My sister's OB doc is upsetting me.

[pammypooh]

I am sorry. I just need to vent and hopefully get some words of wisdom.

My sister is due on May 6. This is her 2nd pregnancy, but the 1st ended with miscarriage during the 12 week.

I guess that is why I am so hyper. It has taken over 5 years since then for her to become pg. They just sort of figured it would never happen after a while...and then this little miracle happened!

Anyway...her doc ordered an ultrasound which she had two weeks ago to determine baby position, size etc. (Baby had been breech and he felt she had changed position.)

Yesterday, at her weekly appt., he seemed surprised that there was no sign of her going into labor soon, and then said something to the effect "wonder how big the baby is"...its not on the ultrasound report....no measurements...nothing!

My sister told him that the tech. estimated about 7 pounds, 1 ounce, but she (tech) said that could be off as much as 1 pound in either direction...

Doctor basically said...oh well...see you next Monday and we will decide what to do...

Am I completely off base in thinking she should have another ultrasound done to find out size, measurements etc....

I guess I see this as a technology that is available for the safety of baby and mom...why wouldn't you use it if the other report was not complete?

Please say a pray for her and her baby! Please pray for wisdom for the doc.

Thank you for allowing me to vent!

Pam

 

[Stepharoonie!]

for your sister and her baby.

 

[binny]

well they should have put the measurements down but they arent always accurate. They told me Cam was going to be just under 7 pounds but he was 9.3 so they cant always tell, maybe thats why the doc didnt put much stock in it?


A first pregnancy ending in miscarriage is sadly fairly common. I lost my first baby as well
then went on to have 3 healthy pregnancies and 3 healthy babies!

Bets of wishes to your sister.

 

[browneyes]

If everything looked fine on the ultrasound, I wouldn't worry too much.

I had a scan the day before they induced me with my ds. The tech told me if he had to be born that day, he'd weigh about 7 pounds 12 ounces. They were off by a pound, he was born the next day at 8 pounds, 12 ounces (and was about 3 weeks early ). But, we saw meconium floating in there (even I saw it and freaked out ), so they told me to go to the hospital that night to have him.

Usually the scans tell more about the baby's gestational size (29 weeks, 2 days, etc.), and that's what the dr pays attention to.

 

[Christine]

I think it all sounds okay. I'm not sure if they gave exact measurements on my later sonograms or not. But basically, they gave an "adjusted due date" based on measurements. My first child always measured a week behind her actual due date, therefore, the sonograms always gave my due date at August 8th, when it was really July 29th (and she was born on July 29th at 7lbs 4 oz). My son, it was the same way. He was more average so his sonogram due date always was in sync with the actual due date. How is your sister's due date looking on the sonogram--it is usually printed right on the picture. If it is the same as the one the OB gave her than the child is average. If it is sooner, then the child is probably large. I know, I know...it really makes no sense and I always thought it was stupid.

Bottom line--you really don't need to worry about the measurements. Worry about the fetal heart rate and the baby's position--which of course most doctors can feel upon examination. Also, it is not unusual for first time mothers to not appear ready to give birth. Sometimes it just happens. Has she lost her mucous plug yet? That happened about 2 days before my labor started.

Now, take a deep breath.....

 

[Melissa R]

If the tech said the baby is about 7 pounds, then that's all the info they're gonna get. A baby's weight via ultrasound is not necessarily accurate - that's where the "1 pound in either direction" comes in. If she's due in a few days and the baby is somewhere between 6-8 pounds, then she's right on track. Another ultrasound won't tell them anything more that they need to know, as long as they did verify that the baby has turned out of breech presentation. Now, if the baby is still breech, that's another story, as they're going to most likely want to do a c-section. Still, the baby's size won't really matter - even if it's just 6 pounds, that's still within the small end of a normal baby's size.

I personally think it's great that the dr is telling her they'll see where things are in a week. Too many drs rush into inductions and unnecessary tests, in my opinion. Another ultrasound really isn't necessary unless they are still questioning the baby's position.

 

[Desnik]

I think they just guess on the weight!LOL I have never heard of anyone who had a baby the exact weight the Dr. said it would be. I was told both my kiddies would be way over 7lbs. Both were 6lbs 1ounce!! They won't do too many ultrasounds unless they really have to. It isn't good for the baby. Her showing no signs of labor doesn't mean something is wrong. It happened to me with my DD. The Dr. told me I had no signs of labor, and would probably go another 2 weeks. Well, DD was born the next day, my water broke that night! My BF went 3 weeks past her due date. The baby will come when he/she is suppose to. Just because your sis had a miscarriage doesn't mean she will again. At this point they would have found out if something wasn't right. They would've found through the ultrasound if there was something to be worried about concerning the weight. Both my nephews were 5 lbs. at birth and are healthy boys. My sis was told they were going to be 7 lbs. at birth!! Try not to worry. She'll be fine and so will the baby.

 

[pammypooh]

Thanks you all for the quick responses...I can feel my blood pressure starting to come down!

What is a soon to be 1st time Aunt to do?

I am just bursting with excitement and nervousness all at once...and I certainly don't want to tell my DS any misgivings I am having about her doc.

Thanks for helping with the hugs, prayers and putting everything in perspective.

Both my girls were planned C-sections two weeks early...so this is quite new to me.

Pam

 

[Desnik]

I think your sis and soon to be niece are very lucky to have you!!!

 

[sonogirl]

Hi, I am a ultrasound tech. for a Perinatologist, who is a high risk OB Dr. We don't just guess on the weight of the baby we have to do accurate measurements. The better the measurements the more accurate the weight will be. But in the 3rd trimester the weight can be plus or minus a pound. So I wiould think measurements were done but maybe not recorded in the report. Also what is most important that the baby is not under the 10% or over the 90% in weight. There has been no offical documentation that ultrasounds are harmful to babies!! Good Luck Auntie!! Lori

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I never had an ultrasound with DD. My midwife guessed her weight at 7.3lbs. She was 7.6 1/2 lbs.

Congratulations Aunt to be!

 

[Shannon G]

Am I completely off base in thinking she should have another ultrasound done to find out size, measurements etc....

Actually, in my experience, if it weren't for the fact that the baby was previously breach, they probably wouldn't have done an ultrasound at this point at all. So long as mom is measuring on target at her visits, they have a pretty good idea of whether the baby's growth is on track. When I had DD, my last OB visit was on my due date. I wasn't showing any real signs of labor yet - only about a fingertip dilated. They scheduled a non-stress test and ultrasound for the following week, just in case I hadn't had her by then. I ended up going into labor the next day, so I never got to that point.

Like everyone else has said, it sounds like things are progressing normally. I don't think they would usually do an ultrasound this late to determine baby's size unless there is an indication of a problem, or if she goes a week or more past her due date. Most Docs these days won't let you go past 10-14 days overdue and, like I mentioned, the normal practice at mine is to check on the baby with a non-stress test and ultrasound if mom is a week past her due date.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I have a bit of advice you might want to pass onto your sister.

My OB thought that DD was getting big and had me go for another ultrasound. It was a week before my due date and the tech said the baby was about 7 lbs. This was on a Friday pm and on Monday am, I delivered a 10 lb. 4 oz. baby girl! What had happened was that DD had already dropped in the birth canal and the tech didn't realize it and measured it wrong. (I personally think the fact that it was 4:30 on Friday afternoon didn't help!)

Your sister might want to check back w/ the dr or tech and see if the measurements could have been wrong.

Good luck to her!

Congrats on being on Aunt!

 

[aprilgail2]

You really can't go by what they say the measurements are anyway.....my daughter was a transverse breech and during our last ultrasound they told me she was 7 pounds...well she was born at barely 5 pounds...only thingthey had right was the fact that she was not in any postion to come out on her own so once my water broke they went in and got her. Water broke at 330, I packed (she was a month early so I wasn't even packed), stopped at the Dr's then went to the hospital and she was born by 6.