New OB and MFM

Yesterday was our first visit with the new OB and it was 360 degrees different from the last OB. The appointment last just over an hour- compared to the last OB appointment which lasted -oh maybe a half hour. I only waited to be taken back for about 15 minutes. Once they took me to the back a nurse sat down with me and did intake. She did all of my vitals, went over all of my medical history, discussed all of my fertility treatments, discussed the babies, and discussed the OB's office in general. It was probably about 45 minutes of intake alone. 

Then I met with the midwife who did a full body examination- including pelvic exam and breast exam. Everything went perfectly. The midwife added extra calcium and extra iron to my supplements. I won't be starting the iron supplementation until my stomach gets a little better. 

I have another appointment in two weeks and until my stomach gets under control and I start to gain weight instead of lose weight they will follow my every two weeks. I also have a early glucose tolerance test scheduled for four weeks from now- about 15 weeks pregnant. The reason for the early testing is my PCOS and the fact that PCOS can affect the way your body metabolizes glucose. 

It was a wonderful appointment and I am so glad I went with my gut and switched to a different practice. They deliver at the hospital I work for and they are thorough and caring. It makes me feel so much safer for both the babies and I. 

After my OB appointment I went to Maternal Fetal Medicine and met with the high risk doctor and had an amazing ultra sound. MFM was PACKED. We waited almost an hour prior to being seen, but its not like they rushed us when we were in the back for our appointment. They took so much time and pointed out so many things- even that Baby B had a full belly which shows that the baby is swallowing and eating just fine. We got to see the babies arms and legs and even ears. 

First my first baby- Swishy was hanging out with me before my appointments. Swishy is also way over the snow and cold and refused to come out from under the covers :) 

Now for some ultra sound photos. As always if you aren't in the right place right now there is nothing wrong with looking away. Feel better- enjoy a cup of tea, or wine if that's an option, put your feet up, read a good book, and enjoy some sunshine (if you aren't in the Northeast). Sending you love no matter what <3

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Baby A 10w6d-- girl??

Baby A is hanging out on the right side. I personally think Baby A is a girl. She was super cooperative and her heart rate was 184. She's growing just perfectly and was moving her arms and legs around. 
 

Baby B 10w6d --Boy??

Baby B is on my left and a lot less cooperative. Baby B was doing somersaults and stretching out all over the place. Baby B's heart rate was 154 and growing just perfectly as well. I feel like Baby B is a boy. 

It was so amazing to see them look like little humans. To see how much they grew in just a few weeks and to see them moving all over the place. We don't go back to MFM until the end of May. I have opted out of sequential screening. They are both looking perfect and it does not matter to my husband or I what a sequential screening shows. 

Our reasoning for this is worth sharing. One of our very best friends has a 19 year old, 100% healthy son. He sings and acts and runs and when we have barbeque's he eats more than anyone else at the table. There is nothing wrong with him, but at our friends sequential screening she was told that his heart had not developed properly and she should abort him. Our friends is a women of faith and she prayed and prayed and never felt peace about aborting her baby. So she didn't and 9 months later she delivered her son. They whisked him away to a children's specialty hospital after he was born -alive-- because they thought there was something terribly wrong with his heart. Only there was nothing wrong with his heart. He was healthy. A miracle. Our friend still has the doctors reports saying that her baby should have never been born alive- let alone a healthy 19 year old young man. To me it doesn't matter what the screening shows because I believe in miracles.

At our end of May appointment we will be able to find out the genders. My husband and I have decided to do elective ultra sounds at a place near us. One at around 14 weeks where they guess the genders and then another one at 17/18 weeks where they guarantee the genders. There is a small viewing area and we will be inviting our parents to the 17/18 week ultra sound to be there with us when we find out. 

So far we are all doing great and we keep praying that they keep growing perfectly. I am so happy with my medical team right now and I feel like the babies and I are in perfectly capable hands.

My First OB Appt and Finding a New OB

I had my first OB appointment on Wednesday. I have seen my gyn doctor all my life- in fact he even delivered me, but recently he stopped doing deliveries his self since he is getting older. He recommended me to another doctor in his practice and I saw her on Wednesday and it could not have gone more wrong. 

First Impression- the nurse takes me to the OB side of the office takes my BP and weight and then starts asking questions. Now my RE sent all of my paper work and information regarding the babies and our IVF cycle to the office at my request. The nurse asked for the date of my last period and then when I told her it was January she said- "So you never got your period last month?" 

Uh, no. Didn't you read my file? I responded politely with an "I'm pregnant, so no thankfully." As if that wasn't bad enough she took my husband and I back to a room and left me sitting there without any instruction. There was a gown on the table- "Do I put this on?" My husband just looked at me quizzically. He didn't know. I didn't know. Then she came back and told me she needed me to switch rooms.

My first impression at this point was confusion and that I so far was not thrilled with the nursing staff. No warm welcome. No one read my chart. No instructions- just not a good warm fuzzy feeling at all. 

Then the doctor came back and we quickly realized this was not going to be the right fit for us. First and foremost she would not deliver a twin pregnancy and would refer me to an out of network hospital. It was then that the major bombshell was dropped- they are no longer associated nor do they do deliveries at the hospital I work for. The hospital system I have insurance under. 

You would think that when making my appointment and seeing my insurance a red flag would have went up and someone would have made mention that they were no longer in network. 

The doctor herself was very nice, but there is no way I am paying out of pocket for delivery. No way. 

Further more they had my due date wrong- but kept telling me I was further along than I am and basically not listening to what I was saying. I know where I am- its my body and I have followed along every single step of the way so as your patient I would love it if someone would listen to what I was saying. 

It was determined that this doctor was not the right fit for us pretty much right away and we made that known. We weren't rude about it, but I need to stay in network and I need to trust and feel safe with my doctors. I also want my voice heard. 

Thankfully it wasn't all a waste of time- they did provide me with a new medication to help combat the morning sickness. The medication is called Diclegis and I am only on day two of taking it. I can't say its been working honestly. So far I have still vomited both days- the good thing is that I can increase to additional tablets daily to help out, which I will probably do tomorrow if I still have no relief.

The other thing the doctor did was provide me with a blood work slip to help me get things started. I had my blood work done yesterday (the fiasco that was could be an entire other blog entry, but lets just say it was not easy.) 

I also came directly home from my OB appointment and found a new OB. He is a high risk doctor and associated with my hospital system. He is highly recommended by a few friends and is known to play it safe. Sounds like my type of guy. I will see his midwife in two weeks and go from there. 

Hopefully this is a much better fit for me and the babies.