WWYD about your doctor? (long)
I am 23 weeks pregnant with twins. I have always only seen my regular OB/GYN and have been pretty happy with him. He's delivered multiples in the past and currently has another 3 or 4 couples that are expecting multiples as well.
A month or two ago I called because I seemed to be having a lot of BH contractions and everything I read said to call if you have more than 4 in an hour. When I called the doc he said that if the pain is severe, if I have any bleeding or change/increase in discharge, or if I have 6 or more contractions in an hour that he would be concerned and I would need to call back.
Fastforward to the last 2 days when I've been having a bunch of BH. I had 6 in an hour last night but decided to lay down to monitor for an additional hour and then I was going to call the doc...but I fell asleep. This morning I woke up and was still contracting. I went to work and tried to drink a lot of water hoping that would help. It didn't. At one point I had 8 contractions in an hour. I called the doc and waited 2 1/2 hours for someone to call me back. They then told me that I needed to rest and drink water and to call back if my contractions were 4-5 minutes apart or if there was a change/increase in discharge.
I was totally caught off guard by this because the last time this happened the doc said 6 in an hour and he would start to get concerned and this time he's still acting like it isn't a big deal. I don't want to be overly concerned about nothing but I thought he would at least have me come to the office to be checked. Now I'm stressed about it and I'm sure that's not helping the contractions...I am still having them (anywhere between 4 and 8 in an hour).
Here are my concerns...at my last appointment the doctor said I had a partial placenta previa. He didn't do any bloodwork until I was 20 weeks (we found we were having twins at our first appt with him at 8-9 weeks), he's never checked my cervix, he's never measured by belly, and at first 6 contractions in an hour would be a concern but when I had 8 in an hour he wasn't concerned.
Maybe these things aren't done by every doctor but I would think with a multiples pregnancy they would tend to err on the side of caution. I guess my question is what do you think or what would you do? I know a lot of ladies on this board see MFM docs and I don't know if I should see one too or if I need to talk to my doctor or what.
Any advice you ladies have would be greatly appreciated!
Re: WWYD about your doctor? (long)
If it were my dr I would be concerned. Can you ask him to refer you to a perinatologist? I see one as well as a regular OB.
When I went in today for the same reason you called, not only did my OB monitor me, but then called my peri to discuss next steps. I think with multiples you should be really conservative and find someone that gives you the extra time/attention you need.
I hope you are feeling better and the contractions have calmed down.
Edit-if you are currently still concerned you can also call L&D at the hospital you are delivering at, they would most likely have you come in and monitor you.
You need an MFM monitoring you care as well. By rights a twin pregnancy is high risk even if you are complication free. I would call your OB and explain everything to them and ask for a referal, if not call your L&D floor of the hospital and ask who they would recommend and tell them why you are calling.
if you're having identical twins, you should absolutely be seeing a MFM. i firmly believe this. i switched doctors (dropped my OB and started seeing an MFM exclusively) at about the same point you're at now. because like you, i didn't feel my OB was taking my fear and worries seriously.
YOU are the only advocate for those babies, remember that and if you are worried about this doctor not giving you the proper level of care, SWITCH.
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I'd change dr's. My OB didn't hesitate to see once and she did checks ALL the time. I also had a low lying placenta. I wasn't feeling "right" one morning - I had the sweats on the way to work (rolled down my window in a MN winter), had strange tightening and just off. I called and she said to come in right away. They hooked me up to the monitor right away and sure as sh!t, I was contracting regularly...that won me bedrest @ wk 22.
I'm certain my dr played it on the conservative side but w/ multiples, you're better off w/ a conservative dr than one who plays off your concerns.
I somewhat addressed this in your post on the Cincy board, but get yourself to a peri now.
All I can tell you is that when I called my peri when I was having more than 5 BH for two hours in a row, he told me to get myself to L&D immediately. For me, my frequent BH were just a discomfort, not a PTL issue - but for some MoMs they are a sign of some larger issue that can lead to PTL. If your BH are still continuing, I'd just get yourself over to L&D at either University or Good Sam (both Level III NICUs with peris on staff) and find out what is going on. Even if it's nothing more than you're just having plain ol' BH contrax and there's nothing to worry about - knowing that will put your mind at ease and you'll be better off coping the rest of this pregnancy.
Oh, and ditto the others regarding I can't believe that an OB wouldn't at least consult with a peri for IDs. Insane.
Ditto just about every poster on here...I 100% would go to see a high risk specialist! I think it would put your mind at ease and be safest/healthiest for the remainder of your pg. You deserve the very best care for your twins and if your OB seems a little too casual about being on board with that, I'd be getting a referral/be on the hunt elswhere asap.
GL!
Cervial checks are VERY important. I never had any issues until a routine cervical check found the vasa previa, a condition that has a mortality rate of 50-100%.
I would run, not walk, to a new dr.