I HATE my doctor

j92106 · March 2015

I'm 37 weeks Thursday and I just started getting weekly appointments which is besides the point I asked her how much my baby weighs and she said she can't tell it's too early but I see everyone posting weight estimates & I've only had 1 medical ultrasound through my entire pregnancy! Anyway I went to the hospital 2 weeks ago they did a full check I was 43% effaced and not dilated yet now I feel pain and I asked if she can check if I'm thinning,head position ANYTHING she said he's head down but can not check if I'm dialeted because it's been banned from ca board of gyno I'm just confused and ready for more info

j92106 · March 2015

Oh & I was given iv at the hospital because I was having constant contractions they needed to slow down doc said ITS NORMAL :-@

mrsgunsta · March 2015

43% effaced? That's specific.

j92106 · March 2015

This was the info I was told in er

Lida1182 · March 2015

I have no idea how much my baby weighs. I would guess others know because they are higher risk and have had to have ultrasounds and even those can be off. So, you haven't had 2 ultrasounds? Maybe 1 around 6-8 weeks to confirm pregnancy and another at 20weeks for anatomy? Pretty sure that is standard, but ask your doc if that's not the case. Also, internal exams pretty much mean nothing. You can be 1cm dilated or even 3cm dilated for weeks before anything actually happens. My doc will check and do a strep B at 36 weeks, after that they ask if I would like to be checked but will decline because it meant nothing with my first 2. Good luck, only a couple weeks left!

JAP09-02 · March 2015

Honestly, the things you are mad about won't really tell you much anyways. Some women walk around dilated and effaced for weeks, while others are closed up and go into labor the next day. Weight estimates are just that too, estimates. I was told with my first she was 5 lbs at 34ish weeks. I fully expected an 8 lb baby at birth, however she was only 5 lbs 15 oz when born at 39w 2d. Having only one ultrasound is completely normal. I've had multiple ultrasounds with two of my three pregnancies. The times I've had multiple ultrasounds were because of complications (arrhythmia with DD1 & rash I had early on with this pregnancy). More ultrasounds does not equal better. Contractions are normal if you are dehydrated. If you feel something is truly wrong or are having regular contractions then a return visit to l&d is warranted.

colemarie07 · March 2015

Lida1182 said:
I have no idea how much my baby weighs. I would guess others know because they are higher risk and have had to have ultrasounds and even those can be off. So, you haven't had 2 ultrasounds? Maybe 1 around 6-8 weeks to confirm pregnancy and another at 20weeks for anatomy? Pretty sure that is standard, but ask your doc if that's not the case. Also, internal exams pretty much mean nothing. You can be 1cm dilated or even 3cm dilated for weeks before anything actually happens. My doc will check and do a strep B at 36 weeks, after that they ask if I would like to be checked but will decline because it meant nothing with my first 2. Good luck, only a couple weeks left!

My doctor only does one ultrasound because most insurance policies won't cover more and that leaves the parents to pay the bill. I've had three ultrasounds but each one was considered medically necessary. If I would have had no complications then it would have been just one.

nursemom83 · March 2015

I'm high risk and that's why the ultrasounds for me. I wasn't expecting to get one at my 36w appt but little lady slept during the nst so they wanted to check fluid levels, etc.

As far as cervix checks. I've had multiples too. I delivered at 30 weeks with my son so I'm high risk for delivering early again.

My doctor checked me at my 36w appt and also did my group b strep test. I was 3cm and 90%.

I ended up in l&d on Saturday with contractions and was now 4cm and still 90%.

I will be checked again this Thursday at 37w. My doctor said I could go any day now because of my history. For us. It's just a waiting game.

I don't know why your dr says that can't check you. That's their job.

vetdr03 · March 2015

If it's banned are you expecting her to go against her license for you (just curious). What will telling you that do for you? These visits are to check measurements (weights are only appoximates...there is no way to give a true weight), make sure there is a heart beat and it's normal, your blood pressure and your urine for protein or sugar. Getting mad because she doesn't do extra is wrong. Dilation and effacement means nothing. It's the contractions that matter. If your contractions were five minutes and lasting a minute then you should be concerned. She is the expert, let her do her job. As a clinician it irks me what patients what you want to do that can get your license snatched! Then go behind your back complaining and saying they hate you.

shrkfan · March 2015

Banned? I'm in ca and my ob has checked if I'm dialated a couple times now. I am considered high risk bc of complications I had earlier on around 20 weeks so maybe it's different for high risk. Is there another dr you can see in the office? Or maybe talk to her about your concerns and let her know it's making you feel uneasy??

guinevereis · March 2015

I am going to respond to this again, cause the part about cervical checks being banned is ludicrous. Cervical checks are generally done starting at 35/36 weeks- but as a pp said they don't necessarily tell you much as you can walk around 3cm for weeks.
If you are admitted into L&D they are done to assess possibility of labor and whether someone is actually progressing to an active phase- that along with the contraction monitoring give a somewhat objective measure as to your progress.
Your doctor is measuring your fundus at every appointment , and as long as the measurement coincides with your gestational age and you don't have gestational diabetes or another pregnancy complication that was picked up during the anatomy screen it really isn't necessary.

taahira · March 2015

I live in CA, and have been having cervical checks for a few weeks now. In fact today at my appointment I had a cervical check. I'm currently 36 weeks. Your doctor is given you the wrong information.

guinevereis · March 2015

I forgot to mention I am an OB maternal/newborn RN in Los Angeles, California for close to 10 years.

af2004rn · March 2015

I'm sorry, but I think you are over-reacting. I've been high risk and had tons of ultrasounds and cervical checks before. It' wasn't helpful. They didn't guess the weight right. I didn't go into labor even effaced or dilated. My second pregnancy went to 41 weeks. The day before my scheduled c-section, my OB checked and I was thick and closed to the point he couldn't even sweep my membranes. 12 hours later natural labor started. This pregnancy, I've had just 2 ultrasounds - one for dating and my 20 week. I'm perfectly happy to be low risk. I had to go to triage last weekend at 36 weeks and the hospital didn't check my cervix due to hospital policy not to check a preterm woman who wasn't contracting. They did do a GBBS swab. I'm cool with the decision because I know effacement and dilation at this point really means nothing. Trust your doctor. It doesn't sound like he is doing anything but standard level of care. From what you say, he actually sounds like a good practitioner.

taramanter · March 2015

I asked my doctor last week if they could check how big baby was and she said they could try but it is so inaccurate and can be off by pounds anyway. So I figured I would find out at her arrival.

nursemom83 · March 2015

Typically u/s is +/- 1 lb

AmandaDCarroll · March 2015

The only reason I got a check at 36 was because I am being induced at 39. I wanted to know how I was progressing then, so I could have an understanding of how favorable I am going to be for induction three weeks later. I'm not planning on letting them check me again until I am in the hospital for induction.

As for ultrasounds, I only get them because I am High Risk. Under the circumstances, I would would much rather be low risk. In which case my last ultrasound wouls have been at 20 weeks. My doctor doesn't even tell me baby's estimated weight, I just happen to see it on screen every time. Plus, like others have said, it is rarely accurate im its estimates...

nursemom83 · March 2015

You can switch doctors....

thelittlepear · March 2015

I think some of this is very regional too. Here, unless you are high risk, you only have the 1 u/s at 20 weeks. If you go overdue, then they'll give a 2nd u/s to evaluate the size of baby, and decide when they need to induce. While I understand you might want to know, none of that info is really going to change anything. Being dilated doesn't mean you are going in to labour, being effaced doesn't mean you are going in to labour. Even having contractions doesn't mean you are going in to labour, unless there is a consistent pattern to them (case in point, a girl from my previous BMB is currently expecting. She's been having contractions for 4 days now, but still isn't actually in labour). I know it's hard to be patient at this point, but baby will come when it is good and ready! Just hang in there, and it will be here soon!

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