So, I just missed a call from my doctor. Apparently she is sending me for more bloodwork, and to visit the perinatal clinic in town. I have no idea what that is.
I'm freaking out because in my mind there is something wrong with the baby and I have to go in to talk to someone.
I'm freaking out.
Has anyone been to a perinatal clinic? What is it?
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
Is it possible to call your doctor back now and get a more detailed explanation? Did you have any testing done recently? Hopefully everything's fine!
apricot / 429 posts
@swedishfish: she left the office already, but is calling me in the morning. I had bloodwork done recently for my iron levels I think? I just had my anatomy scan this afternoon, so I doubt it's something from that, but I can't help but worry.
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
@Sophs Mama: well, I hope she calls you first thing tomorrow morning to put your mind at ease. Try to do something nice for yourself tonight!
grapefruit / 4079 posts
Hopefully it's nothing and she calls you first thing in the morning.
pear / 1599 posts
I am not sure if it is the same but I saw a perinatologist while I was pregnant. They usually see high risk patients, I think. I saw them to make sure my LO's heart was formed and functioning as it should since I have heart issues.
Does your Dr have a number for her to be paged after hours? Cause I wouldnt be able to wait until morning. I hope it turns out to be them just being super cautious and everything is fine!
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
I hope you find out in the morning that it's no biggie... try to keep your mind off of it tonight! I know that's easier said than done...
apricot / 429 posts
All that I can think about is that he has spina bifida. I know that's crazy, but I'm just worrying about everything.
apricot / 429 posts
But, wouldn't they have found that at my NT scan a couple months ago?
grapefruit / 4731 posts
@Sophs Mama: *big hugs* I hope you get some answers soon.
I like to remind myself that a lot of things that could go wrong are really really rare. What are the chances that I'm part of the small % that has it? Probably not likely because I'm not special, please don't let me special!
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
@Sophs Mama: I know it's hard to resist but Dr. Google is the worst! Try to just wait for your own doc...
grapefruit / 4213 posts
I had to see one for my first pregnancy when they thought they found abnormalities in the brain. They did a more intensive scan and we had to also meet with a geneticist to discuss family history in depth as they were ruling out genetic defects. As a result I had the NICU team present at my delivery as a precaution. Thankfully my little girl is just fine with no problems resulting from the brain abnormalities. I tell you my story not to scare you, just to let you know that not all situations end in bad places.
I hope you won't stress too much until you hear back from the doctor. Easier said than done, I know, trust me. *hugs* and hang in there. 
nectarine / 2152 posts
That is kind of uncool of your doc to not get in touch with you tonight to explain things, am sure it will end up all being fine!
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
I saw a perinatologist (sometimes they're called MFMs-- maternal-fetal medicine) because our twins were high risk. People are referred to MFMs for all kinds of things, so try not to freak out. It could be something as small as not getting a clear reading on something from the anatomy scan and wanting the MFM to check and verify that everything is okay. If there is some issue, it truly could be relatively minor or just something that needs a little closer monitoring, and MFMs are specialists so you should be in great hands. It totally sucks that you have to wait until tomorrow to talk to your doctor. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that.
cherry / 248 posts
Was your recent blood work test your glucose? If that was high you'd have further testing and have possibly see a perinatologist.
persimmon / 1096 posts
Very uncool of your doctor not to talk with you tonight. Just wanted to say that I'm thinking of you and hoping you get good news tomorrow morning.
persimmon / 1495 posts
That stinks of your doctor to do that! Pregnant women worry enough on their own. For what it's worth, my doctors office also left a vague message about test results asking me to call them back as soon as possible when I was pregnant. I completely freaked out, and then it turned out I was just borderline for gestational diabetes. Not a big deal at all
nectarine / 2809 posts
@Sophs Mama: I doubt she would have left a message like that if it was anything serious. Are you over 35? If could be related to that. I am, so I have to have my anatomy scan with a perinatalogist. Keep us posted in the morning. But, I, honestly think it would be unethical to leave a voicemail if anything was really wrong. Doctors don't do that.
coconut / 8498 posts
I recently had to go for extra scans with a MFM. Turns out it was nothing, but the original ultrasound center does that as standard practice if they couldn't get great shots. Mine was also accompanied by a vague voicemail and vague follow-up conversation when I called back. They typically don't want to speculate too much when it could be absolutely nothing. I hope that's the case for you!
pomegranate / 3872 posts
My practice refers every patient to a perinatologist for their 13 week and anatomy scans. The idea is that the u/s tech there is an expert at getting the shots they need. LO was is a weird position so we were referred by the perinatologist to see a prenatal cardiologist to get better shots of the heart. Point being, hopefully it's just that they couldn't get perfect shots in their u/s and want to refer you to a specialist. Wishing you good news!
grapefruit / 4669 posts
Have you heard anything? I had my gender scan 2 weeks ago and right before we left, the doc casually mentioned that there's a small brain cyst and they'll do a sono at my next appt to make sure it's gone...no big deal, it'll probably go away...but AAAAH how much have I freaked out?! All that to say I know it sucks not knowing if something's wrong, and also waiting to find out for sure what's going on. (I still have 2 more weeks to wait) I hope it's nothing, whether you find that out today or later on at another appointment.
apricot / 429 posts
Thanks everyone! I called this morning, and the receptionist said she isn't in today (!!!!!) but said that if she said she would call me today then she will. But seriously??? It's probably like @jerricabenton said and they want me to go to finish my anatomy scan with someone more precise, but I am just beside myself wondering. Ugh. Ahhhhhhhhh!
kiwi / 661 posts
I dont think doctors realize how they come off sometimes. I had my PCP call and leave a voicemail about my blood work -- she made me come in and get an appt to discuss results. In my head I was diabetic and had through the roof cholesterol. In reality, I have low vitamin D and there was blood in my urine sample (hello just ask me if I was menstruating vs. bringing me into the office). Try and breath easy for now; so frustrating that she wasn't more specific or available for follow up!
pomelo / 5220 posts
Ugh. that is not cool at all... I hope she calls you soon! The stress cannot be good for you or the baby!
coffee bean / 26 posts
So sorry you have to go through all this stress! I think if it was something really serious your doc would have made it a priority to get a hold of you. So it's likely something more routine perhaps?
apricot / 429 posts
So, she called. At my anatomy scan yesterday they couldn't get a lot of the pictures they needed, especially of the face, spine, hands and feet. One of the pictures they got was of the fold on the back of his neck. It measured at 7mm, and apparently 6mm is optimal. This increases the chance that he has downs syndrome from 1/8000 to 1/500. I have to go in for a more detailed scan early next week. If I go in and they determine that it was just an anomaly, then that's great, and he is perfectly fine.
If it isn't an anomaly, and there is a risk, I can choose to have amniocentesis done, and if I want I can have a blood test done that's new to Canada, but costs $800 as it's not covered here yet by universal health care. If those come back positive, I have to have even more testing done, and then decide if I want to continue the pregnancy.
I don't even know what to say.
Deep down I know he's perfect and it was just a strange picture they got, but there is a part of me that also knows that just because I'm young and healthy doesn't mean I'm immune to complications.
Has anyone else ever had this happen and had everything turn out fine?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Sophs Mama: Ugh, I don't have any experience, but just want to give you a hug! Hearing that your baby might have Downs (or any other complication) is so scary! I really hope they are able to get you in ASAP so you can get the scans redone and find out that it was just a fluke and everything is fine!!!
nectarine / 2028 posts
@Sophs Mama: Feel free to Wall me...We got a pretty strange diagnosis yesterday (different than yours but also the result of the Anatomy Scan), and I'm also in the stage of "picking up the pieces" and figuring out how to remain calm over the holiday weekend. I don't have advice with this specific condition, but am sending virtual support. Love and light to you as you absorb information. I'm trying to stay away from Google-I suggest you do the same. No good comes of it!
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I had a 1/25 chance for downs based on my nuchal test. Had a cvs and everything and the baby was fine. Just has a fat neck like her daddy. It was a big scare for nothing, but that's how it goes sometimes. A 0.2% chance is still terribly minimal 
honeydew / 7444 posts
Just remember that 1/500 are still great odds. With my last pregnancy i freaked out because I had elevated risk for my age group but 1/170 was still good if you look at the odds. This time I only opted for the NT scan (no bloodwork). Just remember that the risk of miscarrying due to an amino is 1/200 to 1/400.
I also freaked out last night because I missed a call from my doctors office, only to find out this morning that my spina bifida screening was negative. I hope the detailed scan confirms that everything is fine!!
nectarine / 2809 posts
@Sophs Mama: your odds are VERY low! I really think there's no reason to worry and I think it's odd that they'd even present the information to you in a worrisome way. 1/500 is almost a 0% chance!! Like @Freckles: said, us over-35 ladies have a built-in 1/170 risk. That's still less than 1%. I know telling you not to worry is not the right thing to say. This is coming from someone who overly worries about EVERYTHING. In fact, I'm waiting for my bloodwork right now and trying so hard to stay sane. But, really, 1/500 is almost nothing.
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