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Post by snippet17 on Nov 1, 2015 21:12:53 GMT -5
I only have one appointment in November. It is with the ultrasound to get better pictures of the heart. I still need to get approval from work for this yet, but my appointment isn't until the Monday before Thanksgiving.
It does worry me a bit to go 6 weeks between my Ob appointments since I am this far along and with issues i had thus far. Sadly there is nothing I can do about that due to traveling for work and no appointments due to holidays.
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Post by gingerlady on Nov 2, 2015 6:30:11 GMT -5
Good luck ladies!
Lots of November appointments for me: 1st OB visit is 11/11. No formal ultrasound scheduled but I'm hoping they can find a heartbeat or something else to reassure me a bit 'cause I'm going crazy! 11/16 is Genetics for early MaterniT21 testing. 11/30 is my first formal ultrasound - 12 weeks.
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Post by snippet17 on Nov 2, 2015 10:08:07 GMT -5
Good luck ladies! Lots of November appointments for me: 1st OB visit is 11/11. No formal ultrasound scheduled but I'm hoping they can find a heartbeat or something else to reassure me a bit 'cause I'm going crazy! 11/16 is Genetics for early MaterniT21 testing. 11/30 is my first formal ultrasound - 12 weeks. Don't get too upset if they cannot find a heart beat. Most of the time they cannot find one until after week 13. I am surprised they are doing the MaterniT21 already. I would check with your insurance to make sure that it is covered. I know for a lot of people it is not covered. |
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Post by gingerlady on Nov 2, 2015 11:05:25 GMT -5
Good luck ladies! Lots of November appointments for me: 1st OB visit is 11/11. No formal ultrasound scheduled but I'm hoping they can find a heartbeat or something else to reassure me a bit 'cause I'm going crazy! 11/16 is Genetics for early MaterniT21 testing. 11/30 is my first formal ultrasound - 12 weeks. Don't get too upset if they cannot find a heart beat. Most of the time they cannot find one until after week 13. I am surprised they are doing the MaterniT21 already. I would check with your insurance to make sure that it is covered. I know for a lot of people it is not covered. Thanks for the advice about the heartbeat. I'll definitely keep that in mind! MaterniT21 is covered for me because I'm AMA. I've already checked with my insurance company. It can be done as early as 10 weeks and I'll be close to 11 weeks when I see the Genetic Counselor. It's info I want to know as soon as possible, and honestly it's important enough to me that I'd pay for it out of pocket even if the insurance didn't cover it (it's about $250-$300 out of pocket - which is amazingly cheap for genetic testing). |
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Post by snippet17 on Nov 2, 2015 11:17:42 GMT -5
Don't get too upset if they cannot find a heart beat. Most of the time they cannot find one until after week 13. I am surprised they are doing the MaterniT21 already. I would check with your insurance to make sure that it is covered. I know for a lot of people it is not covered. Thanks for the advice about the heartbeat. I'll definitely keep that in mind! MaterniT21 is covered for me because I'm AMA. I've already checked with my insurance company. It can be done as early as 10 weeks and I'll be close to 11 weeks when I see the Genetic Counselor. It's info I want to know as soon as possible, and honestly it's important enough to me that I'd pay for it out of pocket even if the insurance didn't cover it (it's about $250-$300 out of pocket - which is amazingly cheap for genetic testing). I am happy that they are having you do the MaterniT21 over the quad screening. I had so many different gentic tests already and I wish they just sent me for ones that do not have a high risk of false positives like the quad screening does. |
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Post by gingerlady on Nov 2, 2015 11:28:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice about the heartbeat. I'll definitely keep that in mind! MaterniT21 is covered for me because I'm AMA. I've already checked with my insurance company. It can be done as early as 10 weeks and I'll be close to 11 weeks when I see the Genetic Counselor. It's info I want to know as soon as possible, and honestly it's important enough to me that I'd pay for it out of pocket even if the insurance didn't cover it (it's about $250-$300 out of pocket - which is amazingly cheap for genetic testing). I am happy that they are having you do the MaterniT21 over the quad screening. I had so many different gentic tests already and I wish they just sent me for ones that do not have a high risk of false positives like the quad screening does. I'm really not a fan of quad screening at all - it results in so many false positives and does little but spread around a lot of anxiety. I suspect it will be phased out entirely over the next 5 years or so as more practices get comfortable with cell-free fetal DNA testing. Insurance companies are getting better at covering the tests too, because it's actually cost-effective for them (one genetic test with 99+% accuracy costs much less than a quad screen followed by all the follow-up screening and testing that's necessary when there is false positive). The price of the tests is coming down too now that there are multiple competing companies offering the same test. |
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Post by snippet17 on Nov 2, 2015 11:45:33 GMT -5
I am happy that they are having you do the MaterniT21 over the quad screening. I had so many different gentic tests already and I wish they just sent me for ones that do not have a high risk of false positives like the quad screening does. I'm really not a fan of quad screening at all - it results in so many false positives and does little but spread around a lot of anxiety. I suspect it will be phased out entirely over the next 5 years or so as more practices get comfortable with cell-free fetal DNA testing. Insurance companies are getting better at covering the tests too, because it's actually cost-effective for them (one genetic test with 99+% accuracy costs much less than a quad screen followed by all the follow-up screening and testing that's necessary when there is false positive). The price of the tests is coming down too now that there are multiple competing companies offering the same test. I have been horrible about looking at prices of anything, now, since I hit my deductible and don't pay for anything. I did just look up my claim for the mat and the lab charges 2,762.00, (not including highmarks discounts) but like I said I hit my deductible for the year and won't have to owe anything until the new year starts. |
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Post by gingerlady on Nov 2, 2015 11:59:54 GMT -5
I'm really not a fan of quad screening at all - it results in so many false positives and does little but spread around a lot of anxiety. I suspect it will be phased out entirely over the next 5 years or so as more practices get comfortable with cell-free fetal DNA testing. Insurance companies are getting better at covering the tests too, because it's actually cost-effective for them (one genetic test with 99+% accuracy costs much less than a quad screen followed by all the follow-up screening and testing that's necessary when there is false positive). The price of the tests is coming down too now that there are multiple competing companies offering the same test. I have been horrible about looking at prices of anything, now, since I hit my deductible and don't pay for anything. I did just look up my claim for the mat and the lab charges 2,762.00, (not including highmarks discounts) but like I said I hit my deductible for the year and won't have to owe anything until the new year starts. Yup, the price the lab charges insurance is TOTALLY different from the true cost of the test, and what they would charge a patient paying out of pocket. That's true for almost every test and service you receive. Exhibit A of how totally f'd up our system of medical costs and insurance is  |
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Post by chipmunk on Nov 2, 2015 12:47:33 GMT -5
Had my Meet the OB appointment this morning. That went pretty well, though I was given the impression that it was just fill out paperwork and answer some questions in a dialogue, not also provide urine and blood samples and get a brief physical exam. Apparently I have a narrow pelvis. Greeeeaaat. They are being really good about my concerns of delivering over a holiday weekend (I'm due Saturday of Memorial Day weekend next year), and my thoughts on a potential elective C-Section (since I was born that way with a short cord tight about my neck- a natural delivery would have resulted in my severe brain damage or possible death). Next appointment is 2 weeks from Wednesday, and I've a packet of information for DH and I to start reading through. gingerlady, while they might not be able to detect the heartbeat where you can hear it, when I had my ultrasound at 7 week, 6 days, we could SEE the fluttering motion in the middle of the baby- that was the heart beating! DH is grumbling a bit that I went ahead and gave consent for them to run the standard genetic tests on my blood, but I figure we might as well get it over and done with. Besides, I have really, really, really good insurance that will cover most of this. |
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Post by snippet17 on Nov 2, 2015 13:11:03 GMT -5
chipmunk - my first appointment I had a ton of blood samples to take and urine samples. Every appointment you will have an urine sample. I luck out and my offices paperwork can be done online before each appointment. Is there a reason they are having you come back so quickly? Unless its a high risk situation doctors usually do not see a patient more than every 4 weeks the 1st trimester.
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Post by chipmunk on Nov 2, 2015 13:45:02 GMT -5
chipmunk - my first appointment I had a ton of blood samples to take and urine samples. Every appointment you will have an urine sample. I luck out and my offices paperwork can be done online before each appointment. Is there a reason they are having you come back so quickly? Unless its a high risk situation doctors usually do not see a patient more than every 4 weeks the 1st trimester. My understanding is that it involves more blood work for tests, and a sono to check on development. The plan is for me to be seen once per month until week 20 something, with said blood work, urine sample, and sono. Since they only got some blood and urine for preliminary stuff today (blood type, Rh factor, etc), the appointment in 2 weeks will be my "official" monthly appointment. |
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Post by gingerlady on Nov 2, 2015 14:15:51 GMT -5
Had my Meet the OB appointment this morning. That went pretty well, though I was given the impression that it was just fill out paperwork and answer some questions in a dialogue, not also provide urine and blood samples and get a brief physical exam. Apparently I have a narrow pelvis. Greeeeaaat. They are being really good about my concerns of delivering over a holiday weekend (I'm due Saturday of Memorial Day weekend next year), and my thoughts on a potential elective C-Section (since I was born that way with a short cord tight about my neck- a natural delivery would have resulted in my severe brain damage or possible death). Next appointment is 2 weeks from Wednesday, and I've a packet of information for DH and I to start reading through. gingerlady, while they might not be able to detect the heartbeat where you can hear it, when I had my ultrasound at 7 week, 6 days, we could SEE the fluttering motion in the middle of the baby- that was the heart beating! DH is grumbling a bit that I went ahead and gave consent for them to run the standard genetic tests on my blood, but I figure we might as well get it over and done with. Besides, I have really, really, really good insurance that will cover most of this. I'd be super-happy if they just did a quick informal ultrasound at the first appointment if they're unable to get a heart beat. I have no idea what to expect though. I feel like lots of other women get an early dating ultrasound or something. It seems silly to jump to genetic testing without even making sure the fetus is viable and vaguely the age that I think it is based on my LMP (and I have regular cycles and was fertility charting so I can predict an EDD with a LOT more accuracy than I'm sure many woman can). But I also don't want to use unnecessary medical resources for my (relatively) low-risk pregnancy. We'll just have to see what happens. |
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Post by snippet17 on Nov 2, 2015 15:11:24 GMT -5
gingerlady - not every Ob has an ultrasound, but I hope yours does! Mine does not but it is located in a hospital so there is easy access to it and that is why I can usually get most of my labs done right after my appointments. chipmunk - that makes more sense to me now. It is more likely around week 26 where you will start seeing the doctor every 2 weeks. It does change depending on results from test and other factors.
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Post by gingerlady on Nov 11, 2015 10:16:10 GMT -5
Hi everyone. I had my first OB appointment this morning and guess what? I'm pregnant!!! Yes, I knew that already but it was just soooooo sweet to get confirmation. The nurse did a doppler and I heard baby's heartbeat pumping away in the 160s - it was the sweetest sound I've ever heard. No ultrasound today but the doctor said my uterus size, plus the fact that we were able to find a heartbeat is consistent with 10 weeks, and with regular periods and a confirmed O date by temping there's no reason to think the timing is off. And of course I got a lot of annoying things out the way like a pap smear and a ton of blood work. I see Genetics next week for MaterniT21 testing and in two weeks have my nuchal translucency ultrasound. It's getting real, girls!
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Post by gingerlady on Nov 11, 2015 10:28:47 GMT -5
Thanks @sarahufl! You're the best!
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Post by gingerlady on Nov 17, 2015 18:04:18 GMT -5
I had my anatomy today, as well as an Echo because of the Single Umbilical Artery situation. Passed them both with flying colors! Doctor said the baby looks awesome. Still team green Yes!!! I was thinking of you today, waiting for an update. I'm so happy it all looks great! And good for you for having the patience to stay team green. Haha, I'll know in about a week. |
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Post by chipmunk on Nov 18, 2015 11:12:36 GMT -5
So I just had my sono. My office officially explained they do appointments at 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks, (ie, one per month) and then appointments start increasing. Munchkin's heartbeat is going strong, but the sono revealed he or she is currently facing downwards.
I say currently, because this little one did NOT want to have a sono, and kept moving around, forcing the tech to press and move the equipment- not fun for my full bladder. They ended up doing the transvaginal ultrasound to try for better images. Got a clearer image of munchkin, no longer a "blob of squish" but could not get a distinct image of face or profile of face. The stubborn little shit in fact threw up an arm and a hand BLOCKING the view of the face. We did, however, see arms waving, and legs and feet kicking. Could see spine forming, and thigh bones, so it's looking like a tiny little person in there. Will hopefully have better images at 16 week appointment, and we will find out the sex at the 20 week anatomy scan.
@sarahufl, this appointment did indeed include a nuchal check, which is looking normal, my bloodwork from last time was all normal, and I've apparently gained very little weight (not much comfort when my pants feel tight, grr). More bloodwork to come, and I'm already tired of needles.
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Post by chipmunk on Nov 18, 2015 11:52:28 GMT -5
Forgot to mention in my initial post....they did find a tiny hemorrhage in my uterine wall. I've had no spotting, but they saw it on the ultrasound. It's itty bitty, so not something to really worry about, but until my appointment in a month I'm to do nothing strenuous and no sex, period, as a precaution. I'm not too concerned- I did tell them I felt a tiny "pull" last week stretching to reach something in a not normal (for me) stretch pose, and they said that might have caused it, and that these were very common, it was just something to monitor and be careful about.
So, a month of sitting on my ass while DH hauls the laundry upstairs for folding, lifts the heavy stuff around the house, and grabs the heavier groceries? I'll take it.
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Post by chipmunk on Nov 18, 2015 14:13:23 GMT -5
Forgot to mention in my initial post....they did find a tiny hemorrhage in my uterine wall. I've had no spotting, but they saw it on the ultrasound. It's itty bitty, so not something to really worry about, but until my appointment in a month I'm to do nothing strenuous and no sex, period, as a precaution. I'm not too concerned- I did tell them I felt a tiny "pull" last week stretching to reach something in a not normal (for me) stretch pose, and they said that might have caused it, and that these were very common, it was just something to monitor and be careful about. So, a month of sitting on my ass while DH hauls the laundry upstairs for folding, lifts the heavy stuff around the house, and grabs the heavier groceries? I'll take it. Not liking for the hemorrhage, but I am liking for the doctor-ordered rest! as am I! I was over being exhausted from the 1st trimester, but this will allow me to justify sitting and doing crafty things.
DH wasn't fully paying attention when the doctor said "sorry, no intercourse, and this is from the doctor's mouth" and asked me what she had said on the ride home...I explained "no nookie" and he pretended to whimper. The man has Fallout 4 for PC (hooked up to our tv downstairs) AND Call of Duty Black Ops 3. He won't be suffering for the month of no sex 
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Post by snippet17 on Nov 18, 2015 14:23:47 GMT -5
chipmunk - do they do a ultrasound at all of your monthly appointments? If so you are very lucky. Mine doesn't have ultrasound equipment in the office. I am glad I dont need a full bladder for ultrasounds anymore.
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