[clouise]

I made an appointment with my OB to follow up with my hospital visit for the kidney stone. All looked good on that front - if I do have anymore stones they are not visible on ultrasound. But that's where the good news ended. I am high risk this pregnancy, because my three older kids were all born prematurely. They were all early because my membranes ruptured early...I never had any preterm labor, shortening of the cervix, or anything like that. When we decided to have another child my dh and I thought long and hard about what kind of care we wanted. We both felt that the super frequent ultrasounds and cervix checks did not help me last time, and may in fact have been harmful. My dh came with me to my first appointment and we talked a long time to the doctor...he seemed on board with our decisions. Well a few months later and he has gone back on everything he said! I am getting my cervix measured every two weeks and have appointments pretty much once a week. And it seems to be for nothing. Literally the only they do is check my cervix...which has never changed. Not this pregnancy, not in any of my other pregnancies. I really really want them to leave me alone, and would like to keep my pants on at some of these visits. (I know, tmi.)

It is to the point where I came home and told me dh that I did not want to go back, and was totally comfortable with just staying home and managing my own care until it was time to have our baby. It's his child too though, so I would consider a huge change like that a joint decision. I'm not sure he's going to go for that... I am just feeling very bullied. I'm sick of having to book babysitters once a week just so I can go wait around the office and hear that nothing has changed. No other doctor that I want will take me either....I'm too high risk. I shopped around some at the beginning of the pregnancy, but I didn't find anyone that seemed to be offering me a better deal - as in more ability to make decisions for myself. I do like this doctor...or I did...and he knows my history. I just really really feel like what they are doing is not best for my child or for me, and no one seems to care what I think.

[cbnurse04]

I can imagine that would get annoying. How far along were you with your other pregnancies when your water broke? Have you tried just refusing to get checked at your appointment? They might council you on the reasons they do it, but they cannot make you submit to an exam you don't want.

[SarahBethsMommy]

Aww, Carrie that is so not cool that your doctor is just ignoring your wishes. Have you brought it up again to him about not wanting all these frequent checks? And I agree with cbnurse about just refusing. They can't force it on you!

[Arei_720]

Maybe he forgot. (My OB with my last pregnancy forgot your name the second you walked out of his office ) Or maybe he's worried and just wants to cover all his bases regardless of what was discussed previously...
I would bring it up and ask him why he's gone back on the prenatal plan you had agreed on. Take hubby with you if you need the support. It's your body and your baby- you should have some say in your care.

[moon~maiden]

bring it up again for sure, but maybe look for a nurse midwife?

[ElizabethS]

That certainly sucks. My doc doesn't believe in checking me unless I'm having problems. I, too, have a history of pre-term labor with Cadence (29 weeks on). But since I'm not having problems he doesn't check me down there. If I were contracting etc, he would, but he prefers to be as hands off as possible.

<<Hugs>>

[~~Que~~]

I would definitely bring it up again. If he realized he's about to get fired, he might "remember" your previous agreement. But this could also be foreshadowing what things might be like in the delivery room for you: where the OB conveniently forgets your birth wishes.

I agree with Cheryl, that you might want to look into midwives. In Ga, they generally have a more hands off approach and by law they have to have a back-up OB in case of truly high risk emergencies.

They really need to leave your nether regions alone! Especially if you are at risk for preterm labor due to premature rupture of membraines! The less action your vajayjay gets, the better!

[Wifenmomalwys]

I can't blame you for getting frustrated. I agree with the other ladies about re-approaching the doctor about your wishes.

[clouise]

I couldn't find a midwife that would take a high risk pregnancy here....I did look around when I was in my first trimester. I still just don't know what I want to do. I figure I can either just keeping going along with all these pointless appointments, keep going but really really put my foot down about stopping the interventions I don't want, or just quit going.

[Marley'sMommy]

I would definitely speak up, a lot of what goes on in a hospital is not in the best interest of the patient. It covers them from malpractice lawsuits. More care isn't better care. Remember that you are in charge. They can recommend but no one can force you to do anything.