@PeachGal23 I was GBS+ with DS1 and the antibiotics went in really quick. It's just 1 bag of fluid and they can speed it up if necessary. I was shocked at how little of a deal it was when I was in labor. I wanted an epidural and had to have the antibiotics, and 2 bags of fluid before getting it, and it was still less than an hour and a half before I got the epidural.
@midwestbaby when I was taking my 3 hour glucose test the lady drawing my blood was telling me how the wrong labels were printed out from the day before so they had to go back and relabel everything. Between her telling me that, me failing the 3 hour, and not having any blood sugars that are remotely high I'm convinced that they didn't do something right.
I would assume that there is more room for error at the doctors office rather than the lab because the office is the one who actually labels and handles the samples more.
@midwestbaby I agree the lab does get blamed a lot and I wonder who really made the mistake? There were four retests that had to be done from the day that I was seen, so I am not sure how they are transported or labeled, but it was only the samples from that day. Side note: I have been to some amazing hospitals, but the one that I deliver at is basically my only choice (next closest is about 2 hours away) and this entire hospital doesn't have the best reputation. I really did consider going somewhere else, because there is an ongoing investigation into my hospitals lab because of a large Hep C outbreak that they are tracing back to an "Employee A," so at this point I think that any problems get blamed on the lab and everyone just goes with it here.
@kristynmac - I feel the same way regarding planning! We are only about 20min from the hospital, but I'm nervous about getting DD out the door with us, which will of course take an additional 30min thanks to toddler independence. And I agree on being safe regarding the lab results. How annoying, though!
@Lynnlove28 Up to 70 percent of all lab result errors are made in the pre analytical phase (collected in the wrong color tube/swab/etc, collected in the wrong manner (not mixing specimen properly, leaving a tourniquet on too long, not sending specimen properly for transport, collecting while and IV is running, mislabeling, I could go on and on) before they even make it to us.
Sorry in advance to get on my soap box. But lab techs in my experience are super anal about the integrity of our testing. We have to maintain our analyzers/instruments and run quality control on them multiple times a day to prove they are correct. We also have to result every specimen accurately (consequences could be getting fired). Our tech name and code are attached to every single specimen we result. I think it is very easy to blame the lab for errors because no one sees our faces.
I can't speak for all lab techs, but at the hospitals and clinics I have had the privilege of working at, most of my co-workers take their jobs very seriously. And our management doesn't keep people around who make mistakes on patient results. It is very rare and hard to mix up patients these days once the specimen is in our lab as everything is very automated and bar coded.
So my overall general advice to all the mamas on this board is to not be afraid to ask to see your labeled specimens before leaving the doctors office. Some hospitals and clinics are great about checking patient identification. But depending on what accrediting agency the hospital operates under or how management is run there, some don't check at all. Which is quite scary.
*TW Spoiler*
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks. 10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery 11/2/17 Twin A & B born 11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU Benched 6 months BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
boooo 37 week appt today and no check. I was kinda looking forward to seeing if this cramping was making any progress!!! oh well, at least i got my negative GBS result back, which is a relief!!
Had my weekly appointment this week (36 weeks 4 days.) Gained a *few* pounds but not worried about it. I lost last time. Declined the cervical check since I got checked last week. I also went over to the hospital to pre-register. Stuffs gettin real y'all!
@midwestbaby I have to admit, my MFM doctor owned why a test wasn't run. My OB blamed it on the lab, but the MFM straight out said "That wouldn't happen, that the lab would forget. Here is what happened : " and it sounds like the powers that be had enacted new policy to appease insurance companies... not the lab's fault at all for following protocol. While it was *technically* true the lab didn't run the test, the reason the lab didn't run it was because the doctor didn't give enough information to justify the test... and the reason the doctor had to justify the test was because of insurance companies.
@Allisun85 just commenting to add that we have BCBS Alabama and our coverage is TERRIBLE. We had BCBS NC until DHs company switched to Alabama because it's cheaper. Back to your regularly scheduled appointment thread.
Just got back from my 39 week appt. My doctor is going to induce me on my due date 8/4! I am so excited. I originally didn't want to have an induction but my doctor is going on vacation on the 5th and I would really prefer her deliver the baby. The other doctor at the practice manages to stress me out EVERY time I see her.... I feel like she would push a cesarean for no reason. 7 day countdown starting now!!!
I can't believe some places don't show you the label on collections. It makes me appreciate our hospital/lab/ob office even more. Our blood draw lab makes you initial everything to show you saw the labels and it was correct. My ob office hands us the label to put on the collection (so basically your own fault if you put on the wrong label) and has shown me the label on collections my ob has taken. I thought that was just standard procedure everywhere.
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks. 10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery 11/2/17 Twin A & B born 11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU Benched 6 months BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
Had my 37 week appointment today at 37w3d. Still no progress! So frustrating. I should have just stuck to my initial instinct and not gotten the checks every week. I did have a lot of clear fluid coming out that my OB checked for amniotic fluid just for peace of mind. Turns out it's just CM, which is good. Although I have to admit I almost wished it was so I could meet my baby! It's funny because I seriously thought this whole pregnancy I would have a July baby. But it's looking like that's definitely not going to happen. My doctor said we'll probably schedule my induction for a couple weeks from now at 40 and a half to 41 weeks.
We're back in limbo... My bile salts came back high, and showed increase from my previous test... But not high enough to meet the threshold to begin treatment... Or induce, since we are so far along that would be an alternative. Another set of labs... It's not a situation of "is" or "is not" but "let's keep an eye on it to see if you hit the threshhold or deliver first..." Now the doctor doesn't want to induce until my due date (maybe), even though the mfm recommended 39 weeks. She is going to reach out to the mfm and they will let me know next week. The MFM reccomended August 8th, and the OBGYN is saying we should go to the 15th. There was also glucose in my urine, and they have been watching me for gestational diabetes this whole pregnancy - I was diagnosed with "pre diabetes" as a teenager. So that's not great news. And apparently little guy put on a growth spurt. Another ultrasound next week since he went from measuring at 51st percentile to measuring three weeks ahead (by belly measures) So she wants to figure out what he is doing in there. Trouble maker. Basically a super frustrating appointment. Lots of "oh, this is wrong... But not wrong *enough* we are doing anything about it, but let's watch it reeeeeaaaaallly closely."
It's never fun to have more appts to keep checking. It's good to be cautious, of course. But I could see cause for getting baby out safely and soon. Good luck, as always.
@Allisun85 I'm sorry for your frustrating appointment! I hope they're able to treat you and do what's best for you and the baby.
Any one else not feel good after getting cervical checks? Both last week and this week I got a check and my back is killing me, there's a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen, I'm getting BH contractions, my bowels are messed up and I'm nauseous. Same thing last week. I assume the cervical check caused it unless it's just a coincidence. I always feel better the next day.
@JournoGrl23 yeah I am feeling the same way on day two in a row. I still have brown spotting, overall crampy-ness, headache, and lower abdominal pressure. I think I will definitely deny this check next week.
Work has been super busy tonight and I'm finally taking my first break almost five hours into the shift. I'm sure this is contributing to my headache.
*TW Spoiler*
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks. 10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery 11/2/17 Twin A & B born 11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU Benched 6 months BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
@midwestbaby I'm glad I'm not the only one. I was worried it was in my head. I think I may forgo the check next week as well. It's really hard to concentrate at work and sitting at my desk seems to make it worse.
I was thinking if I still feel crampy tomorrow, I may just call the nurse hotline. I think three days in a row would be a little long to feel this way.
I hope you feel better by tomorrow.
*TW Spoiler*
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks. 10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery 11/2/17 Twin A & B born 11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU Benched 6 months BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
@journogrl23 yeah - I had one this afternoon and I'm laying down now because my tummy hurts and I feel nauseous.
I'm barely dialated and my cervix is softening more than last week but, nothing major. I have a NST scheduled for next Thursday (a day past my EDD) so hopefully I make some more progress naturally before then!!
@midwestbaby I agree. I think three days is a long time to still feel that way. I get cramps daily but not like this and not super consistent. I would probably call if what I'm feeling now continued longer than a couple days. I hope you feel better soon too!
@Mrsrundell I'm sorry you're not feeling well either! I hope you show some progress next week. Especially since it'll be after your due date.
I might actually call in tomorrow if I still feel like this. It's getting worse. Now I'm incredibly nauseous and can't eat and feel like I have a fever (can't check until I get home from work). I'm worried I came down with something! I hope it doesn't affect LO.
I just had my 36 week appointment today. It went pretty good, baby is in my pelvic area but my cervix hasn't moved or opened yet. ( it has thinned out) So I still have a little bit of time to shop for last minute things and try to enjoy sleep when I can
@JournoGrl23 oh yuck. Yeah maybe you should rest tomorrow. Hopefully you don't have a fever. If you do, I'd definitely call your OB.
*TW Spoiler*
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks. 10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery 11/2/17 Twin A & B born 11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU Benched 6 months BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
I might actually call in tomorrow if I still feel like this. It's getting worse. Now I'm incredibly nauseous and can't eat and feel like I have a fever (can't check until I get home from work). I'm worried I came down with something! I hope it doesn't affect LO.
FX you don't have a fever!!
i'm battling an awful cold right now. DS had a fever and croup last week and I caught his bug. My sinuses are so swollen that I am struggling to breathe. Not fun considering there's a good chance I'll be delivering soon (I was in l&d last night for monitoring). the nausea may be an early sign of labor though. Hopefully it's not related to getting sick!!
@Curls919 I'm so sorry you're battling a cold and swollen sinuses! That's awful to deal with even when not pregnant. I hope you feel better soon, especially before you deliver. I just got home and checked and no fever! I don't know why I feel this way, but I'm hoping to feel better in the morning.
Had a NST this am. Baby wasn't moving much. Now waiting for an ultrasound.
Ugh I hate this anxiety! He's probably sleeping or something!
fingers crossed for you. when the same thing happened to me earlier in my pregnancy they had me drink some OJ and take a 5 minute walk to get baby moving.
We are all big buckets of misery at this point. Sorry to hear everyone is struggling, but I must admit, a little relieved to hear I'm not the only one. Crampy, my nose is so stuffy I can't breathe and nothing helps, moving hurts, and queasy. Ugh.
Not complaining because it's good to be sure of things.
But I hate waiting in the waiting room. My office is in a city with a low income type population and typically there will be incarcerated women and corrections officers along with some unsavory individuals. But hey everybody needs a doctor.
I have a doc appt today and last friday that i had my doc apt they did the strep test and i have not received a call to see if i passed or not.....anyone else??
@emmeline714 I didn't receive a call either, they just waited until my next appointment to tell me my results since you don't have to do anything about it until labor anyway. Maybe your doctor is planning to tell you at your appointment too?
@JournoGrl23 it just drives me crazy, and today i actually see the A.R.N.P (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner) which i am not happy about because she annoys me to the fullest she was the first person i had my first doc appt and everything to my questions was welcome to pregnancy, and she was one grumpy lady like she is just there because she gets paid and I have tried avoiding having appts with her and the nurse that schedules my appt usually asks who i want to see and I always prefer the doctor than her and she knew that and she just schedule me with her anyways, like she ain't going to deliver my child why would you schedule me with her (hormones are at full throttle today)
@emmeline714 How frustrating! I had a bad experience with a physician assistant one time with one of my doctors and they kept scheduling me with her too over my doctor, which I kept telling them not to. So I understand! It's much better to be seen by the person you trust and not someone who gives you a bad experience.
@emmeline714 My OB didn't say anything about passing or failing, but usually she doesn't say anything unless its bad news. She's a "no news is good news" type of doc.
Had appointment yesterday at 38w3d. Still 3cm, 50%, and -3, which is what I was last week. She did say she thought I was slightly more dilated, but not a 4. She also asked if I was open to an induction, just bc she thought I would be a good candidate. I told her that not unless there was a reason (baby is measuring big). She said we could chat again next week if I don't have the baby before then. It's funny, 2 weeks ago I was pretty certain she'd come at 38 or 39 weeks, and now I'm starting to feel like I might go late with this one!
Has anyone else stopped making increases in the stomach measurements? At 34 weeks I was measuring 39, so we did an US (baby in 80th %). Since then, I've measured 39 at every appointment, except for yesterday, which was 38. I pointed this out to the dr but she didn't seem concerned, just said maybe the baby had dropped. She always seems so distracted in my appointments though, sometimes I wonder if she's really looking at and remembering the specifics to my pregnancy.
Re: Appointment Thread
I would assume that there is more room for error at the doctors office rather than the lab because the office is the one who actually labels and handles the samples more.
Side note: I have been to some amazing hospitals, but the one that I deliver at is basically my only choice (next closest is about 2 hours away) and this entire hospital doesn't have the best reputation. I really did consider going somewhere else, because there is an ongoing investigation into my hospitals lab because of a large Hep C outbreak that they are tracing back to an "Employee A," so at this point I think that any problems get blamed on the lab and everyone just goes with it here.
Thank you for the advice and assurance, @Lynnlove28 and @Bookhousegirl!
Up to 70 percent of all lab result errors are made in the pre analytical phase (collected in the wrong color tube/swab/etc, collected in the wrong manner (not mixing specimen properly, leaving a tourniquet on too long, not sending specimen properly for transport, collecting while and IV is running, mislabeling, I could go on and on) before they even make it to us.
Sorry in advance to get on my soap box. But lab techs in my experience are super anal about the integrity of our testing. We have to maintain our analyzers/instruments and run quality control on them multiple times a day to prove they are correct. We also have to result every specimen accurately (consequences could be getting fired). Our tech name and code are attached to every single specimen we result. I think it is very easy to blame the lab for errors because no one sees our faces.
I can't speak for all lab techs, but at the hospitals and clinics I have had the privilege of working at, most of my co-workers take their jobs very seriously. And our management doesn't keep people around who make mistakes on patient results. It is very rare and hard to mix up patients these days once the specimen is in our lab as everything is very automated and bar coded.
So my overall general advice to all the mamas on this board is to not be afraid to ask to see your labeled specimens before leaving the doctors office. Some hospitals and clinics are great about checking patient identification. But depending on what accrediting agency the hospital operates under or how management is run there, some don't check at all. Which is quite scary.
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
@midwestbaby I have to admit, my MFM doctor owned why a test wasn't run. My OB blamed it on the lab, but the MFM straight out said "That wouldn't happen, that the lab would forget. Here is what happened : " and it sounds like the powers that be had enacted new policy to appease insurance companies... not the lab's fault at all for following protocol. While it was *technically* true the lab didn't run the test, the reason the lab didn't run it was because the doctor didn't give enough information to justify the test... and the reason the doctor had to justify the test was because of insurance companies.
So basically BCBS screwed up my lab results.
@catlady1027 Great news! There was a doctor at the practice I moved away from that was like that, so I know exactly what you mean.
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
Now the doctor doesn't want to induce until my due date (maybe), even though the mfm recommended 39 weeks. She is going to reach out to the mfm and they will let me know next week. The MFM reccomended August 8th, and the OBGYN is saying we should go to the 15th.
There was also glucose in my urine, and they have been watching me for gestational diabetes this whole pregnancy - I was diagnosed with "pre diabetes" as a teenager. So that's not great news.
And apparently little guy put on a growth spurt. Another ultrasound next week since he went from measuring at 51st percentile to measuring three weeks ahead (by belly measures) So she wants to figure out what he is doing in there. Trouble maker.
Basically a super frustrating appointment. Lots of "oh, this is wrong... But not wrong *enough* we are doing anything about it, but let's watch it reeeeeaaaaallly closely."
It's never fun to have more appts to keep checking. It's good to be cautious, of course. But I could see cause for getting baby out safely and soon. Good luck, as always.
Any one else not feel good after getting cervical checks? Both last week and this week I got a check and my back is killing me, there's a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen, I'm getting BH contractions, my bowels are messed up and I'm nauseous. Same thing last week. I assume the cervical check caused it unless it's just a coincidence. I always feel better the next day.
Work has been super busy tonight and I'm finally taking my first break almost five hours into the shift. I'm sure this is contributing to my headache.
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
I was thinking if I still feel crampy tomorrow, I may just call the nurse hotline. I think three days in a row would be a little long to feel this way.
I hope you feel better by tomorrow.
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
I'm barely dialated and my cervix is softening more than last week but, nothing major. I have a NST scheduled for next Thursday (a day past my EDD) so hopefully I make some more progress naturally before then!!
@Mrsrundell I'm sorry you're not feeling well either! I hope you show some progress next week. Especially since it'll be after your due date.
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
i'm battling an awful cold right now. DS had a fever and croup last week and I caught his bug. My sinuses are so swollen that I am struggling to breathe. Not fun considering there's a good chance I'll be delivering soon (I was in l&d last night for monitoring). the nausea may be an early sign of labor though. Hopefully it's not related to getting sick!!
Ugh I hate this anxiety! He's probably sleeping or something!
Not complaining because it's good to be sure of things.
But I hate waiting in the waiting room. My office is in a city with a low income type population and typically there will be incarcerated women and corrections officers along with some unsavory individuals. But hey everybody needs a doctor.
Has anyone else stopped making increases in the stomach measurements? At 34 weeks I was measuring 39, so we did an US (baby in 80th %). Since then, I've measured 39 at every appointment, except for yesterday, which was 38. I pointed this out to the dr but she didn't seem concerned, just said maybe the baby had dropped. She always seems so distracted in my appointments though, sometimes I wonder if she's really looking at and remembering the specifics to my pregnancy.