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Avatar universal

To Switch or not to Switch?

I am seriously thinking about switching doctors.

Here is the story (sorry it is long) and reason why.  What do you think?

I have been going to the same GYN for several years.  She was also my doctor during my first pregnancy and up until recently I was happy with her....

Now I am pregnant with twins and when I was 10w+3d, my doctor measured that both babies had extra fluid around both their necks :  one neck measured 3.5mm and the other 4.1mm.   Officially the NT test can only be done between 11w+0d and 13w+6d, so I went back a week later and she measured 3.25mm and 5.11mm!!!!!!!!    She gave us odds of 1:8 for Baby A and 1:22 for Baby B that they would have down syndrome.

Many things can cause extra fluid around the next - chromosomal problems, organ problems, heart problems or NOTHING.  At both visits, my doctor was pretty negative - She told us most likely they both had chromosomal problems and that depending on what it was, maybe the pregnancy would end on its own.  She even asked if we still wanted the ultrasound photos or if it would be too strange for us to take them (knowing our babies wouldn't live or were not healthy)!!!!!  We were devastated..... She suggested CVS to see what was wrong.

So we decided to get a second opinion before deciding to do anything invasive!

So we went to an excellent specialist, who is also head doctor of a university clinic, this past Wednesday (when I was 12w+1d).    HE was VERY VERY thorough.  He said both babies look very good good - and checked their hearts, organs, extremeties - all fine.  He said that with chromosomal problems usually there is something else wrong too....but with both babies he could see nothing wrong at all, but the extra fluid around the necks   He gave us odds of 1:50 for both babies.  Not great, but much much much better than the odds we had received from my normal doctors ultrasound.

We decided there that although he gave us much better odds and we felt much more at ease after that appt, we still decided there to do the CVS (CVS is placenta biopsy. It can be done much earlier than Amnio - as early as the 12th week.  I couldn't do Amnio for several weeks so we did the CVS which gives the same chromosome information) with him because I needed to regain that peace of mind and KNEW he was the right one to do the testing.  

Two days after the CVS, we got the preliminary fast test results - no chromosomal abnormalities!!!!!   (The final results come next week, but 98.5% of the time they match the fast test results.  )

So I am feeling much better and much more optimistic...and I swear I can feel kicking.  My husband even felt it yesterday when he had my hand on my belly.  Strange because this is about 6 weeks earlier than I felt it with my first pregnancy, but then again there are two of them and I do know how it feels this time around....but back to my issue :  my doctor.

I am very very very disappointed that she was so negative and gave us a diagnosis based on something that is actually only able to give a risk assessment.  The NT test can not give you a diagnosis, just your risk factor for certain chromosomal problems.  But as I stated other things can cause it.  She didnt mention that.  Also, there are other "soft markers" like to check if the nose bone is visible, etc...ours was visible and she didnt mention that.  She didnt stay middle of the road and give facts...she veered to the negative side and basically went on an feeling or assumption.  I dont want a rosy picture if that isnt the case...but I also dont want to worry unnecessarily and be told that my pregnancy could end on its own!!  I want facts...that is it.  

And fact is our % chance of a down syndrome went from 0.03% to 2% for each child.  Yes technically a much bigger % but still a huge % chance that our children are healthy!  My doctor didnt point that out.  She was certain they had chromosomal problems.  And when we brought up these other things to her that we had found out, she said yes, it could be something else, but that is not likely.

I kinda feel like now the relationship is damaged and I have lost the trust.  A friend recommended a doctor that she is super happy with and I spoke to her on the phone and got a very good vibe and liked the answers she gave to my questions/comments/story.

Am I being too hard on my doctor?  Would you switch?
10 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hey, good luck with your new dr! i just changed my ob as the first one i went to was so sour and barely talked to me, she didnt get even get out of her chair to greet me and barely said two words to me during my first appt. i was so disappointed as i was really looking forward to the appt. i finally decided i sould try someone else and am SO glad i did! He is lovely! he's an older man and has been around for along time delivering thousands of babies but he still sat with me and went through all my information step by step explaining things(the other told be to buy a baby book when i asked a few questions!), i felt so at ease and comfortable, he also has my trust which is important. Anyway just wanted to let you know that if you not happy its definately worth seeing what else is out there! im glad i did!
Helpful - 0
551885 tn?1300383822
I am really glad you got a new dr!  After reading about your first u/s as well as everything else, you have made a great choice in switching.  Let us know how your new dr. is!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Girls, Thanks so much for your input!  I have an appt with the new doctor: March 7th!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Based on everything you have said - its kind of sounds like you already have your answer. You are clearly not comfortable with the negative experiences you've already had with this dr. (I would be feeling the same thing). If that is the case - I think you should switch.

Having a dr. you can trust is very important.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would love to switch to the Specialist we saw (cause he was really great!!!) but he is a specialist in prenatal diagnostics / ultrasounds / invasive technics and he is the head doctor at a university clinic as well.  He doesn't do normal OBGYN appointments, just special diagnostic issues.  I will definately continue to go to him for the few BIG ultrasound appointments we will have.  He wants to see me in the 17th week for a fine-organ ultrasound. But my big issue is what to do for my normal regular visits....

My normal GYN didn't send me for a NT scan... She was doing a routine ultrasound at 10w+3d and said I have extra fluid around both babies necks and basically told us she was sure that it would mean chromosome problems.  She apologized for the bad news, asked if it was too weird for us to take the U/S photos, and was very negative.  She wanted to do real NT scan one week later when the babies were big/old enough to do the "real" NT measurements.  We went back and mentioned that we had read a lot about the NT measurements and how they give just risk fator but not diagnosis, and about how many people shared stories online about having higher NT measurements but still babies without chromosome issues, and that there are other "soft markers" like if the nose bone is there, etc.  She said that yes that is true and it could be something else but that isn't the likely case - we most likely were dealing with a chromosome issue...

What I also didn't mention in the story was that on our first visit back in January when the pregnancy was confirmed, she told us that she could see both babies, but the heart beating only in one.  And she gave us a 90% chance that the one twin had stopped growing in the past 1-2 days and that we would only be pregnant with one baby.  She said we should come back in a few days to confirm.  Well a few days later it was quite obvious by the next ultrasound that there were two strong heartbeats and that both had grown!  So this isn't the only time she has made us totally believe something stressful and negative in this pregnancy and been totally wrong.  

I mean, the NT measurements were slightly high....and that can still mean that organ or heart wise there is something causing it (could also be absolutely nothing), and I just wonder how I would react if I go back to her and she tells me that she sees something with the organs or heart or something new -  Will I believe her?  Will I need a 2nd opinion?

That is why I was considering switching.  Just wonder if the trust is too broken....

Helpful - 0
178698 tn?1228774338
You mentioned you were seeing an OB that you had been seeing before.  she's probably not an expert with twins and/or chromosomal interpretations.   That gets into the more specialty bracket.  I'd cut her some slack.  Especially if she has good bedside manner.   Doctor's don't know everything.   Perhaps she's not up on the greatest and latest either.  My major concern is that since you're carrying twins maybe you should switch to the specialist due to high risk involve.  

I think too much is put into first trimester testing that causes unnecessary worry.  I am so happy everything is okay!!  You're so young...I'm suprised they even sent you for the NT scan.  
Helpful - 0
171768 tn?1324230099
I also would switch now, especially since you are still early in the pregnancy.

glad to hear that everything's looking good!!! :)
Helpful - 0
551885 tn?1300383822
I think it is very important that you have a dr. you are totally comfortable with.  Because I had been through the same thing as you last time (but I recieved bad results), but because I was in your shoes I know wht you are going through.  When I got my NT results I was devistated and my dr. gave me the same "no hope" Then when i read up about how in accurate the NT tests can be, I was angry that she didn't give me any hope.  She happened to be right, but based on the u/s at the time of the NT test the specialsist didn't think it looked that bad (by the time I went to the specialist the u/s was really bad) but the point was that she never discussed the posibilities that the NT test could be wrong.  Certain dr.s like to tell you the worst just in case....but I personally like someone who can tell you straight out the facts.  I did choose a diff. dr. this time.  I know I couldn't go through the rest of the pregnancy without really feeling comfortable.  I guess an option is to sit down and talk with your dr. and see how they react and if they are truley compassionate or sorry and go from there.  Best of luck, and I am still just so glad that you are having two healthy little babies!!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If you don't trust her, then you should absolutely switch.  A good relationship and the right fit are almost as important as just being competent, and it seems like she's not doing so great in either area.  
Helpful - 0
400358 tn?1320234443
I think that I would switch if I was you.  I think that if you aren't happy with the service you are getting then it is fine.  I mean your doctor should be realistic with you but if they are so negative that isn't good either.  I think you could always try out this other doctor and if you really like them then you could switch.
Helpful - 0
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