Just got back from my 35+ week appt

and still no internals, no growth sono's and I'm still going every 2 weeks! I thought I'd get an internal and be every week at this point.

I asked him what do I do if I think I'm in labor - he's like when the contracts really hurt then you call.

Thanks for the guidance...

I'm so frustrated by this doctor. It's my first and I need a little more attention then he gives. He told me to take a $200 class!! I don't have the $ or time, so he'll just have to deal with my questions!

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

Jodi, I am not too far behind you. I am at 34 weeks and have an appointment this week. I don't know WHEN they are going to do an internal. I have so much pressure lately, I would really like him to check to make sure I am okay.

And I have the same labor question too. How will I know what it feels like and when? And, if I DO feel something, how do I know it's not BH and I will be overreacting?

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

Message edited 10/23/2006 5:02:50 PM.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

Sure! I have my appointment this Thurs, so I will let you know.
Paulette had posted that labor pains feel like "major period cramps". That's what I am waiting for soon....

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I'm two days behind you Jodi!

Next Friday I will be 36 1/2 weeks and it is my first internal. I go every week after that.

But, I don't get any more sonos unless they think there is a problem- but I think he does an internal at each weekly appointment.

Ugh- I'm sorry he is putting off your questions!

I have some literature from my Bradley class that I can mail you if you want regarding labor and it's stages and what to expect.....

ETA: I think the way to tell if it is "really" labor is to take a warm shower and try and relax- if the contractions still get longer, stronger and closer together then its the real deal!

Message edited 10/23/2006 6:19:39 PM.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

sometimes I think these drs get too easily bored with our questions. Like they already went over these things so many times in the past with other preggos that they are done explaining..

Mine told me not to take any classes. He said all I have to do is show up and he will take care of the rest.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I really learned a lot from the DVD Laugh and Learn. Basically it was an entire lamaze/birthing class. The DVD was broken into 6 chapters and was about 6 hours long, so we watched it in stages.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

Jodi-

Sorry you are so frustrated- I would be too. I hope this is not standard at the practice. Are you going thinking about switching? I really like my doctor- she's young but seems thorough and a friend from work uses another doctor from the practice who she really likes. Let me know.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

Sorry about your doctor. They become desensitised after a while. I do know that internals usually don't start until 36 weeks. But at 35 weeks you would think it would def be weekly appts now. I guess each doctor is different.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I had my first internal at 36.5 weeks. My last sono was at 32 weeks (growth sono) and that's the last one I'll have. My doctor said I'll know when labor/contractions are real because they will be timed equally apart (i.e. - every 5 minutes for an hour) and I won't be able to talk through them.

BTW, I was SO nervous about the internal, after all the things I read about it being painful. Maybe my doctor is just good, but honestly, for me it wasn't even uncomfortable. It was no worse than a regular annual exam, and the strep B test is just a quick swab that you feel even less than a pap smear!

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I'm sorry you aren't happy with your doctor lately, Jodi. Nothing feels worse than having questions and concerns and having them blown off as if they are no big deal I think my internals started in between weeks 35-36 .. I started going weekly beg. at 34 wks but that is because I was feeling lousy and my doctor wanted to keep an eye on me. But of coures 'every doctor is different' (aren't we sick of hearing that )

As for what 'real contractions' feel like.
I was sure I would not know what labor felt like, but when it finally happened I def knew it was something I hadn't felt before I can attest to the fact that labor felt like major period cramps.. . Not at ALL like Braxton Hicks... none of that belly tightening or anything. It felt to me like severe AF cramping that started out mild, hit a 'PEAK' and then lightened up. They also started from my back and radiated to the front of my belly. Of course you will soon sense a pattern from real labor contractions and if they become 5 mins apart or so and nothing helps relieve them (meaning if you get up and take a walk, or change your activity, and the pain does not subside) then you know that's prob. the real deal

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

Thanks ladies!!!

Tracy if and when we decide to have a 2nd baby I will not use the same OB. I do like the group alot though, I just feel he's too quick for me and he makes me feel like he's not listening. I'm telling him I'm not feeling well and he's like that's normal. Maybe it is, but shouldn't you check something! Maybe I'm just too needy.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

so sorry to hear you ob is so rude!!! I really dont think your too needy at all. Everyone has questions, esp for the first- that should be addressed as if he never heard them before, at least thats what I think.

I think my internals started at the 36.5 week appt.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I just got back from m 36 week exam, she did a strep b but no internal. Now I start going every week... so next mon. I guess I should expect one?? who knows.... they're wierd out here in NC.. I wish I was back in NY with my regular Dr. I also got a flu shot............. they advised me to get it.........
She did feel my stomach and said that the baby felt small and she should be about 7 lbs at birth... but HELLO... when are you going to do an internal... you were up there already today... why not kill 2 birds with one stone??

Message edited 10/23/2006 11:59:11 PM.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

That stinks. I haven't had a growth sono and I don't think I will get one. I haven't had a sono since the Level 2. My doctor just doesn't do them. I did take a class and I'm still afraid that I won't be able to tell when I'm in labor. They told us to go to the hospital when either my water breaks or the contractions are 5 minutes apart and the contraction lasts for 1 minute for an hour.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I we every two from 34 weeks until 37 weeks and at my 37th week appt. I had my first internal. I had the habbit of asking questions way far in advance. My mom common one was How will I know when I am in labor and she always gave me the same answer which was you will know because they are differerent from braxton hicks and you know she was right. I had my growth sono at 36 weeks which was done outside of my dr.'s office because that is how my insurance had it set up.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I am having an internal in 2 weeks and I had a growth sono at 32 weeks. I also wonder when I will really be labor...right now I am having random braxton hicks contractions but how am I supposed to know when to actually go to the hospital??

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

the growth sono I dont think is common bc my dr was kinda like, why would I do this. He said weight is totally a guess. The internal I had at 34 weeks bc I had severe period like cramps "braxton hicks" and found out through the internal that I was effaced (dont know %). I am going again tonite (35 weeks) so I will let u know if they continue doing internals or do anything different that your dr didnt do yet. Every week its like another SURPRISE! I agree though...I feel like I might drop my water in the middle of the street and not know! The drs really dont give out that much info.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I'm 35 weeks and 4 days and I had my appointment last night. They already switched me to have my appointments once a week and I had my internal last night.
You said the Dr. asked you to take a $200 dollars class? Is this for Lamaze/Labor Delivery? If so, you might want to buy the DVD Laugh and Learn....Lamaze Labor and Delivery.
It's about 4 hours and I'm so glad I ordered. My husband has a very hectic schedule and we wouldn't be able to go to Lamaze Classes and I've heard mixed things from people that have attended. I ordered the video and I'm so glad that I did. I ordered from Amazon.com. It's very informative and it will answer you so many of the questions you are having. It will also kind of prepare you as to what to expect for your labor/delivery.
It must be very frustating not to have your doctor answer the questions that you have. I find that I can ask the right questions to my doctor after watching this video plus thank God I never had that problem with my Dr. though.
I think the DVD cost $36.99 and you don't pay for shipping costs.
Best of luck and I'm sorry you are going through this with your doctor.
Try to get the video. I assure you..you will feel much better after watching it........

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I went two weeks ago at 36 weeks and now have to go this week at 38 weeks.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I am 35 weeks and go every week b/c of my diabetes.
I have had the Strep B test but no internals.
Not sure when that is happening, I go again this Thursday so we shall see.
my doctor does not do growth sonos unless there is a problem (measuring big, etc).
my doctor also recommended Lamaze- unfortunately, the way our systems work, our doctors don't have the time to go over everything that Lamaze goes over.
Most doctors are held to a # of appts per day- and they just can't spend that much time w/ us- thank the insurance companies for that.

Re: Just got back from my 35+ week appt

I have been going once a week and next week I start going twice a week (36 weeks) and will be getting the NST and a sono. I had one internal, because of the contractions, otherwise I would get none because I am a scheduled c-section. I will get another growth sono in two weeks, last week baby measured 5lbs 12oz. They may give me internals now if my NST shows lots of contractions to make sure I don't progress too far because I am having a section.