and I'm a nurse so I also have patients to see. I would say something.

Hector33

You are kidding right? I would give anything to only wait 20 min! half way through the pregnancy I was classed as high risk so had to be seen on a fortnightly basis- at this point I was still working. I had to travel 1.5 hours to the hospital and wait a minimum of 1.5 hours to be seen and then drive 1.5 hours back home.

The last time my appt was at 9.30am, I did not get seen until 12.15pm as they had 'lost me' turns out they were working off 2 lists and had me on the wrong list! It was the first time meeting my actual OB and she didn't know how many weeks I was, the fact that I was booked in for a c section and the fact that im o neg blood type and needed my 34 week anti d injection! My DH and I had already left the room and then I turned to my DH and said I'm sure I was meant to have an anti d injection today! We quickly went back and told the OB and her response was 'oh are you a neg blood group!? Lucky you came back then'.