August appointments

merostomata

It's already another month, woohoo!

Who has an appointment in August?
Feel free to update on how it goes.

merostomata

I have one on August 1st (hence the excitement to make an August thread). Just a routine 16+5 appt. I'm excited for my husband to hear the heartbeat and all that jazz though, since he was out of town for the last one.

Edited to add- I also have an appointment on the same day with a pre- and postnatal psychologist, at the recommendation of one of the midwives. I have a history of depression and anxiety, as well as disordered eating Even though I'm feeling pretty good now in the second tri, it'll be really good to talk with someone about body image and just setting up for success in regards to PPD/PPA, which I'm pretty seriously concerned about.

sfgiantsgamerbabe

Official anatomy scan on Thursday and then doctor appointment on August 17th. 

galactickates

Dr appointment on Thursday with my H to hear DS's heart beat.  AS is scheduled fot August 20th

tosh24

I know it's not Aug yet but I have my first OB appointment tomorrow (17+1) and then my anatomy scan on Aug 16th @ 19+3. Really nervous for the AS. I feel like it's one of my last hurdles to jump - get through the AS and then get to viability. I think once I pass both of those milestones I'll be able to relax more.

Mandamay1414

My next appt isn't until 8/29 and my AS isn't until 9/12! That seems like eons from now.

oaklandava

I have a 4D ultrasound scheduled for 8/4 (we plan to do another between the 20 week anatomy scan and birth too for comparison!) and a regular appointment 8/7 with early glucose screening. We had tons of ultrasounds with ds, and haven't with this one, so I wanted to have similar pictures for the book. MIL and FIL will be coming to the 4D on Saturday, which I am ecstatic about because my MIL has been so awesome over the last 10 years. She's literally like my other mom, which since mine passed away, has been welcome. Good luck to everyone!

leighbrek

AS on the 8th, but won't get the results until the 21st. Sigh. But it's exciting! I'm hoping that the U/S technician will give us a drive-by during the U/S so we don't have to wait forever. Can't believe the halfway mark is already here.

BitterBetty12

Regular check with my OB tomorrow at 17+2 and then my A/S on the 21st. Really nervous to get to that appointment. That’s the big one.

MrsHudson2014

@leighbrek the US techs are actually not supposed to say anything. Maybe you'll get someone with a terrible poker face. 

I have a cervical check via ultrasound with high risk on 8/2, OB appointment on 8/8 and anatomy scan with high risk on 8/23. I also need to go get another blood test because apparently they didn't test my vitamin d levels the first time. 

leighbrek

@MrsHudson2014 Haha, I know! That's why I have my fingers crossed for a rule bender, though if it's anything like the first one, it'll just be a cranky lady.
Good luck with your appointments!

skilouise

I had no idea that you don't learn anything at the AS itself.  The 8 day wait between the AS and my next OB appointment is going to feel like forever.  Good to know though, so DH can plan to attend both. 

gorgeousariel

@AshVA my 20w scan with DD they told me everything. Ive never heard of them not telling you. Granted nothing was wrong with her but the tech explained everything thing she was doing. 

leighbrek

@gorgeousariel You had a good one! lol The techs aren't normally supposed to say anything about anything - all information is supposed to get relayed to the doctor or whomever, who then tells the parents. Like a very drawn out game of telephone.

BitterBetty12

@ashva I think it depends on how your scan is done. My OB practice (and most practices I know of in my area) refers all anatomy scans out to the high risk doctor (MFM). A tech does the ultrasound and sends images back for the doctors to review as the scan is happening. Once it’s done and the doctor has reviewed everything they’ll come in and share the results with you. The tech doesn’t share anything during the scan. But they would tell me what they were looking at (this is the kidney, these are her toes, etc).

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt

Following the ultrasound our doctor will review and then message us via my online health chart. She told us last time she would call if there was anything urgent or worrisome that needed to be discussed so we didn’t have to wait until the next appointment. I had lots of ultrasounds with DD1 and the techs tell you nothing.

ladystout08

I'm supposed to have a regular check up next Monday 8/6 but I think I have a UTI so I'm calling today so if I can get bumped up. I have a cervical check/ultrasound on the 15th to check the length and closure of my cervix b/c of LEEPs. A/S isn't until Sept. Being the end of the month sucks. lol 

emmaaa

@AshVA Although techs aren't supposed to say anything at the A/S regarding the baby's health, ours for DD said oh here is the heart and here is the brain, and let me get these measurements, look it's a girl! Then the docotr came in right afterwards and went over everything with us so there was not a wait for us

emmaaa

We have our next appointment and A/S on August 16

skilouise

 Thanks for the additional info! We're going to a radiology clinic for the scan itself, so I know we won't get any doctor feedback right away, but hopefully the OB will update my online chart within a day or two. 

mrsmang

We have a regular OB apt on 8/2, and our A/S on 8/23.  I'm anxious for that second appointment!  I'm hoping time moves quickly.

molosmiles

I'm finding this interesting, how all the different scans go. My doctor always did the A/S himself so I got all the info then and there. He sent me to a high risk perinatal Dr this time since I'm 36. The doctor there did the scan and gave me all the info right away too. I'm sorry some if you have to wait! That would be nerve-wracking!

I do remember getting my ultrasound on my thyroid done, and it was done by a tech so she couldn't say anything. But she was in training so another tech came in and took more scans and she kept saying my through was 'cool' and 'interesting' so I knew something was up. I thought her word choices were strange. Turned out to be cancer so maybe she was trying to tell me ??

BitterBetty12

Had my appointment this morning. My OB found baby girl on the Doppler super quick and she had a good strong HB of 151! Also had my blood drawn for the AFP screening (the neural tube defect screen). 

My OB and I talked about how different Second child pregnancies are from first child pregnancies especially in regard to how fast things seem to go. She was like ‘Just wait until your 3rd - I was having my third girl so I was like oh I’m prepared, I have everything. Then my water broke while I was working in labor and delivery and I realized I never even bought diapers and my 2nd kid was still sleeping in the crib she was supposed to use’. This is coming from a woman who now has 6 children (her 4th and 5th were twins). She amazes me.

Anatomy scan 8/21 and 21 week check 8/28!

gorgeousariel

Had my appt this morning, everything was good. They are happy with my SCH and confirmed its a boy. I was actually having a contraction right then, so she switched to a vaginal US to watch it better. She is going to show the Dr, if he disagrees with her findings then I will go to the MFM office for my A/S in 3 weeks. 

cakimes

Anatomy scan and a routine 20-week appointment with the midwives on August 21. I’m hoping baby cooperates and gives up the goods—I’m dying to know if it’s a boy or girl!

I’m also having sessions with a therapist every other week. I’ve been diagnosed with mild prenatal depression, and I have a family history of PPD and PPA, so we’re working on coping with how I’m feeling now, and creating a toolkit to help me after birth.

On a lighter note, my husband and I are taking our first class at the hospital on August 14! It’s a baby care basics class. Should be a good way to boost our confidence as first-time parents (especially for my husband, who hasn’t been around babies much).

BitterBetty12

@cakimes I'm so glad you started therapy! I think being on top of those feelings is really brave and should be a big help in the long run.

ladystout08

@cakimes I'm glad everyone is on top of your mental health. Far too often it gets swept under the rug. Big hugs.  

gorgeousariel

I had my appt this morning. Ultrasound showed my SCH is doing good and they are happy with it. Baby is confirmed boy! I was actually having a contraction during the ultrasound so she switched to vaginal to watch it better. She said it was all fine but would show the Dr. If he disagreed with her findings then I will go to MFM to get my A/S in 3 weeks. 

saltedcaramel518

Heard baby’s heartbeat this morning at 156   They tested the cultures from my swab last week (when I went in for bacterial vaginosis), and I have a yeast infection. Blah. 

Bonus: my dr won’t do the AS before 20 weeks, so she won’t do it at my next appt when I’ll be 18 weeks.. but she said I could come in 2 weeks after my 18 week appt for the AS! Last time, I had to wait until I was 23ish weeks because of how my appointments were laid out. 

ladystout08

Am I the only one who makes a list of what to discuss/ask with your OB at your next appointment? 

baileym9126

@ladystout08 I do this every time! I always forget to ask something if I don’t write it down.

greenhillgirl

I have an anatomy scan on Monday and it's my birthday. Excited for DH to see her in detail since he didn't see the last detailed one. It's at a center and they tell you all about it as they go along so no waiting.


merostomata i hope you find it helpful! I saw the same after IUI before I decided to do IVF because it messed with my hormones and triggered my clinical depression so badly. It turned out IVF wasn't nearly as bad for me as IUI and pregnancy hasn't bothered my depression at all so far. But def have concerns about post-partum. It's so great you're getting care and remember, anyone who is aware of these issues will have an advantage when it comes to dealing with them. Sadly, the people who are most at risk are those who have no experience handling mental illness, don't expect it, and get thrown for a total loop

wkuandrea

had a check-up today with my OB and it went well! Got to hear little girl's heartbeat made me feel so much better! 

MrsDho11

I have a routine check-up tomorrow-- as long as I remember to go.  I'm going to see one of the midwives instead of my OB because why not? I figure as long as things are going good (especially with my BP), I might as well rotate through them since they're the ones who actually deliver at my hospital anyway. Then if my BP goes haywire again, I'll probably just ask to be seeing my OB whenever I can.

I also have to meet with someone from their social work department after my appointment. I guess it is standard since I had PPD with DD. I'm pretty sure she'll go over what services they have for me and when I can start using them, etc. For instance, I know that I can start going to the weekly PPD group therapy sessions starting in the third tri sometime. Which I'll probably do in the hopes of not suffering completely obliviously for so long until I'm about to hit the bottom of the pit really hard again this time...

Anatomy scan will be August 28! I'm excited, though reading through the comments above has me curious how it will go. Last time I had a pretty chatty tech and then I a doc came in right away after and looked over everything and gave me preliminary results. BUT that was with me going to the high risk doc because there were Zika concerns and we needed better/more head ultrasounds. This time I'm just going to radiology at my normal hospital, so I wonder if it will be hopefully a chatty tech but then nothing official for a few days.  Hmmmm...

saltedcaramel518

I’m just going to throw this out there for FTMs getting the anatomy scan: your belly may be sore the next day. Mine was, and I seriously thought something was wrong. It’s just from the pressure of having the ultrasound wand moving on your belly for so long. 

MrsDho11

saltedcaramel518 said:

I’m just going to throw this out there for FTMs getting the anatomy scan: your belly may be sore the next day. Mine was, and I seriously thought something was wrong. It’s just from the pressure of having the ultrasound wand moving on your belly for so long. 

Oh yes! This is very true! (And I had forgotten, so thanks for the reminder!)

merostomata

@greenhillgirl thank you for the kind words I think the counseling will be really helpful and the psychologist was very nice and brought up some great pointers, particularly being open with my husband about some of my past issues so he can be more supportive and look out for warning signs for depression, disordered eating, etc. We ended up talking about body image for most of it, which I didn't expect, but has actually been a big issue as of late.

@saltedcaramel518 I'm so sorry- the ol' BV/yeast infection switcheroo is so frustrating. Here's hoping the next med does the trick and you feel better soon!

Had the routine prenatal appt today @ 16+5- heartbeat of 150 The midwife said my uterus was 'growing *very* nicely' which made me laugh. It was the way she said it. Apparently it's the size of a melon now?? Realizing that the uterus was that large now (when the baby is quite a bit smaller) helped make sense of how big the bump is.

Anatomy scan was scheduled for 8/31 @ 21 weeks...can't wait!

sparkymcgeee

Regular appointment tomorrow and then my doctors office will do an extra ultrasound to determine sex for $50. So I scheduled that as well. I don't want to wait until 21+ weeks when I have my anatomy scan. I was supposed to find out 6 weeks ago afterall. Still annoyed by that genetic testing. 
With my first two I went to an MFM for the A/S and was told right away after the scan. I didn't have to wait. My new office also makes people go to an MFM for all diagnostic scans so I think it will be the same here too. I spoke with the MFM at 13 weeks for the NT scan so I would be surprised if they did it differently for the A/S.

mrsmang

My appointment today went really well.  Dr said everything looks great.  We heard the heartbeat as soon as he put on the doppler, and heard head movements as well.  I brought DH with me and had him get video of the heartbeat.  It's the best sound!

haycole

We have our anatomy scan and next appointment on 8/14. It will have been 5 weeks since our last appointment so we're very ready to see LO again.

MrsDho11

Appointment this morning. BP was 130 over 66. That bottom number is great, and the top number is up a little. Sigh. Not loving that. She ordered some more in-depth pre-eclampsia type blood and urine labels so that we can get a good baseline. I’ll do those next week when I’m going in for my second tri screening bloodwork.

Didn’t gain any weight from last appointment though, so that’s good since I’d packed a bunch on early.

**Possible TW in the next paragraph for talk of difficulty finding HB.**

Everything is FINE with baby, but I got scared a little in the process. It’s still pretty early for Doppler + anterior placenta + baby was in a super uncooperative position, it turns out. So we had to switch to ultrasound and I mostly maintained my cool until baby was clearly snoozing and it took what felt like an eternity for her to get an angle where we could see the HB. I cried when she finally did.

**end TW**

Then right after that I had to meet with the social worker who started out by having me talk about my PPD experience. I cried. A LOT. Ugh. I was expecting that to be like “here’s a couple of pamphlets about services available” but instead it was more of a mini therapy session which, after the Doppler/US experience has me completely and totally emotionally drained.