Appointments - Week of 4/24

mkrel

I thought I would start an appointments thread since quite a few of us seemed interested in it. Post all things appointment related here. 

Stankonia2014

I have my final growth scan before induction today and my weekly BPP. I'm anxious to see what he weighs, though I know it isn't totally accurate. I'm also anxious to see if my fluid has increased any.

Update: LO is 5lbs at 33+3 (52nd %ile), fluid actually went down and is in good range. 

c1tym0m22

After Friday's L&D "fun", I'm back to not feeling right but didn't feel like being told to go back to L&D. So I moved my Wednesday appointment to this afternoon to hopefully get some guidance on what can be considered "my" normal from a Braxton Hicks / contractions perspective before the anxiety and internal debate get the best of me. 

Good luck today @Stankonia2014

Update: Relatively constant BH (and the occasional real contractions) aren't causing me anything other than discomfort - no need to take it easy or any restrictions since my cervix is long / not funneling. Phew.

Elyse1384

@Stankonia2014 and @c1tym0m22 I'm glad to read both of your updates!  

krex-2

EM has an appointment on Friday, but she's been out of touch for a few weeks now.  I hope things are going well, and should get an update from the agency after the appointment. Biggest issue is whether placenta is still "low lying" to try for vaginal birth.

danij0

I have an appointment on Thursday. I have an ultrasound to check my low lying placenta and my 32 week check up right after. Can't wait to see him - it's been 14 weeks!

amberp1528

I went yesterday and had my appointment and ultra sound (i get a lot due to being pulse sized) I am 33 weeks and he is already weighing 5 pounds 13oz so in three weeks we will be doing another growth scan and decide if he will be able to come out the old fashion way or if we have to use the window as my doctor calls it (a c section). His head is measuing in the 94th percentile so we are worried about him getting stuck and I told her I would rather make the decision early on what to do than wait until I am in labor. Other than that everything has been perfect including weight gain as they were worried I would gain a lot due to being bigger. Doctor did tell me not to buy new born clothes or diaphers and he will most likely not fit. 

MotherofDragons

Had my 34 week appointment this morning. Everything looks good and my next appointment is the delightful GBS swab. Yay. 

mkrel

@MotherofDragons I'm sure I could google this, but what exactly does the GBS swab entail?

@amberp1528 We were also told baby girl has a head in the 97% percentile at our 30 week appt and have a another scan next week at 34 weeks, so I understand how anxious you are to know what the plan will be! 

MotherofDragons

@MKRLTX A cotton swab of your vagina and butt region. It's really quick but always awkward. 

CapricaAndrea

MotherofDragons said:

@MKRLTX A cotton swab of your vagina and butt region. It's really quick but always awkward. 

My midwife talked about it, but said she would send me home with a package to just do it myself. I guess that's not the common practice? 

delujm0

I didn't have the GBS swab with DD because I literally had so much of it present in my urine at 12w and again at 36w that it was unnecessary.  Awesome.  I was clean this time at 12w so this sounds like it will be super fun at my 36w appointment....

mirdamae03

CapricaAndrea said:

MotherofDragons said:

@MKRLTX A cotton swab of your vagina and butt region. It's really quick but always awkward. 

My midwife talked about it, but said she would send me home with a package to just do it myself. I guess that's not the common practice? 

I've never heard of DIY GBS swabbing, but I guess it could be a thing since there are many who have to do their own urine samples. I've always had it done by OB at my 36 week appointment.

huzzahuzza

@MotherofDragons so does it stand for 'Gina Butt Seepage swabbing (yes I'm joking)? What does it test for? 

I really really REALLY must have been out of it with my first! I don't remember any of these tests! 

danij0

@huzzahuzza it tests for Group B Strep.

Stankonia2014

DIY GBS test, no thank you. Mine is next week too.

@krex-2, does she update the agency often? I can't imagine the not knowing, that must be so hard. Hugs.

Kylieslip24

If you are nervous about the swab you can ask to do it yourself. I did last time and they were fine with it. They told me what to do and left the room for a few min. It takes like 2 seconds. But then I went over due and they had to do it again that time I just had her do it and it wasn't a big deal. I'm sure I will be doing it myself this time since I also test my own urine. 

JessyKV

I've never heard of DIY GBS test.  It literally takes 2 seconds.  And they usually check you for dilation too at some practices.  Of course you can decline that part.  

There was just a bunch of drama in one of my Mom Facebook groups over a girl saying she wanted to decline the antibiotics for being GBS positive because she didn't want the babies gut flora messed up.  Never mind all risks of passing GBS to the baby.  It was a fun read. 

tmrussell

This has been one crazy day. It started with a regular growth scan ultrasound at the doctor's office. It turned into finding out that we had low fluid which sent me to the hospital for a non-stress test and then to a bigger Hospital in the area for a more in depth ultrasound. In the end they decided that my fluid level is okay and baby weighs about 6 pounds. I am exhausted and after this I am going to get the car seat out and pack my bags because we're getting close ladies!!!

I had GBS with my first and it wasn't a big deal just had to get antibiotics when I delivered. My doctor checks and also starts checking for dilation at that time. 

alm52386

We have our first appointment with the midwife tomorrow. Hopefully it goes well because I don't want to switch drs again..

delujm0

JessyKV said:

I've never heard of DIY GBS test.  It literally takes 2 seconds.  And they usually check you for dilation too at some practices.  Of course you can decline that part.  

There was just a bunch of drama in one of my Mom Facebook groups over a girl saying she wanted to decline the antibiotics for being GBS positive because she didn't want the babies gut flora messed up.  Never mind all risks of passing GBS to the baby.  It was a fun read. 

OMG some people are ridiculous.  Complications from GBS can be extremely serious.

 

I barely had time for my second dose of antibiotics with DD (they actually made me wait to push even though I was 10cm to give them time to get the antibiotics in, I remember this quite vividly), but somehow that didn't make it into my chart.  So when we saw the pediatrician they were like "we need to do a lot of extra screening because she only had one dose of antibiotics" and I was repeatedly like "THAT IS INCORRECT" but I just let them do it all anyway.  It would be nice to not have it this time though, primarily because apparently the policy at my hospital is that they won't give you the epidural until they push the first bag of antibiotics in.  I got admitted at 6cm and I wanted that epidural REAL BAD.  The L&D nurse was like "ok I'm going to REALLY slam this into your IV, it might hurt your hand and arm a bit" and I was like "it can't be worse than the back labor, so go nuts" haha.  She got it in me within 15-20 minutes and thankfully there was no wait for the anesthesiologist after that.

mombod

I did my own GBS swab last time. It took 2 seconds and was really simple. My midwife practice doesnt do cervical checks.

Stankonia2014

If I recall someone here had some pretty serious complications from GBS, so yeah, it's a pretty big deal.

CapricaAndrea

My midwife also put me on probiotics at my last appointment as she said in addition to helping out with the digestive system having more good bacteria vs bad bacteria, it also affects vaginal bacteria as well and could potentially clear up any GBS bacteria before taking the test/giving birth. I figure it can't hurt!

MotherofDragons

I've worked with babies that were affected by GBS infection. I will take a "messed up" gut flora, thanks. 

hopeful808

I got to be monitored at my OBs office for the cramps I have been having. She said I wasn't having contractions. But.  I have to drink more water and call if it continues. 

zseirecarg

@tmrussell glad everything turned out to be ok, but what a day!

mezalune

Just got home from my 32w appointment and growth u/s.  Baby is head down and fluid levels are normal.  He's SO showing up his older brother!

Kylieslip24

If anyone is worried about the whole gbs-gut flora thing, they have baby safe probiotics you can give them to build their flora back up. I put dd and I on some one she was just a few months old for yeast. So yeah, don't risk babies life by not taking antibiotics when needed, just fix that gut after. 

doodleoodle

I had an appointment today and everything looks good. I was also told at my next appointment I will be having the GBS test done. It sounds like it should be very memorable, but I cannot remember it at all from last time either. So I guess it's no big deal.

LAMCH1980

The GBS test really isn't a big deal. So many things about pregnancy are so gross to me. This is less "invasive" than a lot of it. Don't worry too much about it ladies! 

merrylea

alm52386 said:

We have our first appointment with the midwife tomorrow. Hopefully it goes well because I don't want to switch drs again..

Good Luck! Hopefully you feel comfy with your new provider.

Ahutch428

Had my 31 week appointment today. Everything looked good. Baby is measuring a week ahead, so I am going to have a growth scan at my next appointment. They also took blood, so fingers crossed my iron has increased. 

kahlan82

@Stankonia2014. Yes, my son had possible complications from my GBS. They couldn't conclusively prove it because they started antiobiotics in him as soon as he started having issues.

I will be getting antiobiotics whether I am GBS+ or not. I am hoping at my 36 week appt. I am not just to ease my mind some.

His gut got messed up from all the antiobiotics....we just put him on kids cutrelle and he was fine.

Next tuesday I have my 34 week check in. Hopefully, it will be uneventful.

shmarpler

Had my 32 week visit today. Measured right at 32 weeks, and baby is head down.

@CapricaAndrea, that sounds like my midwife. She has me on a probiotic, and recommends eating foods like greek yogurt and garlic.  I also will do my own GBS swab at 36 weeks.

CurlyMommy416

I'm not gonna lie, I'm getting stressed out about being GBS+  

Waiting4Fred

Are all of these growth scans normal? I had them weekly toward the end with my twins, but I haven't had an ultrasound since my a/s and won't have another one. 

kahlan82

@CurlyMommy416. Please try to not stress. What happened to me is not the norm with GBS+ after getting your antiobiotics.  My doctor called it a "perfect storm."  The copious amounts of meconimum had a huge impact on everything too.  Normally, being GBS+ isn't  a big deal. Just get your two bags during labor and go down the road.

delujm0

@curlymommy416 I agree with the above.  The only real way the gbs affected me was that I had to wait an extra 30 minutes to get my epidural bc they needed to push a bag of antibiotics first.  It really wasn't a big deal, and DD had no side effects from the gbs or the antibiotics, which is the norm.  Just make sure if your water breaks you go directly to the hospital (In a vast majority of women, their water breaks once they're already at the hospital, so this likely won't be a problem either).

Stankonia2014

Waiting4Fred said:

Are all of these growth scans normal? I had them weekly toward the end with my twins, but I haven't had an ultrasound since my a/s and won't have another one. 

I have GD and am on insulin, so typically no, these aren't normal. 

JAGinMI

Add me to the list of those who has been told to swab themself for GBS. I personally preferred that because I get so tense any time they go down there and I just like to have them down there as minimally as possible.