High-risk pregnancy questions....

Aimers6

So, a little background first...I'm 29, TTC #3, diabetic, have Hashimoto's Disease (thyroid disease) and some other little issues. When I visited my OB in June to let him know that I wanted to start trying he let me know that once a viable pregnancy is confirmed they will refer me to a perinatologist from Good Sam. My two daughters were born in Cali and I was able to have my regular OB do my check-ups, but I also visited the specialist from time to time. I guess in AZ the perinatologist sees you for the duration of your pregnancy and they only deliver at Good Sam for high-risk pregnancies. My questions for you Phoenix ladies are...

1. Is what I said above true in your experience?

2. How soon will a perinatologist see you for an exam? Do they make you wait the several weeks like a regular OB does?

Any advice would help....thanks!!

Kadyra

There are three perinatology groups in Phoenix.  PPA, who your doctor referred you to, and they deliver mostly out of Good Sam, although they have other offices throughout the valley associated with other hospitals (Arrowhead, Scottsdale Shea).  The St. Joseph's Department of Reproductive Medicine- Perinatology (DORM-P) Group, and they deliver out of St. Joe's and Chandler Regional.  I see them (and work with them) and they work with my ob-- although you are much  more complicated than I am, so they may want to see you exclusively.  The third doctor is Dr. Garbaciak (I forget the name of his practice) and he practices out of St. Joe's.  He doesn't deliver, but has residents deliver.  I also work with him, being a resident.  My ob had me consult with whichever group I chose to, and my preference was the DORM-P group for personal reasons.  The perinate did not think I needed to come back so he sent me on my merry way, but I would have been co-managed otherwise.

 Hospitals that deliver high risk patients in general are: Good Sam, St. Joe's, Maricopa Medical Center, Chandler Regional, Arrowhead, Banner Desert, Scottsdale Shea.... I work at a total of 6 hospitals.  All of them deliver diabetics and people with hashimotos.  Your doctor may  not deliver at all of them, but that is another topic.

Your ob may not be comfortable managing you because you do have multiple problems.  Your ob in Cali may have known you better or may have felt more comfortable with DM or thyroid issues or with multiple issues.  It is a matter of preference.  But PPA in particular doesn't always manage high risk patients completely apart from the general ob's.  If this is something you're uncomfortable with, I'd talk to my ob.

You can get in pretty quick to see a perinate here.  It's not like waiting to see an ENT or a dermatologist.  They know our pregnancies don't last forever and our problems are often acute so we need to be see quickly.

Aimers6

Thanks - that's quite a bit different than what my OB said. It's too bad that high-risk pregnancies aren't delivered at Banner Estrella or even Thunderbird for that matter since I'm on the west side, but I guess the commute downtown won't kill me.

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!

 Enjoy your surprise!!