For those who have had their first appointments, can you just give me a run down of what they do and cover?Blood, urine, ultrasound (obviously varies), pelvic (internal or external), pap smear, a million questions? About how long was the whole process start to finish? Thanks!
Basing this off my last pregnancy, but it included a vag u/s, no pap because I had just had it done, blood and urine tests were set up and I could do them when I wanted which also included a GD check, which is the hour one.
cnf2013, our appointment took less than an hour. We filled out paperwork about our PMH and genetic histories, they took basic vitals and I gave them a urine sample. My OB came in and asked us some basic pregnancy/TTC timeline questions and gave us a chance to ask questions as well (she gave us many chances throughout the appointment, which was good because I kept thinking of things). She did a pelvic exam and took samples to culture - no pap because I wasn't due yet. She said they wouldn't do a pap again until post-partum.
She gave me the lab orders to take to the hospital where I work so I can get the rest of my bloodwork done which is super convenient - anytime I get bloodwork I can just go downstairs in the hospital so I don't have to make a separate trip to the OB office :-)
Post by expatmama11 on Apr 21, 2015 2:48:17 GMT -5
Day of appointment: Tomorrow (Wednesday)
Weeks/days: I will be 7w5d
Ultrasound? I think so but am not sure. When the lady called me today for appointment she spoke only Portuguese so I was just happy to understand tomorrow at 1400.
Ultrasound? We saw two sacs: one with a fetal pole measuring 3 days behind with a HB of 118 and one empty
How did it go?? we will go back next Monday for a second one to make sure at least one little guy is still there...until then, I will attempt not to panic every second of every day ; )
Weeks/Days: 4wks6d by LMP, likely a few days less than that as I tend to ovulate late. We've been NTNP so I wasn't keeping track of ovulation
Ultrasound? yes
How did it go? Beta is up to 421 from 89 on Friday (42hr doubling time). Progesterone was only up one point at 32 but I'm told it's still a good number, estrogen is 350. U/s showed super thick lining and *possibly* an early gestational sac but it was poorly defined, most likely because it's so early (and likely earlier than we think).
Overall, good news! However, I wish we had seen a better gestational sac. I'm beginning to think all of this early monitoring is much more trouble than it's worth. I'm just going to focus on the fact that my hcg is rising appropriately and hope for the best : )
Post by expatmama11 on Apr 22, 2015 11:00:30 GMT -5
How did it go??
I'm not quite sure how to process my appointment just yet.
So I went to a different clinic today, which is much better than the previous one. I really liked the Dr and they seemed to have better equipment. She did a vaginal ultrasound which was a little uncomfortable but not bad. This is where shit gets crazy. So as she is looking at the screen I can see on her face that something is wrong. She then proceeds to tell me something isn't normal. I, of course, go into panic mode and start shaking. She shows me one healthy embryo and we listen to the heartbeat. Amazing!! Then she shows me something else that she can't explain.
The Dr steps out to get another Dr to take a look at what she is seeing. They then go grab a 3rd doctor and at this point I am in complete tears. They talk for a few minutes in Portuguese. She then explains to me they believe what the other thing they are seeing is a vanishing twin. Because the ultrasound is so early we are detecting it before it gets reabsorbed by my body. I guess this is the downside to doing early ultrasounds.
My Dr had never seen that before and so she didn't really know what she was looking at. I am still kind of panicking over this whole thing but I know there is nothing I can do and need to just be happy right now with one healthy heartbeat. I can't help but be worried that something will happen to the healthy embryo now. I will go back in 2 weeks for a follow up ultrasound. I hope the time goes by quickly!!
expatmama11, I think we are in very similar shoes right now. I have a normal looking sac with a fetal pole and HB but ALSO a second empty sac as of Monday. I'm going back next Monday to see what's going on again...It's very nerve-wracking not knowing what will happen and if it will affect the healthy one. I can't imagine the scare you had not being able to understand fully due to the language barrier.
I also have a similar thing, expatmama11 and belou. If it is indeed the same, according to the nurse at my RE's office, it tends to happen when a second egg is fertilized but never "takes off" (her exact words). She said it will eventually be reabsorbed and won't cause any harm. She let me know there may or may not be some spotting when that happens but it will indeed just go away.
Post by expatmama11 on Apr 22, 2015 12:38:47 GMT -5
RoLoMa, belou, Thanks for sharing your stories. I feel really scared right now. I think I'm more worried because the Dr over here really didn't know what she was even looking at. It took the other two doctors looking before they even came up with what they saw. I guess I'm more afraid of it being something else and that impacting the healthy embryo.
I never expected to be in this type of limbo. I wish I would have never gone in for this early ultrasound and then maybe I would have never known. I read a statistic online that it is believed that 20-30% of pregnancies start out as twins but one vanishes.
Day of Appointment: Today/Wednesday Weeks: 7w5d Ultrasound and First Appointment How did it go: It went fine. The tech was able to do an abdominal ultrasound. Measuring right on track. HB 160- saw the little heart pumping away. Had a pap, urine, and bloodwork as well. Really liked the MW we saw. Will post a picture of "baby bird" momentarily. Next appointment May 19.
RoLoMa, belou, Thanks for sharing your stories. I feel really scared right now. I think I'm more worried because the Dr over here really didn't know what she was even looking at. It took the other two doctors looking before they even came up with what they saw. I guess I'm more afraid of it being something else and that impacting the healthy embryo.
I never expected to be in this type of limbo. I wish I would have never gone in for this early ultrasound and then maybe I would have never known. I read a statistic online that it is believed that 20-30% of pregnancies start out as twins but one vanishes.
Apparently it's a lot more common than people realized, and we're figuring it out thanks to more routine early u/s and better u/s equipment. I really believe it's all going to be ok, but I know it's a scary place to be in limbo and worried.
Post by hollandmama on Apr 23, 2015 2:38:33 GMT -5
expatmama11RoLoMa thinking of you.. congrats on seeing the heartbeat, I think that was one of the happiest days of my life. I'm sorry for your losses but try to be positive for your LOs
Post by expatmama11 on Apr 23, 2015 5:35:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words everyone. I am not completely convinced that what is going on with me is a vanishing twin. The Dr's definitely did not seem certain but threw that out there as a possibility. I think only because they had no other suggestions.
After looking into vanishing twins further my ultrasound photos look nothing like what I am seeing online. Most people experience having two gestational sacs and one is empty. I have one gestational sac with healthy embryo inside of it and to the right this bubble looking thing. It is inside the same sac with baby but doesn't appear to be touching it.
I am not sure if it is a cyst, mass, or a identical twin. Just going to have to wait this out and see what happens in two weeks. I'm scheduled to fly to the U.S. On the 9th so hopefully if something is still there the U.S. Doctors can address it.
Thanks for the kind words everyone. I am not completely convinced that what is going on with me is a vanishing twin. The Dr's definitely did not seem certain but threw that out there as a possibility. I think only because they had no other suggestions.
After looking into vanishing twins further my ultrasound photos look nothing like what I am seeing online. Most people experience having two gestational sacs and one is empty. I have one gestational sac with healthy embryo inside of it and to the right this bubble looking thing. It is inside the same sac with baby but doesn't appear to be touching it.
I am not sure if it is a cyst, mass, or a identical twin. Just going to have to wait this out and see what happens in two weeks. I'm scheduled to fly to the U.S. On the 9th so hopefully if something is still there the U.S. Doctors can address it.
I'm going to be a mess for awhile.
It's definitely not the yolk sac? Can you scan the image?
Thanks for the kind words everyone. I am not completely convinced that what is going on with me is a vanishing twin. The Dr's definitely did not seem certain but threw that out there as a possibility. I think only because they had no other suggestions.
After looking into vanishing twins further my ultrasound photos look nothing like what I am seeing online. Most people experience having two gestational sacs and one is empty. I have one gestational sac with healthy embryo inside of it and to the right this bubble looking thing. It is inside the same sac with baby but doesn't appear to be touching it.
I am not sure if it is a cyst, mass, or a identical twin. Just going to have to wait this out and see what happens in two weeks. I'm scheduled to fly to the U.S. On the 9th so hopefully if something is still there the U.S. Doctors can address it.
I'm going to be a mess for awhile.
It's definitely not the yolk sac? Can you scan the image?
That's what my husband thought too but if it is, it's huge. The dr said it wasn't yolk sac. I will post picture in a minute.
I have booked a flight out of here Tuesday night. I have Drs appt in Houston on Wednesday at 230. I refuse to sit here for two weeks and still not get answers.
It's definitely not the yolk sac? Can you scan the image?
That's what my husband thought too but if it is, it's huge. The dr said it wasn't yolk sac. I will post picture in a minute.
I have booked a flight out of here Tuesday night. I have Drs appt in Houston on Wednesday at 230. I refuse to sit here for two weeks and still not get answers.
That's what my husband thought too but if it is, it's huge. The dr said it wasn't yolk sac. I will post picture in a minute.
I have booked a flight out of here Tuesday night. I have Drs appt in Houston on Wednesday at 230. I refuse to sit here for two weeks and still not get answers.
Where are you going when you get here?
I have a friend who used to live here picking me up. I can shower and rest at her place, then she is going with me to my appointment.
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