For starters Lisa's OB/GYN no longer practiced the OB part of that title, so she had to find a new doctor (which was very sad). We decided to find someone in Katy and simply went to the BCBS approved doctor list. To be totally honest, Lisa chose the doctor because she was in an all female practice, and well, the doctor had graduated from KU Medical School (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!). So off to a new practice we went...
Our first appointment was on October 3rd. Lisa was still really, really sick and felt like roadkill. But nonetheless we were both excited! Lisa did the usual, height weight, blood pressure, etc. and we finally met the doctor. Needless to say she was "all business" and not overly friendly. But, we both have complete faith in her ability - so we are going to stick it out with her. After Lisa had the most uncomfortable pap of her entire life we were rewarded with an ultrasound of our 9 week old "Chickpea". As the ultrasound first started Tuna asked the doctor if the speck in the "pouch" was the baby. So cute! So now, the Chickpea lives in the "pouch". When the ultrasound first started it looked Chickpea was doing the funky chicken! We measured right on track, the heartbeat was strong, and everything looked really good (see pic below).
At this first appointment there were a lot of questions being asked of us; one of which was whether or not we wanted to pursue genetic testing. We decided to do an ultrascreen to check for the presence of any genetic disorders. The doctor emphasized the importance of the test due to Lisa's "advanced maternal age". We decided to have the testing done and if any concerning results came back we would cross that bridge at that time. But we definitely wanted to know.
Our second appointment was on October 26th. Tuna had a big job going (YEAH TUNA!), so Lisa went to this appointment by herself. This appointment was a check-up and the screening. The exam was just the basics and a chat with the nurse practitioner. Lisa loves the nurse practitioner and she has made it worth staying at the practice. Then the ultrascreen began - it involved a finger prick and an ultrasound. The tech who handled the appointment was looking for the baby's neck to measure as this is a part of the NT screening. One of the main things this measurement would indicate is the possibility of Spina Bifida. Chickpea's heart rate was 154 and everything looked good. Funny enough, the baby was moving around at first, but then performed a "rollover"and was in an awkward position. This made the tech's job tough in that she was having a hard time getting the neck measurement. She was pressing really hard on Lisa's abdomen and asked Lisa to shimmy around on the table to try and wake the baby, but Chickpea was having none of that! When Tuna heard this he said for sure the Chickpea took after Lisa in that she does the exact same thing if he has to wake her up! When Tuna saw the ultrasound he couldn't believe how much more room Chickpea had taken up in the "pouch"! The ultrasound below shows Chickpea's uncooperative, curled up, slumber pose!
Fast forward to this Wednesday and we found out that the genetic testing was negative and everything looked really great! We are so happy and so relieved!
Our next appointment is November 17th and it is a Level 2 ultrasound. It will be really great to see nice, defined pictures of our Chickpea. We are so excited and will resist the temptation to possibly find out what the sex is! We have our next doctor's appointment on the 28th of November.
We can't believe how fast time is flying! Wow!
Much love to you all!
xoxo,
Tuna and Lisa!
Chickpea, indeed not! Precious Peach if ever there was one!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I am so excited to hear the news. So happy for you.
ReplyDeleteMy OB/Gyn was recommended to me by several of my cousins. Between the 3 families, he had delivered 11 of their children. The funny thing is that what sold me was my MALE cousin telling me "you gotta use this guy". Apparently one of their babies was in distress when he was born and it was a very scary situation. They both credit the OB with saving their son's life. Don't ever forget that OB/Gyns are surgeons. If you have to sometimes give up a warm and fuzzy beside manner for a brilliant and decisive surgical mind, then that's a fair trade. My OB was definitely a little "cold". Not unprofessional, just a little stand-offish. He was thorough and cautious and even though he wasn't a hand holder, I always felt sure that if there was anything wrong, he would be right on top of it. When I was in labor with my second daughter we had some problems with her heartrate dropping intermittently when I would switch sides (like they want you to do with an epidural). The monitor went off and a whole room full of people rushed in. My doctor wasn't there and I felt very strongly that if I was going to have a c-section, that I wanted it to be him to do it. I begged them to just let me stay on the other side and see if I could keep her heartrate from dropping again. They agreed and not 5 minutes later my doctor arrived. I was never so glad to see anyone in my whole life. I explained to him what I thought was going on he told me that it had to do with the umbilical cord (I believe it was forcing her to lay on it). He said that it was perfectly ok to do exactly what I was doing and that he wasn't "even limbering up to push the gurney" into surgery. At that exact moment I saw what I needed to see. I was terrified and I was a mess. He was calm and compassionate and he was completely and totally in control. He wouldn't go so far as to say they other doctors were wrong (I never asked), but he was confident in his expertise and his abilites and he wanted what was best for us.. NOT what would get the delivery over the quickest. His calm detachment, which normally iritated me at visits, was the very thing that reassured me when I was the most terrified. We're all good at something. He just happens to be excellent at keeping mothers and babies healthy. I hope you have exactly the same kind of doctor I have :)
Thanks Francesca. Your experience really makes us feel much better. It was scary having to change doctors as we both really, really liked Dr. Wilson - A LOT! But the new doctor is just as you described your doctor and I think she would be practical and all business in a good way if issues come up during L&D. Hopefully it will all be smooth sailing!
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