So this week's apt. was with the dr. at my clinic (instead of my midwife) and basically it was a pretty awful experience. First off, it was scheduled to be a regular apt, with my 36 week ultrasound being next week. So my husband decided not to take off from work for it. Well, she up and decided to do the ultrasound, didn't ask me if I wanted to or if I would rather wait until next week. It all seemed so rushed and one of the first things she got into when she walked in the room was quick deliveries. So the tone was set, we were going to refer everything back to how one has a quick and easy delivery. Once she gets the ultrasound ready, all of a sudden she starts talking about every issue she sees, like "Oh wow that's a TON of amniotic fluid." And of course, I'm just like frazzled, "What does that mean?!" She explains that he could be peeing a lot and that means his sugar levels are higher, so she advises I cut sugar to a minimum (the glucose test came back fine weeks before). When she measured the amniotic fluid, before telling me the number, she is like "oh we are super concerned if it's 25" and I'm like... ok well WHAT AM I AT?! She's like 18. I googled it and 8-18 is normal. Ok, I can handle that. Then she starts talking about how huge he looks, "Oh his belly looks so fat." And of course, again, I'm like "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?! IS HE OK?!" And she goes, oh it's just, he's going to keep growing, and well it looks like he's already 6 lbs and you've got 4 weeks to go. You've got to cut out carbs and go for walks.
It just seemed like, a lot of what she was saying was pretty basic, but she made it so dramatic. And I am hormonal and emotional and I could not handle it.
Has anyone else had an experience like this? Is 6 lbs at 35 weeks all that weird? She said he will probably be 8 lbs if he keeps growing at the rate he is, is that so abnormal?!
Thanks!
Re: Rant About Today's Dr. Apt.
What she said! It sounds like that doctor is freaking you out for no reason. Honestly I'd be talking to my midwife and telling her you don't like that doctor because to me, and this is just my opinion, it sounds like she would jump to unnecessary interventions that you don't need and she also wouldn't be straight forward with you about anything. I can't stand doctors who pull that BS!
In my book 6 lbs at 35 wks is nothing!
I had an u/s at 36 wks and LO was already almost 8 lbs. This week (38 wks) LO was 8 lbs 9 oz. DD was 9 lbs 1 oz at 39 wks 3 days so this isn't really surprising or alarming to me. I don't have GD or anything, I just grow big babies.
BTW your doctor needs to learn some bedside manor. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and LO and make the dr. explain. You should not have to use google to decipher what your doctor is telling you. They should be able to explain it in a way that you understand and gives you a realistic picture of what is going on (for example: "18 is on the high side for fluid levels, but we don't really worry until it is 25. We will just keep an eye on it. To help manage this you can...") Contrary to the way some doctors act. Good communication with their patients is part of their job.
This! At my 33 week U/S LO was measuring 5.8 lbs. and 2 weeks ahead, so it sounds like your LO is a prefectly normal size. Also, keep in mind that the measurement can be off by up to a pound. I wouldn't stress about it. An 8 lb baby is perfectly normal!