https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:55:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prenatal-diagnosis-questions-to-be-asking-doctors#post-2924916 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 20:00:19 +0000 Clementine12 2924916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some of you might remember my son was diagnosed in-utero with Agenesis of Corpus Callosum - he is just shy of 3 months and is doing really well. I am clearing out some notes and came across my list of questions to ask at our meeting with the fetal health team that I thought might be worth sharing for people facing prenatal diagnoses. I am trying not to include anything too specific to his diagnosis,, but we did know there was a problem with his brain before the meeting (we thought hydrocephalus at the time). </p> <p>Feel free to chime in if you have anything to add.</p> <p>What can we expect labor/delivery to be like? Will he need intervention right after birth? Is a vaginal birth still advisable? Do you forsee NICU time? Are we ok to still deliver @ out hospital (what level of NICU?) w/ my current doctor?</p> <p>Is his condition currently stable? What followup care will I need during this pregnancy for this condition? Is there anything I should be on the lookout for? What would indicate a problem that needs reporting and who would I be reporting it to?</p> <p>What activities should I be doing or avoiding at this time? Is there a point in which it is safer for baby to come out than be in? Is there anything I need to avoid during labor (drugs, etc)?</p> <p>What treatment options are available? When would they begin? Does early diagnosis/treatment change outcome?</p> <p>What does the follow-up care look like? What tests will be done and when will they be done?</p> <p>What can we expect for his quality of life? What sort of appointment schedule will he be on? What doctors would he need to see regularly?</p> <p>What therapies/services do you anticipate he will need in childhood and beyond? What delays should we expect or be on the lookout for?</p> <p>What therapies/services do you anticipate he will need in childhood and beyond? What delays should we expect or be on the lookout for?</p> <p>Who will be coordinating his care among the multiple clinics he will be a patient of? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/masks-at-doctor-visits#post-2913839 Mon, 13 Apr 2020 11:11:52 +0000 codeitall 2913839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've got the lovely glucose test tomorrow. My county has less than 300 positives and I didn't get any instructions from my office (it is a family medicine, so not just OB) other than call before coming if I have any symptoms. Have you worn masks for your OB visits? What are other doctor offices doing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-decline-cervical-checks#post-2909583 Tue, 04 Feb 2020 11:00:24 +0000 Shantuck 2909583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm about a week and a half out from my 36 week appointment and my doctor mentioned that they start cervical checks at 36 weeks. This is baby #3 for me and I've never declined cervical checks with my prior two pregnancies but I've read that they can cause your water to break sooner. With my first, my water broke at 37+6 and with my second I had a small leak in my amniotic fluid at 38 weeks even. I'm wondering if it would be smart for me to decline cervical checks. With my first, they showed that I was barely dilated until I gave birth and with my second I was very much dilated/effaced and they told me at the 36 week appointment that I should be prepared to go early (my amniotic leak ended up not being detectable until my fluid became low in the 39th week and I was inducted at 39+6). I also recall having spotting after the checks. Clearly, the checks didn't really tell me much. I'm just curious if other people have declined cervical checks or whether in other people's experience there is much value to having them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-cramps-after-cervix-check#post-2908791 Wed, 22 Jan 2020 18:52:33 +0000 graceandjoy 2908791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is my 3rd and I don’t recall it being this bad. I’m 36 weeks, just had cervix checked and have had consistent bad cramping for 3 hours now, but they are usually over 5 min apart. I had been reading that it’s pretty normal, plus at the check up I wasn’t that far along so I’m thinking it’s just my cervix being irritated. Thoughts? DH is freaking out saying we need to go lol :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-providers-mid-pregnancy#post-2888073 Tue, 18 Jun 2019 18:01:28 +0000 Clementine12 2888073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found out at my 12 week appt that my midwife is retiring 2 months before my due date. I'll be working with her and possibly a doula to find a new midwife who is VBAC friendly but I'm curious when I should be trying to make the switch? My gut feeling is near the end of my 2nd trimester - after 20 weeks or 24 weeks. But maybe i should feel a bigger need to figure this out early? Am i not thinking of any pros/cons to waiting or not considering a better timeline? Baby is due on Christmas Day if that affects things.</p> <p>TIA bees - </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-was-your-first-prenatal-visit#post-2882858 Wed, 01 May 2019 20:45:47 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2882858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What week of pregnancy was your first prenatal appointment and/or ultrasound? With my daughters, we underwent fertility treatment with an RE. Our first appointments were around 5-6 weeks.<br /> I just found out today that I’m pregnant (yay!!!) and this time it happened naturally. When I called to make the appointment, they gave me June 11th. I’ll be like 10 weeks.</p> <p>Is that normal? I’m also 40, so probably considered a little risky. </p> <p>Thanks! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-nst-done-before-you-were-admitted-to-give-birth#post-2237166 Wed, 15 Jul 2015 10:32:40 +0000 autumnlove 2237166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO 1- I had one after a car accident in my second tri and another when I was admitted to the hospital for my induction.</p> <p>LO 2- I had one when I checked in for my Repeat csection.</p> <p>LO 3- My Dr requested one for next week at 34 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fasting-2-hour-glucose-test#post-2833611 Thu, 12 Jul 2018 12:43:08 +0000 Mrsbells 2833611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For my 1st two pregnancies in 2012 and 2016 I did the regular 1 hour glucose screening and did not fast. For this pregnancy I was told my doctors office now only offers the 2 hour fasting test which actually diagnoses gestational diabetes and no further testing will be needed.<br /> Is this common now? I just got done with it a little while ago and its nice to have food in my tummy after starving all morning </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fetal-tachycardia#post-2826066 Sun, 03 Jun 2018 14:28:36 +0000 littleblessings 2826066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an ultrasound on Friday that showed my LO having a heart rate of over 200. Anyone have any experience? Im terrified.</p> <p>Edited to add. I am 20 weeks tomorrow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bleeding-after-cervical-check#post-2795217 Fri, 05 Jan 2018 10:20:03 +0000 periwinklebee 2795217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did anyone bleed/spot after a cervical check, and for how long? </p> <p>I had one three days ago and bled fairly heavily (like period bleeding) for about the first hour. It then tapered off, but I'm still experiencing periodic brown blood tinged mucous three days later (internet seems to mostly say it should taper off after 24 hours). It will seem to stop and then come back. Anyone have this experience? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fetal-ekg-experience#post-2793560 Tue, 26 Dec 2017 20:13:19 +0000 Ms. RV 2793560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone ever have a fetal EKG? I found out today I will probably need one with this pregnancy since DD has a congenital heart defect that was not detected on her anatomy scan. </p> <p>What was it like? Did you have it done before or after your anatomy scan? Or during? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loss-of-faith-in-a-doctor-bc-of-misdiagnosis#post-2782993 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:05:17 +0000 misolee 2782993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I go to a fairly big OB practice with several locations, 10 doctors that rotate, 4 midwives, etc. This is my second pregnancy with them so I've seen pretty much everyone...and never had any regret with any of them. Sure there are some doctors and midwives who I like more but I don't have anything bad to say.</p> <p>Couple weeks ago we had a gender anatomy scan. My primary provider was at the hospital so I saw another OB. This doctor is fairly new to the practice and I was also surprised how young she looked. She saw something alarming and referred us to a specialist. She also went on and on about this condition, told us the worst case scenarios, and even suggested I read upon this condition on google to know what we were facing. I was so overwhelmed, scared, and nervous. Thankfully, the perinatologist was able to see us the following week. This doctor came and sat in the ultrasound screening and was confused as to why I was referred bc she did not see what my original OB was seeing. To make sure, we also did some blood tests to confirm and luckily everything came out okay. Probably will be on pins and needles until the baby is born but at least I have a sense of relief.</p> <p>Now, in hindsight, I'm wondering if this is common or if this new OB is being extra cautious or just if the doctor wasn't too sure. It also makes me mad that she went on and on about this condition and what we could be potentially facing if she wasn't even too sure if the baby had this condition or not. I'm glad we went to the specialist to get concrete answers but man, it was expensive bc it was also considered an outpatient service of the hospital. Bc my doctors rotate whose on call, I'm also worried this particular doctor will be on call when I do go into labor.</p> <p>Should I just stop worrying? express my concern with my primary OB? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rotating-ob-for-prenatal-care#post-2773932 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 15:51:21 +0000 summerfruit 2773932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB care is through a large OB practice with multiple docs and midlevels. They give us an option of purposefully rotating through the providers so you can know more of them since you never know who will be delivering your baby. I do like the doc I saw on my first visit. </p> <p>What kind of practice does your OB (or FM doc?) work in? Are you rotating through the different providers purposefully, or are you trying to stick with just one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/high-levels-of-amniotic-fluid-at-end-of-pregnancy#post-2747596 Wed, 14 Jun 2017 19:04:41 +0000 Mrs.Hawk71 2747596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also known as polyhydramnios. Has anyone else experienced this? I am due tomorrow and today at my check up I had a ultrasound done that showed my amniotic fluid was very high (28cm) I am going in Friday morning to be induced. Hard not to worry.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/measuring-behind-in-early-pregnancy#post-2739146 Tue, 23 May 2017 14:01:20 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2739146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my first prenatal appt yesterday. According to my LMP I was 7w1d. My last cycle was 40-ish days long. (I had weaned my daughter and my periods were returning but not regulated). But I had assumed just based on feelings of ovulation (didn't actually track) I was back to a more normal cycle.</p> <p>My OB felt my uterus and commented that it's bigger than she thought and maybe I'm further along than I thought.</p> <p>She did a transvaginal ultrasound and baby was smaller than she thought measuring 6w3d. She also detected a heartbeat but didn't disclose how fast or slow it was. </p> <p>Side note.. my first two pregnancies ended in miscarriage so I am super sensitive and prone to worry in my first trimester. My last two pregnancies ended in my son and daughter but i am still anxious!</p> <p>Anyway my OB stared at the screen for awhile.. then she said she wanted to see me in a couple weeks because I'm not as further along than we all thought. She mentioned she wants to make sure the baby is growing. She also mentioned that I still have risk of miscarriage. When I pressed her further she said "I am not going to give you reasons for you to worry."</p> <p>She didn't want me to get blood work done or anything but she seemed off to me?? Maybe I'm being paranoid and she's being cautious.</p> <p>i left the appointment with a bad feeling. Am I overreacting? It's definitely possible I ovulated later than I thought. also my other children I remember measured a fewdays smaller at their early ultrasounds too. But just the exchange with this OB and her reaction just worries me. I know if baby measures small it could mean things are not developing correctly.</p> <p>Am I crazy or valid? Please share your honest stories/thoughts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-time-working-moms-how-did-you-schedule-prenatal-appts#post-2609381 Tue, 23 Aug 2016 17:00:33 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2609381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wanted to hear from others who are in the same M-F 8-5 boat I'm in. How did you schedule your prenatal visits? </p> <p>I also chose a practice 45 minutes from home (and I work close to home) so that complicates things too. I can take the first appt of the day (8 am) and start work late or the last appt of the day (4-5pm I think) and try to get done a little earlier. But it's so much stress to start work late or rush to get done early either way.<br /> I can't keep taking PTO for visits like I did today because I need to save PTO for mat leave.</p> <p>How did other mama's make it work? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-cervical-checks-before-36-weeks#post-2727085 Thu, 20 Apr 2017 20:01:44 +0000 winniebee 2727085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With DS1 I had a cervical check at 30 weeks due to contractions. I wasn't dilated at the first check but I was at the second check so I got the preterm labor work up (and bed rest!)</p> <p>I always thought that the manual exam with DS1 at 30 weeks led to my dilation so I declined any checks until 36 weeks with DS2. I had the cervical lengths taken by ultrasound at 20, 24, and 28 weeks though (all fine). I ended up 2cm at 36 weeks despite tons of rest!</p> <p>This time I had cervical lengths taken by ultrasound at 16, 20, and 24 weeks (all fine). I have contractions but don't want any digital exam until 36 weeks again. Hoping to avoid one!</p> <p>Did you have cervical checks before 36w? Why or why not? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-dilate-but-have-to-have-a-c-section#post-2719835 Tue, 04 Apr 2017 09:50:17 +0000 bubblegum 2719835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I will be 38 weeks tomorrow but yesterday I had 6 strong contractions back to back. </p> <p>My question, if you have a scheduled c-section but get an internal done and you are dilated ( of course 3 or more) what happens??</p> <p>Do they take you in and do the c-section? Do they wait until you're further dilated? What happens? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/manual-version-to-turn-transverse-baby#post-2718157 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:17:54 +0000 MissLace 2718157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So baby #2 has been head down for weeks and I just had my 36 week appointment and of course he moved and is now sideways/transverse. I have my next appointment next Tuesday (in 5 days) to see if he goes head down and they're going. To do an ultrasound to be sure. If he IS still sideways then we need to talk about scheduling a c-section or trying to manually flip the baby. Have any of you had a successful manual version? Is it super painful? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/irrational-pregnancy-worry#post-2633657 Fri, 07 Oct 2016 11:10:15 +0000 Goldengirl 2633657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I know I'm being crazy, but now that my doctor is checking for baby position during each appointment, I find they push down soooo hard on my belly and every time it freaks me out, like they're literally squishing my baby's brain. I always ask if it hurts him and they say no and kind of laugh and I know they wouldn't be lying... but I always find myself worrying after! I can tell he feels it because he always moves a ton right after. Did anyone else get their tummies pushed so hard? Or freak out about it like me? :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-papp-a-level#post-2608319 Mon, 22 Aug 2016 10:54:58 +0000 snowjewelz 2608319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Apparently I had this from my last round of tests (I just had my 20 week anatomy scan), I will be speaking to my OB about it later this week and going back in 4 weeks to follow up. I did not have this with my first baby. </p> <p>What I've gathered from the internet is that while it does pose greater risks for small baby, early labor, etc most people seem to have been fine with extra monitoring? </p> <p>Any experiences? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-providers-at-29-weeks#post-2597348 Tue, 02 Aug 2016 18:37:34 +0000 Bernieboo 2597348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I'm hoping some bees have experience with this because I'm not finding anything helpful online. My hospital of choice has both obgyns and midwives. My amazing obgyn of several years (who my husband and I LOVED) left about a month before we started TTC. We wanted to stay with the hospital for this pregnancy (our first) because we're very familiar with it, my mom works there, and I've been there a thousand times. I have asthma and endometriosis, so I have been seeing the maternal fetal medicine doc since we started TTC. He's great, but doesn't deliver. I had a lot of bad experiences with obgyns while I was trying to get a diagnosis and treatment for my endometriosis. That, coupled with the fact that I want a natural birth, led us to choose the midwives. I've been seeing them the entire time and I've had a mostly positive experience. I've had a couple of times where they've dismissed my concern about something, but I assumed it was because they knew more than me and it really wasn't something I needed to be concerned about.</p> <p>Yesterday, we ended up in OB triage because I was having contractions and reduced fetal movement. (Everything is fine! Just overtaxed myself over the weekend, but baby and cervix are perfect!) But we had a terrible experience with the midwife on call (i've seen her in the past at a regular appt, as I've met nearly all of the midwives). She was very condescending, kept telling me to stop being so stressed, and to trust my body. She also apparently hadn't read my chart, because she had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned the sacral nuerectomy I had for my endometriosis pain. (I was told by the pelvic pain specialists that this could make labor and contractions less painful or noticeable for me, so to be very careful when I decided to get pregnant.) I had to explain to her what it was and even after mentioning previous medical advice to be very careful of preterm labor, she immediately dismissed my concerns and provided no guidance on how to deal with this going forward. Then she told me that I didn't need to be seeing the MFM doc and that pregnancy would improve my asthma. I've been told multiple times by multiple providers that asthma is exacerbated by pregnancy. All in all, I felt like she was inconvenienced by me being in triage and didn't take any care to pay attention to my health history or my concerns going forward.</p> <p>Here's my dilemma: we're still committed to staying at this hospital (the hospital where my old ob delivers is having a lot of issues and I don't want to deal with that on my first pregnancy), but I don't want to risk this midwife delivering my baby. There's about 10 total in the practice. I could switch to an ob fairly easily, as it's all the same practice. But I have no idea what the experience is like with an ob and I've heard so many horror stories about being pushed into pain meds and c sections. What would you do? Stay with the midwives? Switch to the obgyns? Switch to a different practice altogether?</p> <p>Thanks in advance for your advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/niptmathernit21-results-timing#post-2586755 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 08:11:02 +0000 MaryM 2586755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you opted for NIPT, how long did it take for you to get results?</p> <p>I go in next Friday, and realized this morning that my doctor is out the following week. I'm wondering if that will delay results, or if I wouldn't have them by then anyway. </p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-have-to-wait-at-ob-visits#post-2552273 Thu, 19 May 2016 12:51:25 +0000 winniebee 2552273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never used to have to wait long to see my OB, but now it seems like she's always running behind. The last 3 visits I've had to wait 45 minutes for her. She always apologizes for running behind, and I know that things come up and she doesn't mean to be late. But, it makes my appointments so long! Round trip I'm gone from my house for like 2 hours! (20 mins there, 20 mins back and at least an hour in her office, if not more).</p> <p>How long do you typically have to wait? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quantiferon-tb-blood-test#post-2548609 Fri, 13 May 2016 12:26:24 +0000 KT326 2548609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you have this done during your first trimester blood work? I don't remember having it done with my first pregnancy. </p> <p>I have an appointment with my OB in a week and a half, so I am skipping it for now and will talk to my OB then. I have no risk factors for TB so I don't even know why I need it done! </p> <p>(The reason I'm asking is because it was included with all my other first trimester blood work that I had done this morning. But this test is special and the draw has to be done in the afternoon, which would mean going back for another appointment...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-ob-never-remembers-me-normal#post-2537697 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 12:57:15 +0000 thepicklemonster 2537697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm 17w along in my first pregnancy. I started seeing this OB right when I got my BFP, and have now been to him for 5 appointments in 3 months. My DH has come to 2-3 of them. Each time, the doctor does not seem to remember us at all. He glances at the chart to figure out my name and due date, but never remembers things we discussed or tests we did last time. For example, every time I see him, I tell him repeatedly that we do not want to know the gender. Also, I had the Panorama test and clicked the box so they would not report gender. I had my 16w appointment last week and he was like "ok lets do an ultrasound" and I said "I didn't know we were doing one today, ok, but remember I don't want to know the gender!" and he goes "oh, that's the only reason I was going to do an ultrasound." WTF? Why are they not noting this stuff in my chart? I was like, "no, I don't want to know, and I could have already found out from Panorama" and he goes "oh you did Panorama?" and starts flipping through my chart. </p> <p>I get that doctors see so many patients and we need to remind them of stuff, but I feel like he doesn't remember a THING about me and I've seen him so many times in such a small time frame! Obviously my top priority is a safe pregnancy/delivery and I trust him to do that. I also really like his office, the staff is great, it is convenient etc. But this is starting to bug me and it's really pissing off my DH. Is this fairly typical? Will it improve as he gets to know us better and as I get further along?</p> <p>Feels good to vent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-ob-test-for-group-b-strep-in-first-tri#post-2501890 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 13:36:15 +0000 winniebee 2501890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had 3 different OB practices for my 3 pregnancies (due to moves!) and each OB has tested for GBS at 8 weeks and 36 weeks. I tested positive at 8 wks with #1 and had antibiotics. It cleared, but I tested positive again at 36 weeks so had antibiotics while in labor. With #2, I never tested positive. With #3, I just tested positive at 8 weeks and have to go on antibiotics for a week.</p> <p>I've asked a few friends and they weren't sure if their OB tested in the first tri. Or maybe they did, but they didn't test positive so didn't know about it!</p> <p>Does your OB test for GBS in the first tri? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/houston-bees-ob-midwife-recs#post-2494216 Mon, 14 Mar 2016 12:41:56 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2494216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn't happy with my OB with my first 2 pregnancies so this time looking for a new caretaker. I'm open to going with a midwife as well. Bonis points in theyre around Kingwood/Humble. I'm not really announcing yet so I don't feel I can ask on fb/other groups I'm a part of. Thanks in advance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-ob-mid-pregnancy-problematic#post-2480448 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 16:50:59 +0000 PinkElephant 2480448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any advice on switching OBs mid pregnancy? If you did it, did you have pushback from the dictor/hospital (not wanting to take you later on), or hassle from your insurer?</p> <p>I've got appointments booked at two doctors who look good - one is closer and delivers a a very close hospital, but won't see me til about 11 weeks, which I am not really comfortable with. The other is farther away but can/will see me at 8 weeks and will do a sonogram and various testing at that point )which meets my expectations from my two prior pregnancies. My DDs were born outside the U.S. so I'm new to how things are done here...</p> <p>TIA! It's all very hypothetical as its so early, but I like to be on top of things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-ob-visits-did-your-so-go-to#post-1833 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:23:34 +0000 mediagirl 1833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For those of you who have had children, did your husband or partner go with you to all of your visits or just your visits with ultrasounds? Were there any visits in particular when they definitely should be there? </p>