The Great Question Thread

elle-0409 · August 2021

Ask your questions here! Whether they are for STM/STM+s to answer, they are TMI, or even if you think they are dumb. (They're not.) Let's hear 'em!

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elle-0409 · August 2021

I'll start us off:

My doctor's office pushed up my ultrasound to Monday because the sonographer will be out on Tuesday, which is the day of my actual doctor's appointment. My question is, how much can the sonographer tell me? If there's a huge problem will she be allowed to say? If everything's fine will she be allowed to say that, too? I hate that I have to wait a whole day until I can speak to my doctor if there are concerns.

jlbaker08 · August 2021

@elle-0409 Our appointment was yesterday and the sonographer could tell us basic things. She showed us what she was looking at and taking pictures of, uterus, ovaries, cervix, the baby. Then she told us what the heart rate was, our measurements, which end was head, where the yolk sac was... I imagine they're allowed to make statements about the facts they see on the ultrasound, as for any sort of diagnosis or abnormality, I think they'd have to defer to the MD. Probably a lot like the hygienist and dentist, the hygienist can say "oh, this enamel looks a little thin" but only the dentist can say "here's a cavity".

rachelredhead · August 2021

@elle-0409 it’s probably going to vary a bit by practice. For all my ultrasounds, there’s a tech in the room doing the ultrasound and they tell me size, how cervix/ovaries look, heartbeat, etc. At the end of that the on call doctor comes in and gives a quick look, it’s not an appointment, really just confirmation of what the tech sees and recommendations for next appointment. I do feel like a sonographer is able to provide a general “looks good” perspective but they’ll defer most questions or any diagnostic to the doctor.

kgg2241 · August 2021

@elle-0409 I have a friend who is a sonographer on my other BMB. She has said that it depends on the clinic/hospital, but they really aren't supposed to say much. I think they'll point out if they see the heartbeat and of things looks good, but will wait for the doctor if they see something concerning. You'd probably know if something was up because I think they usually bring in the head tech(?) to finish the scan and get a better look. I'm sorry you'll have that wait though. That is frustrating!

elle-0409 · August 2021

@kgg2241Thank you so much! I once had a tech say, “I’m not allowed to say much, but I also don’t like to keep people in agony.” I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Thanks again for the insight!

Panaceia · August 2021

@elle-0409 Here the sonographers are not allowed to tell you anything. I explain at the start of my appointments my loss history, tell them I'm not going to break down if there's something wrong, but if they could just let me know if there's a heartbeat as soon as they are able to determine that it would be greatly appreciated so I can get outin front if it etc. I have found in the past that if things aren't right they won't show the screen at all and ask a lot if questions about LMP etc. If they are going well I usually get a quick glimpse of the screen and will at least confirm there us a heartbeat. Also if there are problems I usually get a call from my doctor that day. I just ask a lot of questions until I get an answer one way or another. I have never seen my doctor same day. I'm sure everything will be great!

elle-0409 · August 2021

@panaceia Thank you. It’s interesting that you’ve never seen your doctor the same day. I really appreciate all of your insights. 💗

goldfishcraker · August 2021

@elle-0409
TLDR at bottom haha

Every time I've had a scan, they have told me at the beginning, they are not allowed to tell me *ANYTHING*.
Even at my anatomy scan, they had to go review with a doctor before they showed me baby bits, but also explained that they wouldn't be giving me any medical info, and that it would all be sent to my OB. (They did say (this is the foot, this is the arm, this is the heart, etc, as they showed us).

One pregnancy, I had one scan at 9 wks, and the sonographer was very brisk and adamant that "I will not tell you ANYTHING about this scan." I told her I completely understood. And we chatted, and I asked about her job, and we discussed what I was going through. At the end, she asked if my husband was waiting. I said yes. She asked me to go get him. I brought him back, and she said "I could get in a lot of trouble for this, but I have something I want to show you!" She had taken a video of our little baby, wiggling around and waving! We burst into tears and hugged each other and thanked her profusely. (TW*. I was getting a scan because the ER couldn't find a HB after I went in with bleeding. A week after the scan, I had a MC. I am SO grateful to the sonographer for giving us that only opportunity to see our baby. *end TW)

Anyway, so far, every time I have had a scan with a sonographer, I have sweet talked them (unintentionally) into breaking rules and giving me the knowledge that baby is ok. Once, I happily let a student do her first vaginal US on me. For like... 40 min haha. (I was in for query ectopic). I got to learn a lot that time because the sonographer asked if it was okay if she explained everything to the student (and therefore me) as they went.

The only times I've had someone do an US and be *allowed* to tell me ANYTHING, is when it's a doctor doing it.

Other than the ones I've had in ER (or the ones a doctor is performing haha), I've never seen a doctor the same day.

TLDR: here sonographers aren't allowed to tell you ANYTHING, and I've never see a doctor the day of the scan

morgantu · August 2021

@elle-0409 Like a lot of people, it kind of depends on what's going on but i have only seen a dr the same day when they couldn't find a heartbeat. In that situation, the sonographer did tell me that she wasn't seeing a heartbeat and she was going to get the dr. (i suspected based on her demeanor). I have only seen a heartbeat with my living daughter, and in that case, the sonographer showed up the heartbeat and the limbs, etc. I try not to ask too many questions because i know they're not supposed to tell us but i also think it's a really interesting job so i have sooooo many curiosities lol.

nursejenn5 · August 2021

@elle-0409 my docs office always does a quick appt after any ultrasound to let you know how things go but yes here also the sonographers say “now I’m measuring the ___” and “that’s the heart” with my son he had an echogenic focus (bright spot) near his stomach and she was able to say that that was there so she was getting some extra images but couldn’t say anything more than that.

runnergirl2018 · August 2021

So interesting. They always do my US when I have a doc appt that day and they do the US first.

I guess my on exception will be next week when we are checking on my LO to hopefully get a better idea of due date and just have an US, but will get a quick consult with the doc after.

I’ve always been told measurements and heart rate and estimated weight when things were further along during the ultrasound

and_peggy · August 2021

I find this so interesting! It’s always been my doctor that does the u/s unless it’s an anatomy scan.

bejsharp · August 2021

So I just had my first appointment yesterday and had a ton of blood work done. I got the results on my account this morning and everything looks fine according to my doctor, but I don’t see any actual pregnancy test. Is this normal?? Would it have a different name that I wouldn’t recognize?

realhousewife519 · August 2021

@bejsharp, mine had a section called "BHCG, QUANT" beside which there was a numerical result and the unit is IU/L. This measures HCG, which is what triggers a positive pregnancy test. Is that on your results?

Panaceia · August 2021

@bejsharp My doctor trusts that I know when Im pregnant so when they send me for bloodwork they don't include HCG. Just the other health stuff. It might be the same for you?

nursejenn5 · August 2021

@bejsharp my office also doesn’t run an HCG with my prenatal labs. (They may do a quick urine one since we provide a urine every appointment, but other than that no blood tests)

bejsharp · August 2021

Nope. Nothing in any of the blood or urine tests 😞. She couldn’t find a heartbeat on the Doppler (which she said was completely normal at this stage) so I was really hoping for some reassurance.

Panaceia · August 2021

@bejsharp They couldn't find the heartbeat with a doppler until well after 12 weeks with DD1 (they literally couldn't find it at my 12 week appointment which was a Friday...luckily my first US was on Monday). With DD2 they didn't even try until 12 weeks. I remember it takingvWAY too long to find at my 16 week appointment and gave me a heart attack! I know after about 7/8 weeks hcg isn't really considered a reliable indicator or pregnancy progression anyways. When do you have a US scheduled?

nursejenn5 · August 2021

@bejsharp we don’t even try for a heartbeat on a Doppler until 12 weeks because typically you can’t find it before then! I know that can be so nerve wracking though. Hopefully you get some reassurance soon(and and US!)

goldfishcraker · August 2021

@bejsharp talking to my OB last week, he said he doesn't look with Doppler before 14 weeks because it can be tough to find and it causes undue stress.
So totally normal to not hear it now ❤️

bejsharp · August 2021

My first US is next week at 8w1d. I did message my doctor though and she said she understood wanting some peace of mind so she added an hCG test to my blood work order. Thanks for the reassurance everyone. 😩

Patience7150 · August 2021

@bejsharp if it makes you feel any better, I specifically don't go in for a first appt until after 8weeks so I'm not stuck in limbo. By then, they should definitely be able to see specific things, and I feel like anything earlier is a "maybe okay maybe not" anxiety inducer. 8 weeks feels like such a long wait though! I'm glad she added hcg for that assurance, and I hope the time passes quickly for you.

Panaceia · August 2021

I totally agree with @Patience7150 ! My first ultrasound is tomorrow at 8+1. I don't want the limbo because I've been there before. At least I know that by 8 weeks whatever the result it will be definitive!

night_nurse · August 2021

Does anyone’s doctor draw a thyroid panel with prenatal labs (no previous thyroid diagnoses). Just something I read is good to get run in the 1st tri and 3rd tri to compare. Dont want to be that patient that leads of with “well, I read on the internet….” if it isnt something commonly done. I get all my baseline and intake labs drawn on the 25th at my 12 week appt. I don’t think I remember that being done with my first pregnancy.

rachelredhead · August 2021

@night_nurse they’ll be part of the panel I have next week. No past thyroid issues but I think when you’re 40 they just go crazy and run all the tests. 😂 I don’t think it’s ever bad to just ask whether they would advise a thyroid panel. I’m sure it varies based on provider as far as what they like to run.

and_peggy · August 2021

@nightnurse yes but I have autoimmune thyroid so that might we why.

Panaceia · August 2021

@night_nurse Yes! They always run a thyroid pannel in pregnancy here as it is something that can definitely effect babe if the levels are off. They normally do it before 12 weeks so if you need meds there is time to get that sorted.

nursejenn5 · August 2021

@night_nurse I know our offices around here don’t do a thyroid panel unless there are risk factors.

morgantu · August 2021

anyone know the difference between nipt and first tri screening? now that i'm AMA (harumph), my dr suggested nipt instead of 1st tri screening. But apparently nipt doesn't come with a US so idk if i want to do it. I know you can find out sex earier, but we are a team green fam, so i don't care about that part.

rachelredhead · August 2021

@morgantu I do NIPT next week (10.5 weeks) and still have the 12w US. Maybe it’s doctor-dependent but I’ve always been AMA for my pregnancies and I do both NIPT and the US fairly close together.

Panaceia · August 2021

@morgantu NIPT screens for more things and is more accurate. If your first tri screening showed any abnormalities then you would have to get the NIPT next anyways. I had it for the first time with DD2 when I was 40 and am having it again this time at 10+5. I am also getting the 12 week NT scan done (my doctor does both) so it doesn't have to be one or the other. With DD2 I had an ultrasound at 11+1 so we didn't do the NT at 12 weeks because they already confirmed everything was normal at my 11 week scan. I definitely prefer the NIPT. It has a much smaller margin for error and is more accurate than the NT and first tri screening.

Jeenyus · August 2021

@night_nurse I had my thyroid tested, as well as hormone levels - testosterone and one other were elevated due to PCOS - they tend to monitor throughout pregnancy.

@morgantu NIPT can be done earlier, tests for more, and is more accurate. I go for mine next week as it is provincially funded for certain pregnancies. Undecided as to whether we will find out gender, kind of feel like keeping that a surprise this time!

jenis_fan_for_life · August 2021

@morgantu Your doctor may not have made it clear, but you may have the option to do both! There is value in the highly sensitive NIPT for assessing risk for chromosome abnormalities (like Down syndrome), but the early ultrasound (which looks at the early anatomy, including a measurement of the pocket of fluid behind the baby’s neck) and analyses they look at in the blood work can also give additional insight on other things that may be going on with the pregnancy that the NIPT doesn’t cover. I plan to do both.

goldfishcraker · August 2021

Anyone have any ideas of what to give a 4 month old cousin as a "goodie bag" for DS's bday? Just a little something to recognize her since the older kids are getting bags.

I'd like to get a "likely to be loved" toy of some sort. Yet, not super expensive since it's a goodie bag haha.

I'm trying to remember what baby toys were great, but not annoying haha. And also less well known so that she doesn't already have it..

rachelredhead · August 2021

@goldfishcraker anything to chew on! My son started teething at that age and he loved the silicone things you can fill with fruit and freeze. He’d happily gnaw on them for ages.

goldfishcraker · August 2021

Ooo that's a GREAT idea! My son still uses them daily now that he's working on his last molars!

rachelredhead · August 2021

Looks like they’ll be recommending booster shots for folks vaccinated with Pfizer/Moderna starting in late September. Given that the vaccines are recommended by ACOG, I assume the boosters will be too. But I’m curious if anyone has asked their OB about it yet. I have my next appt Sept 1 so figure I’ll mention it then. I’m definitely on board with the booster, and hope maybe that increases odds that baby will get some antibodies, too.

kgg2241 · August 2021

@rachelredhead I haven't asked my OB, but I'm totally on board for getting the booster. I am curious what my OB will say though.

fifilala516 · August 2021

*lurking from January 2022*

I've asked two different doctors about boosters and both said they didn't think they would be recommended for pregnant women at this time...but everything changes so rapidly as we get new data, I plan on asking again when I go for my appointment at the end of the month.

I am very on board to get a booster, and I hope that it would give the baby antibodies.

Panaceia · August 2021

@rachelredhead How long after your second dose are they recommending getting the booster?

ETA The booster is only being offered here to specific more vulnerable populations.

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