February 2017 Moms
momousekee
member
Intake appointments?
momousekee
member
I can't decide if all intake appointments suck, or if my OB's office is a poor fit.
First, the appointment is 2 hours long. At the very end, there's a pelvic exam and a breast exam. For 2 hours I had to chat with a fully dressed nurse practitioner, while I got to wear a gown with a gaping hole in the back and a paper sheet. It felt like a completely unnecessary power play.
They re-dated my due date (5 days earlier) based on a ED ultrasound. No discussion and ultrasound CRL dating only has an accuracy of +/- 5-7 days anyway. I'd like to have been a part of that decision.
Doctor is apparently very weight-focused, and mostly concerned with patients gaining too much weight and having big babies. I had a tiny baby the first time around. My GI made me gain weight before he'd give me the green light for pregnancy because my gastroparesis flares pretty unexpectedly. NP agreed that I shouldn't be pressured to minimize weight gain, but didn't make a note in my chart.
Their timing for NIPT blood work (12+weeks) means that if it comes back with an anomaly, CVS isn't an option - it would have to be an amnio and a TMR would be a much more invasive and involved process. I don't know if that's a choice I'd make - but it's a choice I want to have.
It felt lacking in science. There were no technical terms, which I sort of understand - not everyone likes medical terminology. However she really skimmed over the tests she was recommending and ordering.
I know that a lot of the information they cover in that appointment is standard and the NP goes through it with someone new every day, so I want to cut them some slack. On other other hand - meh. It just left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
First, the appointment is 2 hours long. At the very end, there's a pelvic exam and a breast exam. For 2 hours I had to chat with a fully dressed nurse practitioner, while I got to wear a gown with a gaping hole in the back and a paper sheet. It felt like a completely unnecessary power play.
They re-dated my due date (5 days earlier) based on a ED ultrasound. No discussion and ultrasound CRL dating only has an accuracy of +/- 5-7 days anyway. I'd like to have been a part of that decision.
Doctor is apparently very weight-focused, and mostly concerned with patients gaining too much weight and having big babies. I had a tiny baby the first time around. My GI made me gain weight before he'd give me the green light for pregnancy because my gastroparesis flares pretty unexpectedly. NP agreed that I shouldn't be pressured to minimize weight gain, but didn't make a note in my chart.
Their timing for NIPT blood work (12+weeks) means that if it comes back with an anomaly, CVS isn't an option - it would have to be an amnio and a TMR would be a much more invasive and involved process. I don't know if that's a choice I'd make - but it's a choice I want to have.
It felt lacking in science. There were no technical terms, which I sort of understand - not everyone likes medical terminology. However she really skimmed over the tests she was recommending and ordering.
I know that a lot of the information they cover in that appointment is standard and the NP goes through it with someone new every day, so I want to cut them some slack. On other other hand - meh. It just left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
Re: Intake appointments?
1) Discussion was fully-dressed in my midwife's office, only changed for the pelvic at the end.
2) Midwife was moving it along as quickly as possible since I looked so nauseous, but it did take over two hours anyway. She kept trying to offer me crackers. It was cute.
3) Very detailed explanation of my genetic testing options without any pressure given in either direction. Medical terms used once she realized I was a nerd.
4) Encouraged a healthy diet, recommended snacks and nausea cures as well as exercise, but no pressure about weight at all.
I'm seeing a practice that includes both OBs and midwives, and I wonder if you might be happier in that sort of environment. What I like about the midwives is that they explain the research and let me make my own decisions about things like exercising with a subchorionic hematoma or whether or not heated yoga is safe. It's almost like if "Expecting Better" was a person. At the same time, I like knowing that OBs are nearby if I become high-risk, and I prefer to deliver in a hospital or hospital-connected birthing center.
I had a nurse appointment where we went over every thing last week for over an hour. She told me to come prepared to answer what genetic tests I'd like but they've already been explained in great detail to me.
The ultrasound takes 30 minutes, which seems crazy long to me, I had a pap just a few months ago so I know that won't be done again. With my daughter my first appointment was like 45 minutes including ultrasound and I feel like I walked out of there with a great understanding of what to expect over the next 9 months.
They have a "patient educator" go through everything with me, except it was all stuff I knew. And the packet she gave us had internet print outs from 2002... I was not impressed. Luckily I love my midwife haha
I have my US Friday (8 weeks based on and my LMP) and first OB appointment at 11 weeks where I will schedule any genetic testing and do the pap.
This is my first pregnancy at the practice, but I'm not new.