Appointments week of 4/23

bubsalicious

My phone wanted to change appointments to disappointments. Hope that's not a sign of the week!

Any who...what's the doctor have to say this week?

jayandaplus

@absbubbs Haha, your phone sounds like it's having a case of the Mondays.

Midwife OB appointment tomorrow and "newborn basics" baby class. I'm hoping I can make it through this uterine irritability until tomorrow and don't have to see them again today. 36 week ultrasound on Friday! It's a big week.

starphish18

I have my 36 week appointment on Thursday, and they're doing an US to check my fluid levels. Hopefully everything looks normal. Anyone familiar with what low fluid levels would mean for the end of pregnancy?

melonmug

GBS test done this morning. Should know results in a few days.
Cervical check done today (35+5), and 2 cm dilated. Cervix is soft/ripe. Cervix still has length to it (not effaced).

This is baby #2, so I think that is pretty normal. I've heard that you can walk around for months at 1-2 cm after you've had one, but it is nice to know that my body is prepping.

Very pleased with today's report!

Yiggle09

@starphish18 Dr Google says 
most cases of low amniotic fluid happen well into the third trimester, when no more than keeping a close eye on things is needed. Doctors will carefully monitor fluid levels and your baby's growth. To keep you hydrated, you may need extra fluids through a vein (intravenously), if your doctor has concerns. 

Low amniotic fluid can, however, cause labour complications. For example, your baby may be in a bottom-down (breech) position, and not have enough room to turn into a head-down position.

If your waters have broken early, you may go into premature labour. Doctors will weigh up the risks of this happening against the risk of infection setting in if your baby stays in your uterus. You may be given antibiotics to prevent infection affecting your baby. 

Once you're in labour, there's a higher chance of your baby becoming distressed. He may do his first poo, a blackish substance called meconium, into the amniotic fluid. If he inhales the meconium, it may cause him to have breathing problems when he is born. 

Another problem may be that the umbilical cord gets accidentally squashed by your baby while he is being born. Your baby will be carefully monitored, to make sure he's doing well. If he becomes too distressed, you may need to give birth by caesarean section.

starphish18

@Yiggle09 Ack, hopefully everything looks normal.

BabyMC517

We have the epidural consult this afternoon, OB 36 week appointment Wednesday (not sure if she'll be doing a cervical check or not, and I've been told no more u/s unless they think something is wrong or I guess I can request one), and our last lamaze class Thursday! Big week! 

Question, for those of you who have no more u/s like me and they just do the fundal height measurement, are they able to tell you a guesstimate as to have big baby will be? All I got last time was he's measuring on track...

WombThereItIs

I have no appointments scheduled at all right now because I am getting bumped to a new doc. Sometime this week I expect to hear when she wants to see me. I just had my 35w on Friday so I wouldn't be surprised if with the scheduling lag I don't go back until 37(?) or later, my new doc is on night shift right now so maybe I will see a third person in the meantime, I really have no idea. 

I kind of like not having to go in all the time though so I'm rolling with it. 

jayandaplus

@WombThereItIs Especially being a STM, I'm sure it's nice not being overwhelmed by quick appointments.

ShadeofGreen816

@babyMC517 I would guess that without an ultrasound they won't give you much of a guess other than "on track is probably "normal" 7-9 lbs and "small" is smaller and "big" is bigger. However, even u/s measurements are notoriously inaccurate. We had an u/s bc I was measuring small, but turns out she's bigger than average. I'm trying to take that with a grain of salt, since I know how wrong it can be!

nda_roxybabe

I have an appointment with an orthopedist on Wednesday for my thumbs/ wrists and I can not wait. Really hoping they just give me the steroid shot right then. I want my hands back!

jayandaplus

@nda_roxybabe I hope the appointment goes well and they can give you some relief or at least a good plan!

Yiggle09

@BabyMC517 your question brought me back to my birth. So at 20 weeks we had anatomy scan then just fundal measurements after. so I get to hospital and the Dr's feeling inside and was like oh adrienne youll be fine he's small 6 lbs not much more.. I believed her. in hindsight how can feeling inside my vag tell you that. So anyway as I'm pushing my husband is watching the head come out and he's like babe he is small! Then the whole head popped out then he popped out and he was 8 lbs! My husband goes I'm sure glad he didn't have the tiny head I thought at first lol

lilbeautysxt

37 week appt tomorrow!! Crazy how it's getting close to the end!! 

NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot

@BabyMC517 What is an epidural consult?

I have an OB appt tomorrow.  I already found out the results of my GBS test were negative. I was having very frequent BH last night of up to 10 an hour after I spent all afternoon making a shit ton of freezer meals. After a bath, they went away.  I'm interested to hear what my OB thinks of that tomorrow.  I'm sure it was nothing as I typically have BH often throughout pregnancy.

BabyMC517

@ShadeofGreen816 that's what I figured...just another unknown with pregnancy! 

@Yiggle09 what a story! Goes to show you that they really can only predict so much. And, seriously, how do you tell by feeling inside you how big the baby will be? That's crazy! 

@NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot they go over the procedure and I believe we will fill out the paperwork ahead of time. My dr's office had it in the packet they gave us with the hospital registration information and suggested to have the consult if we are planning for the epidural. I'll let you all know how it goes! 

cclaineDC

Hmmm. At my 36 week appt 2 Fridays ago, the doc said I was 0cm, 70% effaced, and baby was engaged at -2. But last Friday, at my 37 week appt, a different doc (with painfully large hands for a cervical check, and he was in a terrible hurry, ugh) said he probably wouldn't even say 70% (no comment on the other stats). Does anyone have an insight about whether these position/cervical estimates tend to vary by doctor, kind of like fundal height measurements? 

My 38 week appt is this upcoming Friday. It's with yet another doc in the practice group. We're also meeting a pediatrician tomorrow, and taking a baby care class tonight. Last minute everything... ahh.

vrj0522

@BabyMC517 - With my first my last u/s was at 20 weeks and they still gave me a guesstimate towards the end but I think most doctors would probably hesitate because of the reasons @ShadeofGreen816 listed. If an u/s can be off, much more so guessing size just through feeling. 

chocolatelemons

@BabyMC517 My OB doesn't do ultrasounds other than the 20 week one, so it's just been fundal measurements for me. I asked about the measurements at 34 weeks and she told me that I was "measuring ahead" but wasn't concerned. She said I was 38 cm, which would be 2-4 ahead. At my last appointment last week (36 weeks), I asked the OB the same question- how the baby was measuring and this doctor told me that if she had to guess, the baby will be anywhere from 6.5- 7 pounds, but she also said she's not good at guessing weight. So, obviously, measurements are very subjective.

My weekly appointment isn't until Thursday, but your question got me thinking. How does one know if fluids are too high or too low without an U/S? 

MrsFreeman2010

@cclaineDC   I hate cervical exams because they are so vastly different. Especially percentages (effacements). We joke around that it doesn't really matter until your 10 cm and we can all agree what that feels like.   Imagine sticking your hands in a tight box and feeling for a rubber band/hair tie. The put your pointer and middle finger inside the hair tie and stretch it. That's basically all we do. Then how far we stretch it is how dilated you aren't. We all have little tricks like my two fingers smooshed together side by side is 3 cm. So I can judge more or less than that.  But differences are so small and don't make a differnence in the grand scheme of things. 

nda_roxybabe

MrsFreeman2010 said:

@cclaineDC   I hate cervical exams because they are so vastly different. Especially percentages (effacements). We joke around that it doesn't really matter until your 10 cm and we can all agree what that feels like.   Imagine sticking your hands in a tight box and feeling for a rubber band/hair tie. The put your pointer and middle finger inside the hair tie and stretch it. That's basically all we do. Then how far we stretch it is how dilated you aren't. We all have little tricks like my two fingers smooshed together side by side is 3 cm. So I can judge more or less than that.  But differences are so small and don't make a differnence in the grand scheme of things. 

That makes sense. My Dr. said I'm exactly a fingertip which is 1cm to her.

BabyMC517

@NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot so the epidural consult was what I thought. We watched the video and filled out all of the paperwork. We also put the deposit down for it even though it will go through insurance. Now we don't have to watch or sign anything while I'm in pain! We also turned in our hospital registration forms. Woohoo! 

hp_momma

BabyMC517 said:

@NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot so the epidural consult was what I thought. We watched the video and filled out all of the paperwork. We also put the deposit down for it even though it will go through insurance. Now we don't have to watch or sign anything while I'm in pain! We also turned in our hospital registration forms. Woohoo! 

You have to have a deposit for an epidural?!

starphish18

BabyMC517 said:

@NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot so the epidural consult was what I thought. We watched the video and filled out all of the paperwork. We also put the deposit down for it even though it will go through insurance. Now we don't have to watch or sign anything while I'm in pain! We also turned in our hospital registration forms. Woohoo! 

That's bizarre to me. I've never heard of having to watch a video or put down a deposit before getting an epidural. Are you giving birth at a traditional hospital?

BabyMC517

@hp_momma and @starphish18 I thought it was weird too, but we also had to pay upfront for L&D through my OB. It's called the Birth Place and it's right next to the hospital. Everything is set up like a traditional hospital though even though it's not in the actual hospital. We kept all of the paperwork and what not so if I end up not having the epidural then we can get our money back. I'm not sure why the video, but it just talked about the procedure, which we'd actually already saw in our Lamaze class last week. Not a big deal and then we talked with the nurse. I thought everyone had to watch something or talk to someone about it, but I guess every place is different!

NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot

I've never heard of a epidural consult or down payment either. But this time my hospital did try to get me to pay what's left my deductible ahead of time. The lady on the phone told me it was so I didn't have to do all of that stuff while I was in labor. I was like, "honey, if I come in there with precipitous labor, I'm not getting a debit card out." I'm good for the money. 

cclaineDC

@MrsFreeman2010 Thanks, that makes sense. 

cato99

I've been getting weekly ultrasounds for the last few weeks and they only check amniotic fluid levels and cervical length, not baby size. The size estimate is always done just through belly measurement. I'm 38 weeks and have never gotten anything more precise than "you're measuring on track," so that seems pretty consistent with those of you whose last ultrasound was the AS! Idk if this week's appointment may increase in precision since I'm nearing the end, though. 

SKZW

I'm at the other end of the spectrum. We've done growth scan u/s at I think the 32 and 36 week marks. The ultrasonographer measures baby's head, belly, and femur and estimates development size from that. (In fact, the compy does it automatically and you can see the percentages pop up immediately!) I'm so curious and fascinated by what's going on in there that I know I'd be disappointed not knowing that info.

jayandaplus

@cato99 I've heard (FTM so I don't know) that the closer you ae to EDD/further along gestationally, the less accurate the u/s is at determining baby's size. I could be wrong. We have a 36 week u/s Friday.

MTB16

We have an appointment for fluid check / growth u/s on Friday with reg. OB checkup.  I had low fluid levels at last weeks appointment, baby was breech and is measuring in 18% for weight, but normal for length.    

We discovered the low fluid level last week during what was a repeat growth u/s since I have been measuring small, and now the fluid is a reason for weekly  u/s to make sure everything is ok.  

@starphish18 good luck at your appointment I hope your levels look good!!  My doctor said the fluid will prohibit baby from turning vertex at this point and makes me a poor candidate for flipping him manually.  A amniotic wikipedia page says it could indicate a problem with the placenta providing nutrients and fluids which I'm guessing is why they will continue to monitor levels weekly if they remain low. 

bubsalicious

Not sure where I heard it, but I have heard of having to put a deposit down for an epidural. I thought it was odd that an epidural was the only thing they wanted a down payment of. 
Well, done with all of my appointments this week. Dentist said I needed a crown, but will have to wait until baby is here. Luckily he put a temporary filling in so I can eat on that side and more of my tooth hopefully won't break. Then I wrote down the time wrong for my doctor's appointment and showed up late. Luckily they were able to get me in, which I mean, it took all of 5 minutes, I would've been upset if they hadn't. Baby is head down and he is estimating 5.5 lbs currently. Not sure how he guessed that since he just felt the outside of my belly, but whatever.

BabyMC517

RE: down payment for the epidural and L&D for my dr's office. I remember the financial specialist we spoke with when we first found out we were pregnant said that they set up the payment plans for their office because they had people not paying in the past. It is just a way to ensure that they get their money. If after they bill my insurance they find out that more of it is covered that way, we will get some of the money back. If I end up with a c-section for whatever reason, I would qualify for the medicaid I had applied for since it will be more than what was originally being covered and would most likely get all of our money back. I'm pretty sure I'm remembering that all correctly, but not sure it is coming out right...

vrj0522

Had my last OB appointment this morning (39w2d). Cervix is still high and thick but I am 2 cm dilated. If baby is not here by Sunday, I get to check in at the hospital that night to get on cervadil and will be induced Monday morning. I am hoping he comes on his own this weekend but I am excited that the end is in sight! 

ChristinaWild

@vrj0522 - that's exciting!! FX that he comes this weekend, but if not hooray for maybe the first May board baby who arrives in May!

jayandaplus

@vrj0522 Yes, what if you had him on your EDD, May 1st?! Epic on so many levels.

Met with a midwife for the third day in a row. Less twinges today (which apparently are contractions on a monitor) but still having back and pelvic discomforts (which apparent are related to uterine irritability on a monitor). So, not working tomorrow and hopefully I feel better tomorrow. If not, we're going to assume this is my new baseline and I'll work and go about life as usual. None of the midwives want to say that this means I'll go into labor early, but none of them will say it doesn't mean that either (35w5d). I'm on weekly visits. I hope baby is tracking well at ultrasound Friday-- I could use the encouragement. If baby is small/big I'm going to be even more anxious about my uterine irritability!

RainyDays86

I'm so sorry about the uncertainty @jayandaplus!

ChristinaWild

Just had my 39 week appt (technically one day early!). No real progress except lots of discomfort for Mom, this little lady is perfectly content to stay where she is. I've got one more visit scheduled for next week, and if she doesn't come on her own we will make plans for induction. 

BabyMC517

Just got to my weekly appointment and was told my dr literally just ran across the street to the hospital to deliver a baby! They're going to try and get me in to see someone else. Crazy! 

ETA: no baby but still had to meet with the other dr because mine was so behind! Negative for GSB, good heartbeat, couldn't tell if he was still breech or not (he wasn't cooperating). So, we get an u/s next week to check position and check weight, which we all know could be off, but still fun to find out! 

ETA 2: because I forget everything now...cervical checks start next week

MrsCPALeslie

Just had my 36 week appointment about an hour ago. Dr did the group b test and that didn't hurt at all and then she did a cervical check which really doesn't hurt either just a bit uncomfortable. She said there was no dilation and she thinks I'll make it to my due date, but they wouldn't let me go past 2 weeks but I have the option not to go past 1 week. 

chocolatelemons

So, I go to an "all women" group of doctors which I specifically chose because they are all women. I know it's not a big deal for everyone, but I really prefer a woman doctor. Today, the OB I saw told me that there is a male doctor who is covering on Wednesdays now because one OB "is not going to be in for a while". I feel really angry that I chose them based on the fact that they advertise themselves as all women and now I'm possibly going to have a man deliver my baby.