This seems a bit much. Is anyone else going to the doc this often?

[38_pregnant_az]

Just curious if others are having this experience too...

Im 39 years old next week and having my third baby. (My youngest is 11 so its been a while for me). Aside from starting the pregnancy bout 30lbs overweight, my health was good starting out. The only complications I have had is slightly low amniotic fluid and carpal tunnel. I feel really good.

Starting at 35 weeks I have two non stress tests a week and one fluid measurement, in addition to my regular doctors visits. I dont mean to complain or sound critical of my doctor, I really do like him a lot. I am a tiny bit skeptical though. I was told this is being done because of my age.

Is anyone else doing this also?  

[38_pregnant_az]

wow that puts things in perspective! thanks.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

When my middle two I was in my middle twenties.  I took had the biweekly NST's and weekly AFI's.  In my case I had a history of an emergency c-section due to lack of fluid, slow growth rate and breech presentation and a stillbirth.  Being as you are considered "advanced maternal age" it's a standard procedure for most doctors to increase the amount of monitoring.  There really isn't anything harmful about the monitoring and atleast it gives you peace of mind that your baby is ok.  

I wish that they had done that kind of monitoring with my first pregnancy becuase I might have been able to avoide the emergency c-section.  Had they monitored my low fluid level more frequently insteast of just monthly ultrasounds they could have seen sooner that I had NO fluid at all.  

[38_pregnant_az]

thanks :)

[nola0805]

I turned 40 in June and am 39 weeks not and have not had anything close to that level of followup.  I have not had an ultrasound since week 19 and since 35 weeks, have only had two internal checks.  My doctor is pretty non-interventionist, which works well with my style.  My guess is that your doctor is follwing you more closely no just because of age but because of age mixed with the low amoniotic fluid.  Not having enough fluid would be very bad, so it makes sesne that he/she wants to closely monitor the situation.

There are pros and cons about such this degree of monitoring and it really comes down to what is medically necessary and what you want.  I would advise talking to your doctor about this in more detail and asking about the medical reasons for it.  Good luck.

[AnnieBrooke]

When I was in my last three weeks, they had me do non-stress tests every third day.  What a pain THAT was.  But I can't complain.  They were worried that my uterus would be less efficient at my advanced age.  I certainly wouldn't want to have ignored such a thing.