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August 2016 Moms
akoehn369
member
7.5 weeks pregnant - in an accident
akoehn369
member
Hi ladies. I am new to the board and just introduced myself in the intro thread. (Currently 7.5 weeks along.) I was rear-ended yesterday while stopped at a red light. The lady just wasn't paying attention and hit me going about 20-30 mph. I went to the dr/chiro and have whiplash and 2 ribs displaced which I am having worked on. I called my ob (who I am not scheduled to see until Jan. 27 when I will be about 10.5 weeks) thinking they would want me to come in to do an ultrasound or something to check on the baby but the nurse just said to wait it out and watch for bleeding. She said I could go to the ER if I wanted to since it was an auto accident but didn't offer to do an ultrasound at their office or anything. My close friends are telling me I should go to the ER to have the baby checked out and that my dr's office is kind of nuts for telling me they couldn't do much to check. We are planning on going tonight to have everything checked for peace of mind. Just wondering if anyone has been through this or has any thoughts? Am I overreacting by going to the ER with no bleeding? Thanks in advance!
Re: 7.5 weeks pregnant - in an accident
It's been a long road- Let's just say that!
It's been a long road- Let's just say that!
I was in a fender bender (a tree came down in front of me during a storm, and I slammed on the brakes, just clipping it) about two weeks ago. I wasn't hurt, other than some cramping, and I kept my January 05 appointment, and the little was fine.
Take it easy over the next couple of weeks (which I am sure you will anyway because of your ribs) - Other than that, there isn't much even KNOWING about an issue would solve. And if you aren't bleeding, everything is probably fine.
If you are really concerned, I would see if your OB would see you earlier (mine originally said between 8 and ten weeks was the right time for a first appointment) they may have time to fit you in next week? Make sure to let them know you are concerned - not just what happened. Obviously what happened isn't (by itself) cause for concern to your office. They may be pushing it off past 10 weeks, since there are a few tests that can be run between 10 and 16 weeks. If this IS the right fit for you, a doctor will address your concerns from now all the way through post partum. If that means seeing you one extra time so you don't worry, maybe that is something you value, and the right doctor for you will be willing to put aside 10 -15 minutes to talk it though.
Unfortunately, if something is wrong then it is wrong. Nothing can be done to change it. Because baby is so protected and you're still so early in your pregnancy, I can totally see why your OB's office told you to wait it out. It's also possible that if LO was affected from this accident that you might not be able to know that for a couple weeks. An u/s today might show everything okay, but then something could go wrong in a few days or weeks. I don't say this to scare you and I have my FX so tight that everything is okay with your baby! I'm just sharing my thoughts and providing a different perspective that shows waiting may not be the worst thing in the world if that's what ends up happening.
I also had some cramping, but no spotting. I didn't go to the ER, in part because of the timing, and when I called my doctor they said what LIKELY happened (This happened on x-mas eve,I was feeling better by the time they were open on Monday) was that I strained my ab muscles. The nurse said that is very easy to do since the muscles are relaxing, to be able to accommodate the baby in the next nine months. Also, some degree of cramping is normal in the first tri - as the uterus expands, moves, everything else shifts around.
My fingers are crossed for you! My doctor also recommended a seat belt adjuster going forward.
Here is the one I bought:
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/dreambaby-bump-belt/1044175399?skuId=44175399&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_homedecor_&adpos=1o1&creative=43742653069&device=c&matchtype=&network=g
I would say stay home, rest, keep your feet up and don't add the stress of a crazy ER trip. Maybe your doctor can squeeze you in next week when everything has settled a little and you have a better idea of if anything has changed for you.
Fx for you!
People weren't paying attention, it was wet outside, I had to swerve to miss some guy that cut me off and slammed his breaks on. I was stopped on the side of the road, when a woman came up behind me wasn't paying attention rear ended me. She said she was texting.
Fortunately, I was on my way to see my doctor anywau, and they did an ultrasound just to be sure. DS is now 2.
TBH, had I not been able to see my OB, I probably would have gone to the ER especially since you were hit hard enough to do some damage. I'm not sure why someone would tell you that they're "not trained" to read U/S. That's ridiculous. I've worked in hospitals, and there are doctors whose jobs are specifically to read ultrasounds, and other images. If there are any questions, it's not hard or unheard of for them to run it by an OB.
I think you should do what you need to do.
ETA: not only that, but if there IS an issue, it needs to be documented so her insurance will pay for whatever treatment you need.
My mom is a labor and delivery nurse. If a 7 weeks pregnant person comes into the ER, they aren't sent to L&D. They're seen by an ER physician (not an OB) and a general u/s tech. This is at a leading hospital in Chicago. So, I don't think my opinion and advice is that off base.
It seems that you didn't read my comment. An ultrasound tech is not a doctor trained in reading ultrasounds. Really, they're not supposed to say anything about whether the results may or may not be normal.
PHYSICIANS, who are specifically trained and paid to sit around all day and read images, are the ones that determine what is normal and what is not. Those physicians will make the call, and pass that info to the treating physician. So yeah, you're off base.
I'll reiterate - as someone who has worked in an ER, I can tell you that ultrasound techs are not supposed to interpret the ultrasound and tell patients their interpretations. That is up to a physician. Period. If your friends were in a situation where a tech was giving them that information, they need to file a complaint against the techs because that is not their job. They are hired to get the best possible pictures for a doctor to read. That's it. Nothing else. In the event that a patient asks, it is their RESPONSIBILITY to tell that patient that reading the ultrasounds is out of their scope of practice, and that they will have to wait until the doctor sees them. It's not hard. Even "a tech specifically trained" for OB ultrasounds is not supposed to give you information regarding what may or may not be normal. It's one thing to say "you're having a boy", "the head measurement is xyz", but talking you whether or not "something is ok" is out of their scope of practice and they SHOULD NOT BE DOING IT.
Furthermore, my mom was a L&D nurse for 15 years, and coupled with my medical experience, I'm fully aware where patients are sent at whatever stage of pregnancy.
I shared my personal opinion and offered advice based on my experience. No need to get hostile. Agree to disagree.
1. The likelihood that they would make your worry more, whether or not there is actually something to worry about is great. I have read too many bad ER experiences here on the Bump. They are not trained OBs and don't handle those cases much in the ER.
2. Lots of sick people in the ER presents some danger.
3. If there is something wrong, nothing can be done. Now all you have is an ER bill.