Testing, Testing
I made an appointment today with a perinatologist for the exact day that I am twelve weeks. I have to say, sometimes I wonder about the people who work in doctor's offices. The woman on the phone kept asking me when I wanted to come in, and it was like pulling teeth to get her to explain what exactly I was coming in for and when. When I got on the phone with her, I immediately informed her that I was referred by my OB/GYN and that I had a Down Syndrome child, I had had a miscarriage and was now ten weeks pregnant.
Receptionist: So when do you want to come in?
Me: When would you like me to come in?
Receptionist: When is your due date?
Me: February 7, 2006 (Oh no, I am actually writing the date, I hope I don't jinx myself!)
Receptionist: When are you twelve weeks?
Me: In two weeks.
Receptionist: Is this for your first trimester appointment?
Me: I don't know, what exactly do you want me to come in for? An ultrasound? A consultation?
Receptionist: Your first trimester appointment.
Okay, I'm bored with typing her remarks already. Needless to say, it took a couple more rounds of back and forth before she informed me that it would be for an ultrasound and a nuchal fold screening.
Now, I'm wondering. We have decided that we don't want to test for Down Syndrome, so why would I want to get the nuchal fold screening? Will it just make me crazy? Is this the beginning of all those crazy tests the doctors are going to try to enforce upon me? Should I just go with what I did last time when I was pregnant, cross my fingers and pray for a healthy baby? By the way, we did get a healthy baby. He just had a different genetic makeup.
I suppose, for now, I won't think about it. I will just continue to hope I get to twelve weeks. Doesn't that sound like a good milestone?
posted by zannetastic @ 5:23 PM
5 Comments:
That's a hard question to answer. They will look at the baby and I think they will see the nuchal fold, so I guess the question is-do you want them to measure it? The nice thing about the tests is that if they come back okay it's one less thing to be concerned about, but then you've been on the other side of that and you are glad that you weren't tested. So, I don't know. That's a hard choice. I guess you just have to listen to your gut.
I'm in L.A. too, and my 1st tri screen was just an incredible look at the baby. I don't know if you happen to be going to the specialist I went to (I doubt it - Platt?) but Oh My God it was amazing to see that beautiful baby, and in 3D, with arms and legs...
Can you ask them not to give you the odds? Because it kind of was the thing that made the baby real to me and my husband and my family.
It's too bad your doctor referred you without really listening to you.
Roxanne, I know, I keep wondering which is better, to know the odds or not know the odds. My husband said "then let them just tell me and you don't have to know" which I thought was sweet.
Suzanne
Sweet coalminer, no, not the same person, and I really like my OB/GYN but I just feel ambivalent about going to a perinatologist, because I sometimes wonder if I should just let things be and let them happen the way they will. I am curious to see what my baby will look like at 12 weeks, since I didn't see my son until he was 20 weeks along.
Suzanne
hi - dropping in to say that the nuchal fold test is totally non-invasive; it's just part of an ultrasound, and if they're doing an ultrasound anyway, they'll be looking at the nuchal folds for themselves, even if you don't want the results. just so you have a little more information for your gut to consider. :)
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