? about doctor's office procedure...

MrsGoldenberg

Hi Ladies!

My husband and I just moved to the Seattle area from San Diego, so I had to find a new OB asap. The one I am going to now, I got as a referral from a dear friend. I went to the first appointment, and everything proceeded like normal. Yesterday, I went for my second appointment, and I am growing a little concerned. 

The nurse asked me if I had been shown how to test my own urine for protein and glucose. I guess I had a look on my face that said "What the hell are you talking about?" Apparently, at this office, you are responsible for testing your own urine for protein and glucose, as well as taking your own weight. You are then to record everything on a scrap piece of paper and give it to the nurse when she comes in to perform her only task: taking your blood pressure.

 Now, this is not my first pregnancy. I have never had to check my own levels before, nor do I feel qualified to do so. One of my best friends has her masters in Med Tech and this is what she was trained to do. When I told her what happened, she was appalled and mad. 

Now the question: Is this normal?? My mom told me that I should just tell the office that I am not comfortable to doing my own lab work, and to ask them to bill my insurance company. I'm not really sure how to handle this situation! I miss my old OB in SD!

jenn6180

You should NOT have to do your own tests!  Find a different doc ASAP

sjp

That is definately odd--this is my third pregnancy and I have never had to do those things myself.  I would either speak up or find a new practise.

sorry you are going through this.

LaurenCase89

I would not be comfortable doing my own urine testing! I would say something to the office, this is their job not yours. I don't know if I would continue to go to this OB. It would just make me uncomfortable.

k.martell

You aren't diagnosing anything, so it's legal.  And I'm sure you can get the strips at any Drug Store.  The weight makes sense, you can weigh yourself at home, in privacy, and if done at the same time it will be very consistent.

If you are not comfortable with at home testing then let the Dr. know.  If they insist that it's office policy then search out another OB.

jhunter89

Welcome to Seattle!

I'm going to a midwife, so it's a little different, but I check my levels and weight myself during my appointments. For the one I do, you just hold a test stick in the stream while you pee and tell the doctor/midwife what colors show up. It's like a ph stick for a pool. Pretty easy and fool-proof!

TechieGirl1

Seems sort of odd to me, I'd be switching ASAP!

MrsGoldenberg

Thanks ladies! I think that I am going to follow my mom's advice and say that I am not comfortable doing this myself and let the office figure out how they want to handle me. If they fight me on it, I will go somewhere else. I shouldn't have to worry about doing the testing myself every month. 

I really appreciate the responses!! Thank you so much!

WiFeY 4 LiFeY

Wow, IMO this is not normal and I wouldnt feel comfortable doing it. It seems like the nurses are overworked so they have you do this..or just lazy! I would find another OB. Whats next, you get to deliver your own child?! (Im j/k, but I find it very odd!)

4Loves

I live in Northwest Ohio and where I live this is completely normal. The strips are color coded so they are easy to read. I do not weigh myself, but I do check the protien and glucose. I agree with PP though and if you are not comfortable then you should tell them. At my office they used to have u check it and then give them the strip for them to read. Maybe they can do that for you too. Good luck and I hope they listen to your concerns.

khill86

At my OB, you come in, the nurse has you come back to take your weight when she's ready, and then then she gives you a little stick to pee on. You only tell her if it turns green. I'm totally fine with that procedure. A friend of mine's OB office makes her take a sample cup home after her every appointment and bring a sample to her next one. I much prefer the procedure at my office.

judahsmommy1

With both this OB and my previous one I gave a urine sample before the appointment started. They checked my levels for me. I would feel a little weird about it.

Nygirl76

With my previous pregnancy I saw midwives and before each appointment I would test my urine- very easy with a test strip, and weigh myself and then tell them the results.  I actually preferred it, felt like it gave me a bit of control.

With this pregnancy, I go to an OB, and the nurse tells me to pee in a cup and leave it on the counter.  She sticks the strip in and then disposes of the urine. 

She also weighs me and comments on my weight.  I could do without the comments, to be honest, especially since I am only one pound above my pre-pregnancy weight (at 20 weeks) and she said, "Wow, you gained 4 pounds since your last appointment."  like it was too much.  I told her I had actually lost a bit of weight and now was 1 lb. over my pre-preg weight. Not something to be concerned about, in my book. 

Eyelyn

My provider has me check my own weight and protein/glucose levels. It isn't any more difficult than matching colors really, and it doesn't bother me. It isn't really lab work either.

naybird

This is odd. I have never heard of that before. I would be uncomfortable doing it too.

Is it too late to find a new OB? It makes me wonder what else they want you to do for yourself.

deeva_22

My OB checks my protein /glucose levels..I would feel uncomfortable as well! I would follow your mom's advice and tell them you do not feel comfortable..if they insist..switch! That is absurd!

Twizzle

I checked my own urine and weight during my last pregnancy, where I got care at a birth center with midwives.  I didn't think it was a big deal--there is a color coded strip you check it against and if you have questions or aren't sure you can just ask. 

This time around I'm going to a different midwife group and so far they haven't even checked my urine at all, I assume they will check it later on.

Checking urine for protein or glucose is really easy to do.  Type 1 diabetics or people at risk for it do this at home on their own all of the time.  It's not a test that you need an MD or nursing license for. 

BoeingBabies

Try Seattle OBGYN, they are on Madison, all women practice.  I've never been asked to do that!  They use Seattle Ultrasound for all Ultrasound appointments.  I can highly rec. Dr. Sarah De La Torre, she's fabulous!  They are a little quick with appointments but I always get my questions answered, and I've never waited to be seen more than 15-20 minutes, although those were all GYN appointments.  For OB appts I'm usually getting taken back to a room before I even give a urine sample!  

 They also have great classes at Swedish, so as a hospital we like them a lot.  I hear good reviews about Evergreen as well!

Hope this helps!