Doc Appt Update/Vent

[LosingMyMindInGA]

So I had my 16 week appt yesterday.  As usually I waited like half an hour past my appt time to even be called back to the lab for the weigh in, BP and pee in a cup, a few minutes later I'm finally put in a room.  So I sit there, bored and alone, and sit....and sit...then I hear the lab call what I THINK is mine name..but I thought to myself "it couldn't be I was already there"  Then the nurse pokes her head in and says they had forgotten to draw my blood for my quad screen but that she told them I was in a room and to just go by after I was done.  Ok, fair enough.  So I continue sitting...finally what seems like an eternity later the doc comes in.  As usually it's short sweet and to the point.  I asked him about some concerns...I'll give you his answers to these in case anyone else has these concerns:

Hands/arms going number, joints getting achy at night:  He said that becuase of hormones sometimes the tissue in the joints and near the nerves can swell causing it to put pressure on the nerves there fore making them "fall asleep" and as long as it goes away when I get up or change positions or move the particular spot around some then it should be fine, but to try to really limit salt intake.

Skin tag/growth removal-I have an overgrowth of skin above my left ear...it's about a 1/4" long and though it has no feeling, it's just annoying and not very pleasing to the eye.  I've had it for as long as i can remember but over the past several years it's gotten larger.  I want to get it removed (had one removed from 'down there' along my underwear line when i was 15)-Doc said, and I just don't get this....he said it's NOT safe to have it removed during pregnancy.  I don't see why not.  It's perfectly ok for women to get teeth pulled.  All they do to remove this skin tag is do a local anasthetic, and either cut it out by the roots with a scalpel or use this torch looking thinging to burn it out so the roots can't grow back.  But whatever, who am I to argue with a doc

I asked when we'd do my glucose test and he said at 24 weeks, so not next appt but the one after.  At next appt I'll get the glucola to bring him to drink before going to the following appt.  

I told him I was concerned becuase I'm 16 weeks and I'm still not gaining weight.  I've been pretty much staying the same but occasionally i drop back a pound or two.  I just don't really have an appetite.  He started to seem a little concerned but then said that I should start to gain weight soon and we'll see at my next appt.  

So then, and this is the part that made me mad, he gives me chart to go check out and says to make an appt for 4 weeks.  But he didn't mention scheduling my ultrasound. He told me at my last appt that we would schedule it this time.  So I brought it up to him and he says "oh did you want to do it at 20 or 24 wks?" I said I wanted to do it at 20, I didn't want to wait.  So then he gives me this lecture about making sure I'm there 30 minuets early becuase the way the ultrasounds are scheduled if I'm late I miss it.  Like he was pissed off that I wanted to do it at 20 wks.  

I really really wish I had a better selection of doctors around here.  This doctor just isn't very compassionate, nor does he take the time with his patients (atleast not me).  BUT he is the ONLY doctor around here I could find that won't force me into a repeate c-section for no reason.  Even though I have VBAC'd 4 times already NONE of the other doctors will allow me to do it this time.  The doc I'm seeing now is the ONLY one who feels there is no reason why I shouldn't aim for a 5th VBAC.  So that's why I stay put.

Anyway, the good news is..he measured my belly, didn't tell me the measurement but he put his fingers about an inch -inch and a half below my belly and said "yup right there" .  I also heard the heartbeat loud and clear this time...I THINK doc said it was 163 but I'm not sure, I do know for a fact it was in the 160's just don't remember the exact number.  

I have my ultarsound on April 27th.  Hopefully baby will be cooperative and we can get a peak 'tween the legs :)
So until then, I'm counting down the days.

[smjmekg]

That is true, but I may just wait until we get there, it's only two months away and I'll be just starting/about to start the second trimester, and since I don't work I'll have plenty of time to hunt one down if they don't. It's a pain in the butt and takes a lot of minutes away from our international calling cards to try to get anyone besides family on the phone. I may even just wait until I get my phone in the states back on.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

If you want some peace of mind, you can always call the L & D unit at Bragg and ask to speak to whoever the OIC is and ask them what their policy on VBAC's is. That way you can kind of get a head start and know who you want to use before you get there so you can get things going faster once you do.  Especially since you guys will have a gazillion and one other places to check in, sign up etc.

[smjmekg]

Well the dr said as long as it's been more than a year and since it was just because he was in a...what's the one called where they're sitting cross legged and breech? Anyays, since it was just that he said I should be fine to have a VBAC. I just have to find a dr now, and I hope you're right about military drs, plus Bragg has the biggest military hospital...

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Oh ok.  My first was due to the following (technical jargon from my records):
Breech by leopolds
IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction)
Oligohydramniosis (I had no amniotic fluid left)

With my next pregnancy they monitored my fluid and babies size and position and all went well so I was able to go VBAC no problem. It was also 5 yrs between my c/s and my first vbac

[smjmekg]

He was breech, that's the only reason. The dr here said I should be able to do a VBAC, and Elijah's 21 months old in a few days so it's been over a year and a half since I had the c/s.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I don't blame you.  What was the reason for your first c/s?

[smjmekg]

I hope not because I am going to REFUSE a c-section.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Yeah, the doc did mention carpal tunnel, especially since I type a lot.  In my experience, the military docs are usually pretty good with allowing VBACS...well atleast on the Navy side of things.  I had 3 of my VBACS at military hospitals.  One in Portsmouth, VA and 2 in Okinawa Japan.  Hopefully they won't give you any problems.  

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I do too....my mom keeps referring to this baby as SHE.  I asked her last night why she was doing that and she said cuz she really wanted another little girl though she'll be happy and love it the same either way.  I told her to STOP before she jinx's me LOL  I really think i would prefer another boy...my girls, well, lets just say I don't know if i could handle another one LOL.  I told my mom that we'll just stick with refering to this one as "baby" until we know for sure.  

Hopefully this one will be like all my others and be spread eagle like s/he is saying "woohoo guess what i am" Heehe. I don't have any more ob appts until the 27th.  But hopefully the time will go fairly quickly.  

[smjmekg]

Wow that $UCK$! I've got to find a dr who will do a VBAC too, once we get settled at Ft Bragg, we're leaving for there in 45 days, well with a month of leave in between getting to Bragg in June, but anyways...

I wanted to add on that I started getting numbness in my fingers and hands and the dr told me you can develop carpal tunnel while you're pregnant, I did but I was fine after I had Elijah. Good to hear you get to see baby's parts soon, that is if baby cooperates. I've got another 16 weeks before I can.

[waitn838]

wow....im sorry you have to go through all this tortore....i would be completely frustrated...i think you handled it well

you find out the day after me :)   we can count down the days together

my next appt with my ob is 4/12....first im counting to that one...i cant wait to see the "between the legs" shot....i hope the baby cooperates