@mamaj1220 and @babyfoxden10 those both seem like really poor experiences. especially waiting over an hour first thing in the morning. I know some places don't have a lot to choose from in terms of OBs but if I had another option after experiences like that I'd be considering it.
@allie456 I’m going to try to ride out this pregnancy at this OB because I really like my actual doctor, but their nursing staff really need to pick it up over there otherwise I’m going to be considering my options.
@allie456 we have one other option and I can't stand the OB's there (expect for the one who delivered DS but you have to rotate through all 4 of them) so I will deal with annoying office staff and just be rude back to her. I am going to request that I only see my OB or the NP for all other appointments though, I was not impressed when they said that she is always behind. Typically it is a good experience there and I am comfortable with them because they saw me through a high risk pregnancy already so I just am going to try and avoid any more appointments with her.
I'm probably having an amnio this week... (sorry if I already asked this somewhere on the board, I don't remember) has anyone been through this and can you please share your experience?
@pirateduck I have not but my mom did with me and my younger brother (she had a trisomy 18 before me and fun fact I was one of the first done in the US way back when insurance wouldn't cover it because it was so new) she said that it wasn't bad, she took the day off and rested after but she said the worst part is the first poke.
I need to share/vent from my experience today. This is my second pregnancy and I hated my experience with local OB office the first time around and swore I’d never go back there.... but ended up liking the OB I was assigned after a traumatic c section experience. Well that OB left 6mos before this pregnancy.
I am 16wks and had the glucose test and appointment scheduled for today. Glucose at 8:30am. I arrived between 8:20 and 8:25. Got called back at 8:45am for my appointment. Wasn’t sure where I was going/what I was doing because I had never been to this doc before. When I realized she was starting my appointment, I told her I thought I was supposed to have the glucose test first and she said, oh my! No one gave you your glucola yet?! She got me one and administered it. She told me it was 8:50am so I needed my blood drawn at 9:50am. Appointment goes well, I liked the doctor as much as you can like anyone you’ve just met, appointment was over at 9:30am. I go out to the waiting room. At 9:50am two girls came out of their appointments fairly close together and were taking up the time of both the receptionists. I never got called, no receptionist was available until 10:07am. I told them I needed my blood drawn at 9:50. Another lady comes out from the back and calls another patient. At this point the receptionist I was speaking to shouts across the room NO! She needs to go now! And I skipped in front of the girl she called. The woman who was drawing blood (not the same woman as my first draw) wasn’t organized, had to put away what she had prepared for the other girl, couldn’t find a vein she liked, couldn’t find the right size needle, couldn’t find her gloves, just kept chatting on and on and on, tried to draw from the back of my hand and dug around which hurt like crazy. Couldn’t get it. Tried to draw from the usual inner elbow, dug and dug and dug, made a shouting sound, said oops! I just meant to pull off the vial not pull out the needle! I look over and there’s blood everywhere! She scampers out of the room saying she’s going to get a nurse to try and draw my blood. Then comes back and tells me the time for my test has expired and I’ll have to come back and repeat it!
Then when I went to schedule they wanted me to come back Monday, I can’t on Monday. I really don’t have any time next week for an hour plus appointment. At this point, it was 10:50am, I had wasted my entire morning there and I told them I could come in the week after next. They said that was too late for the appointment. I asked what would happen if I refused the test. She just stared at me. I scheduled it for Wednesday morning, but that means I have to go to work (where I have a high stress job and have to stand the whole time) immediately after and have a12 hour day.
I am ready to transfer my care but the next closest hospital (in the big city) is an hour away. Do I suck it up and retake the test? Refuse the test and stay with this OB? Go to a new OB an hour away where I had my NT screening and genetic counseling and blood screen and I was shocked at how comfortable I felt there and how much I felt like my questions/needs were addressed in one appointment?
@JStill0603 If it were me, I would go to the one you are comfortable at. I couldn't believe how better everything was after I switched to a different OBGYN that I actually liked. Being comfortable with a doctor/practice makes such a big difference.
@pirateduck I’m sorry I have no experience. I hope it goes well!
@JStill0603 that sounds insane! I am surprised that these places do not have a lab/phlebotomist department only. When I’ve done my glucose appointments I go to OB first, have the drink and appointment. Then I go to the lab, and wait there until my draw. The phlebotomist calls me at the correct time draws my blood and I leave.
I did have my blood drawn by someone at my Functional Medicine practice who is not a phlebotomist and she was awful. Had to dig in both my arm creases and then in my hand. Couldn’t get enough out of my ha d and then dug in my arm again. It sucked. I really appreciate phlebotomists, they seem to never have trouble getting what they need.
@JStill0603 Wow, that sounds like a mess. My practice also has a separate lab for that stuff, where they do blood draws all day and have never had an issue, even with my small veins. I think I would switch, personally. An hour may seem like a lot, but look at how much of your time this place just wasted doing a very routine test.
I would not recommend refusing the test. Left undiagnosed and unmanaged, gestational diabetes can be really dangerous. Even someone who is very healthy with no history of diabetes can end up with GD. So definitely have the test done, regardless of who does it. So sorry for all the unnecessary frustration!
**TW**
Me: 35 | H: 40 Married Sept. 2013 DS1: Nov 11, 2016 MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d) CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d) BFP! 8/24/19 DS2: May 10, 2020
@JStill0603 I think I would switch also especially if you already know of another OB that you're comfortable with. I'm sorry you had this experience. I'm just shocked how many of us have had horrible experiences with our medical staff so far this pregnancy. It seems like an abnormally large amount of issues!
Re: November Appointments
Then when I went to schedule they wanted me to come back Monday, I can’t on Monday. I really don’t have any time next week for an hour plus appointment. At this point, it was 10:50am, I had wasted my entire morning there and I told them I could come in the week after next. They said that was too late for the appointment. I asked what would happen if I refused the test. She just stared at me. I scheduled it for Wednesday morning, but that means I have to go to work (where I have a high stress job and have to stand the whole time) immediately after and have a12 hour day.
@JStill0603 that sounds insane! I am surprised that these places do not have a lab/phlebotomist department only. When I’ve done my glucose appointments I go to OB first, have the drink and appointment. Then I go to the lab, and wait there until my draw. The phlebotomist calls me at the correct time draws my blood and I leave.
I did have my blood drawn by someone at my Functional Medicine practice who is not a phlebotomist and she was awful. Had to dig in both my arm creases and then in my hand. Couldn’t get enough out of my ha d and then dug in my arm again. It sucked. I really appreciate phlebotomists, they seem to never have trouble getting what they need.
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019I would not recommend refusing the test. Left undiagnosed and unmanaged, gestational diabetes can be really dangerous. Even someone who is very healthy with no history of diabetes can end up with GD. So definitely have the test done, regardless of who does it. So sorry for all the unnecessary frustration!
Married Sept. 2013
DS1: Nov 11, 2016
MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
BFP! 8/24/19
DS2: May 10, 2020