AS Discussion

aukeev · April 2019

@MamaK1215 I'm sorry for the frustrating process of locating the place, but thrilled for good news!

wabash15 · April 2019

@mamak225 so glad baby looked good

purplg8r · April 2019

I had my A/S today. Everything looks good! She’s 1lb1oz and in 54th percentile. She’s breech for now so I guess that’s why I’m feeling her kicks so low.

MamaK225 · April 2019

@purplg8r - That's the size our doc said our little girl was, though she was head down (but I KNOW she flips because last night, she was kicking the shit out of my pelvic floor). Glad to see everything went well

Does anyone else remember what their cervical length/depth was? I was reading up on it because mine was less than it was with DD1 and I was a little concerned because of the Marginal Cord Insertion diagnosis, though the doctor who reviewed the A/S didn't bring up anything about my cervix. But I also remember with my first that mine was like suuuuuuuuuper long (I had mine measured because I had a LEEP several years back - that my doc didn't perform - and my OB wanted to verify it hadn't caused permanent damage to my cervix), so it being a little shorter really wasn't a big deal.

aecm · April 2019

@MamaK225 My cervical length was 5.3cm. My OB was quite happy with that length - so I think that’s on the long side. She said she would have been concerned if it was less than 3.5cm - but I don’t know if that was a general worrisome number or specific to this point in a twin pregnancy.

Also, I had a velamentous cord insertion with DD that led to vasa previa and an emergency c-section. I think the velamentous insertion is similar, but even more scary (and thankfully less common), than a marginal insertion. But my daughter grew and developed normally and was completely A-OK in the end!

MamaK225 · April 2019

@aecm - My deep-dive Google search came up with the same suggestions: anything above 3.5 cm (the generally "agreed upon" line) is great. Mine was 4.84, but it was 6.9 with DD1 at this point (probably also why I had to labor for so damn long - and she barely made it to -2). And thank you for that information about the velamentous insertion; I read the same thing about it being more severe. And - TBH - after lightly reading about MCI, I feel like it may be a genetic thing because ALL the women in my immediate family deliver really late (40+) and have small-ish babies (the largest being about 7 lbs 10 oz - at 41w5d). Again, all inferences since my sister wasn't "elderly" like me when she had her children and mom birthed in the 80s without any decent ultrasound technology (same with my grandmother, in the late 40s/early 50s).

purplg8r · April 2019

@MamaK225 mine didn’t mention anything about a cervical length. Should she have?

suzycupcake · April 2019

@law_and_little1 Hey, any news on an echo appointment?

mrosek91 · April 2019

@purplg8r not every doctor goes into the same level of detail. My doctor tends to give out practically no information unless something is wrong. They just say, everything on the ultrasound looks good. They didn't even tell me I had an anterior placenta, I needed to ask.

aecm · April 2019

@purplg8r - it was never mentioned to be during my first pregnancy, and only mentioned to me this time b/c it can be a concern with twins and is one of the reasons I will continue to get monthly ultrasounds. I’m sure if it was an issue you would have heard about it, so you’re probably just fine!

goldfishcraker · April 2019

Awww man! I'm jealous that you guys get so many details! Today I got "baby has no deformities" and "everything is good. I'm happy" after he read the results.
We still have to go back tomorrow for the face and anterior scan.

Oh! Also found out my placenta is anterior.
How the heck am I feeling so much movement?!

BigBadWolf12 · April 2019

@chillycanadian we also only get a "growing well, no concerns" here. Thankfully the ultra sound techs are allowed to give commentary during it, but we don't get any "extra" info later at the follow up appointment. I prefer it that way though. Less to stress about. Just "good, we will check the placenta placement again to make sure it moves up like it's supposed to" no percentiles or why don't the percentiles match, etc.

I totally understand someone wanting more info, but I know for myself less is better unless there's actually a problem.

MamaK225 · April 2019

@purplg8r - Generally, you aren't measured for cervical length unless there is a possible issue. With DD1, my doctor knew I had a LEEP done and that can damage the cervix, so he wanted to make sure I had sufficient length to support the pregnancy (this was done around 17-18 weeks). The tech had only mentioned it in passing when I asked what she was measuring at one point "oh, it's the cervix" and I saw the measurement after she drew the Xs. So the only reason I was really aware is because I was actively watching/asking about what was going on and I had previous experiences with the measurement. Not a typical thing - like @aecm said - unless there is a specific reason to discuss or measure. And, I also think since I'm "geriatric" (hardee-harr-harr), they were taking ALL the measurements at MFM. I was only 33 when I delivered DD1, so I didn't even have to go to MFM then.

@chillycanadian - Anterior doesn't always mean you feel nothing, it's just that it may be muted (many babies prefer to nuzzle up to it for some reason) - but it seems your little one is a very active one, so not all that unusual to be feeling a lot. With DD1, I could really only feel her when she would fully flip or rotate or move from one end of my belly to another. Later in the 3rd trimester, I had to struggle for kick counts because she was so squished and the placenta muffled it, but we got there just fine. Also, with DD1, I didn't go to MFM, so I didn't have as "in-depth" of an A/S, so I didn't get a lot of the stuff that I'm getting with DD2 (yay! for getting older). Trust me, you don't want to be moved up a level in "risk"

Avrilmai · April 2019

@MamaK225 I was told my cervical length was "good" at my scan this week, but my tech was basically narrating everything she did and it seemed like that was part of the standard measurements. I asked the doc about it because I'm a worrier and she said that since the tech didn't mention anything, it was fine. My A/S was also with MFM because I'm a geri too. lol.
@purplg8r from what I understand it is a bit more difficult to get an accurate cervical length with an abdominal u/s and if they do measure it and have some concern they will go to a TV u/s to get a better measurement.

@law_and_little1 glad to hear your blood work gave you some peace of mind. when will you do the fetal echo?

MamaK225 · April 2019

@Avrilmai - I find that interesting that your tech was able to give narration during U/S, ours are basically gag-ordered unless you ask questions: SC is *super* litigious and there are some strange laws around OB visits that make many very wary about allowing "techs" to give any information aside from quantitative measurements (i.e. "the heartbeat is 134, here you can see the 4 chambers" v. "everything looks great with the heart"). I find it silly, but I get why they do it. Which is why I usually do research before I go into most things so I can ask the doc some specific questions (in case they only tell you general "things are good" results).

@Avrilmai & @purplg8r - You're absolutely right: abdominal isn't as accurate as TV. Unless it's borderline, most will use that at this point because the *only* reason you'd need to do TV at this point is to measure that.

thirdtimesacharm2019 · April 2019

@MamaK225 My U/S tech gave alllllll the information, she was pretty much talking the whole time. I think it depends on the office and tech’s level of experience. Definitely agree that everyone here is sue happy though, ugh.

MamaK225 · April 2019

@thirdtimesacharm2019 - I think it definitely depends on the tech & practice, like you said. But I was *definitely* glued to the screen with each measurement/picture so I knew what was going on, even if she wasn't giving me diagnoses or specifics.

goldfishcraker · April 2019

It's really fascinating to hear how different everyone's experience is!
We had our follow up AS today. Baby seems to like being face down though haha. Stubborn little one! They had me rolling from side to side, and twice, getting on my hands and knees with the bed in trandellenburg (tilted down toward the head) and my butt in the air wiggling around. It worked though! And they were able to get the necessary measurements and pictures. But baby flipped back within a few minutes 😂

I had a student tech today, and her instructor came in a couple times to help. They were much more willing to answer my questions than the last tech haha. The scan took over an hour though. I legit cried when they were showing us baby. Moving like crazy! Seeing the little arm and hand waving at us, and the legs kicking and dancing ...omg this is the most incredible thing in the world. There's a REAL baby in there!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

suzycupcake · April 2019

@chillycanadian It sure is magnificent, isn't it? Awwwww

MamaK225 · April 2019

@chillycanadian - I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying

So happy you had an ... interesting ... experience and got to see your little one dancing and being difficult. I hate to be one of *those* people, but "just you wait:" it's really magical to see HOW MUCH of their personality you can see/feel while they are in utero, before they arrive. When DD1 would do things as an infant/early-toddler I'd be like "OMG, I remember her doing X,Y,Z in my belly ... and she's still doing it!"

goldfishcraker · April 2019

@MamaK225 awww!!!🥰 That's so exciting! Yet another thing to look forward to! I never would have thought you could tell personality!!! I'm so stoked!!

sourlemon · April 2019

My kid's in utero personalities are nothing like real life.

DD1 was super active inside and was the chillest baby ever and pretty calm (physically) at almost 5 years old. She's my serious kiddo with big emotions.

DD2 was pretty chill inside. I would shake my belly sometimes trying to get her to kick if I was worried about not feeling her for a day or two. She'd kick once or twice then disappear again. She is the most rambunctious toddler ever! Doesnt know how to sit still. Even sleeping she moves a ton.

MamaK225 · April 2019

DD1 was pretty active in utero, but *on her own terms.* I used to have to fight her for kick counts every damn time. She would lose her shit if I was moments late on a meal/snacktime (I'm still a punctually scheduled eater), and would settle down the moment I did eat ... and was absolutely that way as an infant and even now as a toddler. She was a really chill, laid-back baby, but hell-on-wheels as a toddler once she obtained self-awareness and still has that do-what-I-want-when-I-want attitude - and can still be lulled into submission with a well-timed meal or snack

I also remember the *amazing* RBF images we'd get on ultrasounds (later in the pregnancy, obviously) and she STILL has the most expressive expressions - even when she was a teeny, tiny newborn. It's really neat to see how it all matches/diverges once they make their appearance!

thirdtimesacharm2019 · April 2019

@MamaK225 I always say this is true with my boys as it pertained to finding out the gender:

DS1 was very legs closed and “modest”. It took several ultrasounds for him to reveal himself. At 13, he is still very modest and always has been. Doesn’t like to take his shirt off, even at the pool, and the kid has washboard abs! He’s also very quiet and introverted.

DS2 was all like “here I am!” on the first A/S attempt and he has been wide open ever since. He often runs around the house in his underwear and we have to make him put on a shirt for dinner. He’s never met a stranger and easily makes friends everywhere he goes. A complete extrovert.

DS3 was pretty quick to reveal so I’ll be interested to see if he follows DS2. He’s definitely the most active in utero so far (and both the others were active as well).

agpandme · April 2019

We didn't get much information during the scan a month ago but I just had my follow up. She said everything looks 100% "normal". No red flags. Absolutely average and "normal". We listened to his heart today and he did not like that LOL. I felt two very strong movements diagonally across my abdomen. So silly

emqbee · May 2019

We had our follow up scan on Friday. Mama is NOT a happy camper right now. We had to go back because we did not get all the views of baby’s heart that are needed for the full anatomy scan, no problem. During the scan when we listened to her heartbeat we heard an ‘irregularity’. My scan was done by someone in training and the seasoned trainer(who I directed some questions to). I asked about the skip I heard and she acted like it was nbd and said that it almost always corrects itself. Ok...not as anxious. They took many more of the heart and heartbeat and we were done. We headed to the front desk to leave and they said I needed to see the doc. I don’t see the docs here, I’m with a midwife at a different facility and they only refer the US to them. I explained and then the tech in training comes out and urgently tells my mom and I that there is a problem and we need to stay and see the doctor. Que instant panic and nausea, I agree, pay what they ask for(at that point I’m freaking out and don’t care) and then they shuffle me back out to wait in the lobby.
We get back to his office and he starts explaining that there’s a problem with her heartbeat. He explained the irregularity and what it ‘could’ mean and what the three outcomes were. We’re talking anywhere from hypertension at birth to needing a pacemaker immediately after birth. First timer freaking TF out here, ok?! Then he says, I shit you not, that it’s NORMAL. That if he monitored every single pregnancy every single day that nearly every single baby would at some point have an irregularity. Seriously? You had to scare the hell out of me to tell me you think it’s normal and I shouldn’t be concerned? Then he proceeds to tell me she is measuring small. And then again...’it could just be her and how she is. She could just be a smaller baby. Right now she’s measuring on track to be born around 6-6.5lbs.’ Ok seriously dude? He then tells me everything anatomically is perfect. No issues with organs, limbs etc. just that she is a little small. Well....I am so glad he scared the ever living F out of me to tell me exactly what my midwives would have gone over after receiving the scan. Oh and he charged me for it.
Rant aside....any others out there that have experienced the heartbeat irregularity? I was 25+3 at the scan and she was measuring a pound and 9 ounces. According to everything I’ve read she’s within normal range....thoughts?

goldfishcraker · May 2019

@emqbee I am SO sorry you had such a stressful and terrible experience! That's unacceptable! I can't believe they would deal with it like that! I'm raging on your behalf right now.

emqbee · May 2019

@chillycanadian thank you!! I have been a bundle of nerves and emotions all weekend. Anywhere from being mad about how it was handled to feeling panicky about her health. I am sufficiently paranoid about her weight and heart now.

MamaK225 · May 2019

@emqbee - That is not even OK. I'm assuming they wanted you to see the doctor because he was part of the MFM group? Honestly, that is standard procedure, so not out of the ordinary - but him expounding on major heart issues and a pacemaker absolutely is (given he ended the conversation with "normal"). Measuring "small" is not that big of a deal, my doc measured me 2-4 weeks small at my appointment last week; this one is following the path of DD1 almost identically, so he's not even remotely concerned. And DD1 was 6 lbs, 9 oz @ 40+1 and got a 9.5 APGAR and no issues with jaundice or anything. By the time her 2 month appointment came around, she was off-the-charts on height & weight and didn't hit the curve (ie 100%) on either until she was 18 months. Don't let him scare you about that. Hopefully, your midwife will review with another doctor and will give you more comfort.

emqbee · May 2019

Thank you so much @MamaK225 . I completely understand the standard procedure of it all, and that was what I kept trying to explain to my mom(who thinks I should ask for my money back). I get that part and I know the techs cant explain anything. I really appreciate the input in size too...I feel like that part is so...speculative for a dr to bring it up as a concern. All babies grow at their own rate and if she’s within normal range, why even bring it up?
I did get to go straight to my birth center and talk with the midwife for a little after. She helped put my mind at ease and honestly just helped with the emotional aspect of the day, for which I’m very grateful. And I’m scheduled for us to go have a thorough discussion about the scan next week and at that point we’ll discuss going back for another scan and just confirm that all is well and progressing as it should.

wabash15 · May 2019

@emqbee sorry you had that experience at your follow-up scan. I would write them a letter about how things were handled. Its also great that your midwife is considering a follow up later on just to be thorough and help put your mind at ease.

cato99 · May 2019

@emqbee that is really bizarre to me! It sounds like your meeting with the doctor wound up being a pretty standard followup to explain AS results, so it's a little sketchy they had you pay an unexpected sum on the spot. I would ask whether that's standard procedure and standard copay, and if it's not then it couldn't hurt to dispute the charge with your insurance.

During one of my regular OB check-ups when she happened to be listening in on the heartbeat just with a doppler, there was this weird skip-irregularity and I was like WTF? and she was like "yeah that was a weird but those types of occasional irregularities are totally normal" and didn't even mention it again.

olivemomma · May 2019

@emqbee sorry for the scary apt. I had to get a special eco cardiogram US with our second because they told me into oooked like there was a hole in his heart! Ahhh I understand the panic. He was fine and I was told most smaller heart issues resolve on their own before or shortly after birth. But yes it’s scary!

Also, my first was measuring perfectly on track and born at 6lbs 3oz full term. One of my good friends went 41 weeks and her baby was born under 6lbs. Both girls are 50% on the growth charts now and completely healthy! It’s really hard to predict birthweight right now.

WinchesterGirl · May 2019

@emqbee Wow, what horrible handling of that situation! I'm so sorry they scared you like that. Honestly that is just so unnecessary.

emqbee · May 2019

omg.. @cato99 thank you for sharing that. It's oddly comforting to know it's happened when someone else has been listening too. It's been tough to get my peace back after that kind of a scare.

As far as the office visit goes, I paid all out of pocket. I don't have medical insurance so they told me what I needed to pay to see him and I handed over my card. I'm a little perturbed that I paid $125 for a 5 minute chat about all the bad possibilities then ended with, "it's normal." Idk, I work in healthcare so I understand the procedure of it all. It just seems to me they should have known to let me discuss that with my own provider if there wasn't really something pressing, ya know?

sourlemon · May 2019

So everyone has irregular heartbeats on occasion, even in utero. Heart stuff can be super scary (both my girls have heart defects and a 50/50 chance of having my electrical issue) but one good thing about many heart issues that can be detected in utero are also highly fixable once known.

It definitely doesn't sound like this was handled right though! I had a similar experience with my first kid but regarding suspected Downs syndrome and I still resent the way it was handled. It was very similar...go over what's irregular on the ultrasound, all the worst case scenarios, then they said the chances were only about 5% and not to worry. Yeah....I worried the rest of the pregnancy and the first thing I asked was if the baby had Downs. It was awful.

emqbee · May 2019

@olivemomma I can not imagine the stress of being told there is something structurally wrong. Did you stay in a constant state of panic until birth?
I'm not at all worried about her size right now...I wasn't a large baby, neither was my sister so 6lbs just seems awfully normally for someone to bring it up as a concern...But that stress will also be alleviated more after we look at the comparison of this scan to the first one and it tracks normal growth.
@sourlemon I would resent that as well...I can't imagine spending half my pregnancy worrying about something like that. That is world's away from being informed of something that 'usually resolves itself.'

I doubt the doctor used the word 'perfect' but essentially he did tell me everything anatomically was just right. That eases my mind. He said her heart looked great in all the images and he didn't see anything to concern him, it was strictly the little skip we heard.

I feel like I just got a small taste of the future...and a bit of karma...I've been judge-y of moms that rush their kids to the doctor at the first sign of a cough or a sneeze....now I know why.

olivemomma · May 2019

@emqbee no luckily they were able to rule it out at the fetal echocardiogram so it was only a few days of complete dread. It’s aweful though - I always say you don’t know fear until you are a mom and someone says something may be wrong with your baby

lovelikestardust · May 2019

@emqbee Oof that's terrible, what an awful way for them to have dealt with the whole situation! I would be so upset if that happened to me. You would think that dealing with pregnant women all the time, the doctor would know to lead with the fact that your baby is anatomically perfect and even though there's an irregularity likely to turn out fine, before getting into the scary stuff! I also find it weird that they charged you extra for what sounds like a routine consult with your US. So sorry you had to go through that!

janele3214 · May 2019

Had my AS this week. 26w exactly at my appt. I am friends with the ultrasound tech so she answered any questions I had. After I left I realized I had forgot to ask some. Guess I was so in love with looking at lil man that my brain went on the blimp. As far as I know she did not measure my cervix. If she did I did not catch it.. he is so active it is a constant dance party up in there.. I am having trouble going to sleep at night due to pelvic discomfort and him moving so much is why I am posting stuff at 4 in the morning lol.. they said everything looked great on my AS and he is weighing exactly 2 pounds. I did my glucose test and have not heard anything back so am guessing everything was normal. So excited to be getting close to 3rd tri and happy for all of you that had good AS results!

@emqbee so sorry for all your stress. I work in the medical field as well and understand how everything works but still is agrivating the extra cost it makes for you. That sucks the way they told you about everything too. I would have had a mini panic attack.

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