Perinatologist - What to expect

Sonya_ · 06-10-2008, 08:58 PM

I am waiting for a Perinatologist to contact me and set up my first appointment and have a few questions for my experienced cysters.

What can I expect during a first visit and each visit after?

How often do you see your Perinatologist?

Will they also be there when you deliver?

Thanks!

Heather79 · 06-10-2008, 10:03 PM

I only went once after we lost one of our twins, it was vital signs and then they moved me in to an u/s room. The dr came in talked to us and then the u/s tech did the u/s took a lot of measurements and then the dr came back in and did some follow up u/s views and then we discussed what we saw.

From what I have seen of other girls who only see the peri is that they see them through a lot of the 1st trimester and then they are release to the regular ob. I don't think the peri is there at delivery unless he/she follows you your entire pregnancy.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

PBLayzod · 06-10-2008, 10:24 PM

I know our peri in town delivers lots and lots of babies. He's listed on the birth certificates of a good 10+% of the new babies my clients have. I guess that proves that poverty = pregnancy complications. I only saw him once to discuss my abnormal quad screen, though.

Leigha789 · 06-10-2008, 11:36 PM

I saw a peri 3 times with both of my pregnancies (20 weeks, 28 weeks, 36 weeks) b/c I have had gastric bypass surgery and they wanted to make sure the baby was getting enough nutrients and was growing correctly.

Every time I had a detailed growth ultrasound and then afterwards the doctor would come in and go over the ultrasound with me and we would talk about baby's growth, how I had been eating, my weight gain, lab results (he usually had me get lab work done to check my nutrients a week before my appt), etc. My peri is "consultation only" practice which means they do not do deliveries and were not there when I gave birth.

Sonya_ · 06-10-2008, 11:40 PM

Thank you ladies.

I'm sure I am a little late seeing one, I didnt even see an OB until last week. I was released from my RE at 11 weeks and up to that point had only been seen my him. Now that I am 13 weeks it all seems to be happening so quickly and I really want to know what I need to be prepared for.

The way my OB talks I will see her and the peri the entire pregnancy and both of them twice a week as my pregnancy gets into the later stages.

I really shouldnt have to have any pelvic exams by my peri then?

Thanks again.

peekj · 06-11-2008, 12:08 AM

I saw a peri for both of my earlier pregnancies and will see him again this time. With the twins I saw him at 19 weeks for the level II ultrasound. That is when I was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix. With my DD I had a "get aquainted" visit at 10 weeks where my cervical length was checked and the baby's growth was checked. The peri did a cerclage at 11 weeks. I saw my peri every 3-4 weeks until I was 37 weeks pregnant. At every visit they did an ultrasound to check the baby's growth and to check cervical length. I also saw my OB regularly. So essentially I saw one of my doctors every two weeks. I was considered high risk due to partial placenta previa, incompetent cervix and age. Because the placenta moved I was released to my OB or else my peri would have delivered DD.

If you are not high risk chances are you will be released after the level II ultrasound.

Good luck.

bowlwoman · 06-11-2008, 12:37 AM

I see a perinatologist because I'm GD. I also see the dietitian attached to their office. I go once a week to get NSTs and ultrasounds (the combo is called a bio-physical profile) because of the diabetes meds I'm on. I don't think anyone who visits my peri gets a pelvic exam, or maybe there's one room for it. Most of the rooms are for ultrasounds.

ChellebelleT · 06-11-2008, 02:36 PM

My perinatologist does all my OB appointments and will be delivering my baby. I had a cerclage placed 2 weeks ago at 13 weeks, and have had several prior miscarriages, so I am considered high risk for my entire pregancy. At every appointment I have a pelvic and an ultrasound as well as the weight, pee in a cup and all that. I go every 2 weeks until I get to 24 weeks and then I will go every week.

nspear · 06-11-2008, 04:24 PM

With my first DD I didn't start seeing a peri until things went bad at 29 weeks when my water broke.. he delivered DD #1 at 30 weeks.. W/DD #2 I saw him twice.. once at 12 weeks and again at 26 weeks.. he sent his orders to my OB and as long as they agreed to his plan of treatment then I was fine seeing them unless problems came up.. He didn't delv DD #2 my regular OB did.. They even treated me for my PTL twice..

As far as what to expect.. we did alot of testing and discussed things like 17P injections and cerclage etc.. What reason are you seeing a peri for?

JaimeEC · 06-11-2008, 05:41 PM

with my first pregnancy i saw the perinatologist a lot until i lost the baby but with this pregnancy i am just going to them for the big tests for the genetics.

Sonya_ · 06-11-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nspear
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What reason are you seeing a peri for?

Multiple Pregnancy and high risk for developing pre-e.

nikki_d3 · 06-11-2008, 10:19 PM

Sonya,
Its so very different for every perinatologists' practice. My peri also delivered roughly 95% of her patients. I was pregnant with twins. At the beginning of the pregnancy we saw her every other week. After week 30 we saw her weekly.

What I loved about the peri visits is that I got an ultrasound everytime I went.

Melissa0909 · 06-11-2008, 10:30 PM

I saw a peri my entire pregnancy just about. At 12 weeks because i was losing Baby B (VTS - that never vanished) and then they found i had IC.

I would see my OB for routine appts, and the peri for all the high risk stuff ( every week - and when i was in the hospital on bedrest they came to see me EVERY single day.

If i made it to 37 weeks the ob would have delivered me ( the peri would "release me" ) but because i went ibto labor that coul d nt be stopped at 31 weeks my peri delivered me.

nspear · 06-12-2008, 12:31 AM

Melissa.. I can't believe how big Zoey has gotten! She has bypassed Kaelyn by a mile! LOL

Good job Momma!

Melissa0909 · 06-12-2008, 01:37 PM

Zoey is going to be 10 months next week
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where does teh time go.?