amnio/ anatomy scan question

KaeBride

Hello.  I had an amnio a few weeks ago and found out everything was normal.  Right after doing the amnio, the doctor told me that if everything was OK, then I should come back at 20 weeks to do a detailed anatomy scan.  So I scheduled the appt. 

I went to my regular OB last week and told him about my appt. for the detailed scan at the perinatal center.  He said that it was not really necessary to go there, and that he was going to do the same thing at my next appt. 

Did anyone's amnio doctor request this type of scan after a normal amnio?  I'm tempted to just cancel the appt. at the perinatal center because I'd have to take off work and pay a bigger copay than at my normal OBs office.  What would you do?  Thanks! 

amoureux

If my amnio came back fine, I would see no reason to have my big u/s at the perinatal center.

BrideBuddies

Kae... here's something my OB warned me about.

In my town, the "big" downtown hospital that does the amnios will literally try to schedule you away from smaller practices.  Basically, they try to steal clients.   Make you unknowingly think that they're taking over your care, when they are just trying to get your money.

Kinda sounds like what's happening to you.   When you think about it, it makes sense.   Competition and all....

Peppernut

I'd cancel it, and have your regular OB do it. 

ValentineNJ

I had an amnio and then was instructed to go the hospital for my Week 20 Level 2 Anatomy Sonogram.  The machine at the hospital is able to see higher resolution and a perinatologist/radiologist read the scan.   If your doctor has a machine of the caliber to do a detailed scan and is trained in reading these scans then go for it in your drs office.  As someone who has spent a lot of time around radiologists I am more comfortable having a specialist read this scan as I don't know the depth of training that OB's (the ones I know only have limited training in this) get in reading Anatomy scans vs. a perinatologist/radiologist.

Laura Cochran

If your OB has the equipment and the training there is no reason for them not to do it. My OB's U/S equipment is straight out of the Flintstones so I definitely went to the peri. It was just a nicer setting too, they have big screens on the wall so that everyone can see.

Julia-Henry

lebraly:

If your OB has the equipment and the training there is no reason for them not to do it. My OB's U/S equipment is straight out of the Flintstones so I definitely went to the peri. It was just a nicer setting too, they have big screens on the wall so that everyone can see.

 

This.

I've had two big anatomy scan ultrasounds (in different places). Both times, my OBs have sent me out to places with special equipment and techs who were trained to read them. Then, a perinatologist has looked at the results. My regular OB cannot and does not do this. If yours does, great. But I liked knowing that baby was seen by a perinatologist at least once along the way.

redsox_baby

My OB's office has the AMA moms and the other high-risks moms do all the ultrasounds and NT testing at the specialists. They said that it's better to have the experts on-hand to read the scans than to send the scans for an after-the-fact reading at the medical center, which is what they do for the non-high-risk moms (including me last time...). I guess they like to cover their bases because if the doc reading the scans is right there, then they can spend more time zooming in if there is something they notice instead of making you go back in another time.

 

However, if your OB who you trust doesn't see a reason for it and you're happy doing it at your regular doc's office, I see no reason why not to stick with the regular doc!