My first L&D experience...(long vent)
kismetjess
member
I don't post often but thought I would share my first experience going to L&D last night and see what you ladies think...
I really didn't feel the baby move much on Friday, so when I got home I broke out the doppler just to calm my nerves. I found the heartbeat fine, but noticed that it sounded different, like there was an extra beat. I wasn't too concerned...brought it up to my DH later and he didn't think anything of it either (thinking it was probably picking up my HB or something too)
Saturday I was relieved that the baby was moving like crazy most of the day while we were at our childbirth class. Then from Saturday night to about 4pm Sunday the baby was completely quiet. I tried eating some apples to jumpstart her and laid down with some water for awhile, but nothing. So I called the on-call doctor and he recommended going to L&D just to calm my nerves.
Just before we left I broke out the doppler one more time and this time my husband heard the off heartbeat as well. So we quickly headed to L&D to get checked out. I honestly wasn't that concerned that something was wrong, but just wanted to double check.
We got there, got signed in and hooked up to the fetal monitor while the nurse brought me a giant pail of apple juice. The nurse actually had problems getting the heartbeat because the baby was moving around like crazy! She kept saying "Do you seriously not feel that" every time we clearly heard the baby kick on the monitor. I got the "your too early and your baby just has too much room to move around still" speech while the nurse continuously tried to get a good strip of measurement on the heartbeat. We mentioned hearing the off beat but since the baby wouldn't stay steady we really couldn't hear it well on the monitor. (I really just wanted them to bring out the handheld doppler and listen to that) She finally got it postioned so we could hear it decently, and said she'd be back in awhile to get the recording and talk to the on-call doc.
30 minutes later or so...she walked in and says "Well, its not good" Ofcourse I freak out by her choice of words, but she only meant that they wern't getting an accurate reading because she was so active. After trying longer another nurse eventually brought in a portable U/S. Everything looked good but in the middle she asked when I had my last U/S. and I told her at my anatomy scan at 17 weeks. Then she goes "Oh, well your doctor will probably give you another one about 26 weeks." I just looked at her and said..."Im 29 weeks now..." and she just blew off her mistake like no biggie. Meanwhile in my head I'm thinking "Does she look like she's measuring a good 7 or so weeks behind?" I got no comfort from the U/S considering she was looking at my baby on the screen and assumed I was like barely over 20 weeks. I was furious but didn't really say much about it at the time. They eventually picked up the off beat, but didn't think anything of it and said it would probably just clear up on its own.
When the original nurse walked in with my discharge papers I emotionally broke down crying and told her I was upset the other nurse didn't know how far along I was and she apologized for her but that was about it. I felt like an idiot. I was then discharged and sent on my not-so-merry way. I know the baby looks fine, but I can't decide if I'm still worried about the heartbeat, or if Im more worried about dealing with dumb dumb's when I really go into labor.
What do you ladies think? I'm considering checking in with my doctor today...but again, I was told everything looked fine at the hospital so should I just not worry about it and bring it up at my regular OB appt in 1.5 weeks?
Re: My first L&D experience...(long vent)
I didn't go running to L&D...I did call the on-call doc first.
she did call the on-call doctor and they recommended going to L&D. At least that's how I read it.
OP, I would call your doc and just let them know you went and to be expecting paperwork (I think that would be an accurate statement) from the hospital. I might mention my concerns at that time and just make sure you're ok to wait until next week to discuss in person.
At the very least, let your doctor know how you were treated and that your fears were not calmed. S/he will probably talk to the nurses or the person in charge to address the situation.
I'm sorry you felt like they didn't care but I would have to believe that they wouldn't have let you walk out of the hospital if you were measuring that far behind or if the heart beat was strange or any other reason for them to keep you there.
Always listen to your gut though, so if calling your doctor and talking to him/her will make you feel better - do so.
I know it's hard not to worry but you want to try not to in order to keep yourself and baby healthy. Any significant changes with baby can be worrisome but if the doctor did not think there was a major concern, everything is probably fine. I was worried about a reduction in movement but then I read that as baby gets bigger and has less room to move around, you may feel movement less. I wouldn't become too used to using the at-home doppler because it could drive you wild checking and rechecking the HB everyday.
I'd suggest doing something relaxing to take your mind off of it, like thinking about fun things to do with baby when he/she arrives or getting your home setup for their arrival. Make sure you bring up your concerns again at your next bi-monthly appt so you can get confirmation that everything is okay. And... ask your OB how the baby is measuring, I read that your belly size from top of pelvic bone to top of uterus should measure in inches close to your weeks pregnant (ie. 30 inches at 30 weeks). Hopefully the nurse was just distracted or thinking of another patient and the baby is measuring on schedule.
I hope this helps! Best wishes and I hope everything turns out good! :-)
I wouldn't be too worried about it. L & D wouldn't have sent you home if there was reason to believe something is wrong.
Instances like this are the exact reason I think home dopplers are a bad idea. The average person isn't trained in how a fetal heartbeat is "supposed" to sound. If your baby is calm it sounds like you think it should, but as soon as baby moves even a little bit the heart rate increases and can sound very strange on a monitor/doppler. Especially if that movement moved him/her away from where you have the doppler placed at the time. Movement will definitely sound like a skip in the heartbeat. I'm only speaking from what I've heard over the past 11 days that I've been in the hospital. My babies' heart tones are checked every 4 hours so I do a lot of listening to heartbeats.
7/30/12 - B/G twins born at 33w4d due to PPROM
If you are unsettled I would call your ob see if they can see you to listen to the heart.
I got sent for an echo for the baby because my dr thinks I had pre-exsisting diabetes that they didn't catch. Maybe if your ob hears something they can send you for one to get a close look at her heart.
Hope everything turns out okay!
*On a side note I can't help but smile when I see your baby's name as it is the exact name that I used to use when my bosses would pay me to prank call my job and make sure people weren't being rude to customers on the phone. I love it!!
This. Who knows what weird tones you were picking up on the doppler--potentially even your own heartbeat! I would back away from the doppler and not get too stressed about keeping tabs on movement--yes, you know if something's wrong, but just because she doesn't move for awhile doesn't mean something's wrong. Not all babies move at the same regular intervals, so don't get too caught up keeping tabs and comparing IMO--just gain an appreciation for what's normal for yours
It sounds like a bigger concern might be that you're not comfortable with the LD unit or the nurses. Keep in mind that not knowing how far along you are was probably just an honest mistake or slip of the tongue and she was just trying to make conversation. I wouldn't base their competency on something like that. But it might be worthwhile to go back for a tour and Q&A during a non-stressed time, or talk to your doc about your concerns.