This is driving me nuts... Please help!!

[Lolli25]

Hello, i'm new to this board. But please excuse my long post. So i'll get to the point, at 12 weeks I was measuring 19 weeks. This is my fourth child, fifth pregnancy, last was a miscarriage early on. Midwife order an ultrasound (15wks 0 days)to confirm twins she said. However, the ultrasound only showed one baby. But the more I got to look there are things in my ultrasound my Dr. says he dont even know what it is. ( round circle) ( foot completely backwards).At 17-18 weeks, I was measuring 31!!! What the heck is goin on, isn't that awful big? He orderd another ultrasound for this Thursday Oct. 9th. However last week I went into the hospital for contracting and found out I was dialating, 3 1/2 cm (outside) cervix still thick. I was given three shots of Terbutaline and contrations at 2-3 min apart. wouldnt' stop. So they released me???? Why release me, although I understand my cervix hasn't efaced, i'm still contracting. They said they dont consider it change if i'm not efacing.. WHAAT?? I had preterm labor with all three of my children due to an incompetant cervix. So Dr. orderd emergency ultrasound to double check the length of my cervix. I asked the ultrasound tech, please look carefull for twins. I have some concerns. through out the exam she said she was baffled.. she said..."what the heck? I just measured the spine on the other side two seconds ago and now it's on this side as well?" She said she understood why I would have concerns about my last ultrasound because every time she scans the baby, he's ( a boy ) at a completly different angle than he was 2 seconds ago. However she said she seen no extra arms or anything. Only one baby, maybe very very very active. She said i'd say 75% chance you have one, possibly maybe another. Dr. says.. NOOO way, at this day and age twins do not hide with our technology! Less than 1% have hidden twins. But i'm getting different answers..ultrasound tech said it's very possible. Dont happen all the time but it's a possibitly... I'm goin nuts. Whats goin on with my body.. why am I measuring so big?? Dr. says "he dont know". I'm jsut so confused he's not reassuring me of anythign and i'm not so sure he's taking the appropriate measures with me and my contracting at only 21 weeks. Can anyone offer any help, suggestions, or stories that happend to you? I jsut want to quit worrying, but it's so hard. Dr. still wants me to attend this next ultrasound on the 9th of OCT. but I also scheduled with another OB/GYN for a second opinion. Or am I just going plain crazy... Does this sound logical the way he is handeling this pregnancy? I hope all is ok since twins hasn't been confirmed here..But i'd appreciate any help. I'm sure ladys know what it's like to worry about something.
P.S ultrasound tech said if there was twins, they would be identical, due to the fact that two sacs werent' found.

Thanks for all replies in advance.

Rhonda in Michigan
Baby #4 E.D.D 02-13-04

[MichMom]

Rhonda,

I think getting the second opinion is an excellent idea. It doesn't sound like your doctor is able to answer your question to your satisfaction. I would think with your history that you should should be seeing a high risk OB (twins or not). I don't know where you are in Michigan, but are you anywhere near a major hospital (UM, Beaumont, Hutzel)?

[Lolli25]

Well, I just moved from Grand Rapids, I grew up there and deliverd my previous children at St. Mary's Hospital. That and Spectrum Health are the major hospitals around here. Right now I attend Allegan General Hospital and they have a Family Medicine Practice right in the hospital. So it's a smaller town.. and most definatly a smaller hospital. I'm tired of not getting answers, and finding out whether or not .( regardless, like you say) but it would definatly impact hte way my pregnancy should be delt with. I dunno what to think about the twins idea, sometimes i think nooo it's not possible, but things dont add up. The second ob/gyn, i made an appointment with, associates with Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Should I go back to where I deliverd my other 3 children???

Thanks again :)

[oneplusII]

Lolli -

I am in Michigan too!!! I can recommend to you an awesome doctor. He is in GR and his name is Dr. Balaskas. He is so thorough. He doesn't miss a thing and is very catious. I was in the hospital for 11 weeks because I was 90 % effaced at 21 weeks.

I think if you were seeing Dr. B he would have you in the hospital if your contractions are every 2-3 minutes. Let me know if you need his phone # or have any questions.

[Lolli25]

I'd really like his name and address, thanks so much. The previos dr.s that deliverd my children were at Advantage health, Dr. Burns / Dr. Murphy. I'll definatly take your advice. I need a through Dr. It puzzled me too why he didnt' keep me in the hospital, since i'm way to early to deliver, well 4-5 more weeks before safe.

Thanks again
Rhonda

[Lolli25]

O.K... i know this is another post lol.. but i just seen your gorgeous pictures??? Did you have those taken in G.R as well? I'd love to know where you got them done :) I'll post my link to my site as well lol.. might as well. Take care.

http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/l/lilpeanut2004/

[expecting2]

I think getting a second opinion is a good idea. Even if your Dr. is right, he doesn't seem to be giving you the attention or answers that you need to relax and enjoy your pregnancy. I think sometimes Dr.s forget that their patients are real people with real emotions that can't just take "I don't know why that is happening" as an answer and move on. I wish you the best of luck with this and keep us posted as to what you find out.

[Laurie13]

I would definately seek a second opinion too and ask for another ultrasound. Maybe even a specialist. All you should need is a referral letter from your regular doctor.

Good luck and keep us posted. We delivered at Spectrum too and went through West Michigan Perinatology across the street from the hospital.

[3littlebirds]

Definitely get a 2nd opinion. If you are contracting that much, I would expect them to admit you to the hospital. One of my twins was "hiding" during early ultrasounds and was not "discovered" until I reached 20 weeks. I never measured large, so all parties involved were shocked! One of the babies changed positions right up to delivery. Also, if you do have twins and they are in the same sac (monoamniotic), you should be sure to see a perinatologist because there can be complications. Best of luck -- I hope all turns out well.

[oneplusII]

Hi there!


Please call and get a second opinion ASAP. I think you should be seen if you are having contractions that close together. If they get worse I would even go to ER. Here is Dr. Balaska phone #, he is awesome and I know he helped save my girls life! God did too!!!!:)

Dr. Balaskas 616-285-3310. He is at 1000 E. Paris Street Suite 210 in GR. Please call!

Well, actually I got the girls pictures taken at Sears here in Holland and a few at Rivertown Crossing. Thanks for the compliment!!!

Please keep us posted.

Oh I saw your pictures on the website. Cute u/s pictures. Wow, either you have one really BIG baby or mabey there are twins in there. I would for sure see another doctor. Good luck!

[twnmom]

Are you noticeing other signs that it is twins. I knew before my doctor did, so it did not surprise me. I could feel a baby kick on one side then move on the other side one second later and I never felt the baby move across my belly.
With my first child, I always felt her when she moved across. You might miss this everyonce in a while, but is it happening a lot. You are measuring bigger. I have a friend (with a twin) her mother did not know until two weeks before they were born. They can still hide.
I wish you the best of luck. Let us know one way or another

[Lolli25]

:) I do feel other intuitions, like the baby moving on oppisite sides, now I dunno what to say, I kind of justify things cause from what I understand, odds are against me. I always thought maybe the baby was kick'n and punching at the same time lol. For the last four weeks or so, this baby or babies, have been sooo active. Moves all the time. I also started feeling quickening ( little movement) around 13-14 weeks along. Also heres another question, I have a tipped uterus, may any of this come into play as far as one hiding the other?

Thanks again, I'ts so comforting to be able to see that this is possible, and like someone told me today, my Dr. is obsurd to think that todays technology is fool proof.

Rhonda :)

[mamabear]

Well I feel for you. I would find another dr he is being negletful with your care. My NIki hid under her brother till 27 weeks they shared a plecenta. I have the cutest ultrasound her popping her head out from his butt it is so funny. She was playing peekaboo. My bil is in GR.
This is sounding way too odd. I truly cant believe your dr and hospital. They should at least look for fibroids. Dang girl. I feel for you.

[mamabear]

Anything new???? I think of you when i have free brain space.:p

[oneplusII]

Hi Lollie -

Just wondering how you were. Let us know.

[mamabear]

Come out come out where ever you are.

[twoinoven]

Rhonda,
You have been in my thoughts and prayers, I hope everything is going okay with you and your pregnancy. Let us know how you are doing.

[scott]

Just saw this thread ...

Rhonda,

If it is twins and they share a placenta, that could explain why you are measuring so big. When they share a placenta, they can get TTTS, and 2 symptoms are polyhydramnios (large amount of fluid around one baby) and size discordance (one baby could be much bigger than the other). Our peri told us - we have boys who shared a placenta - that if my wife's belly grew out really fast, that we should call and make sure that there's not too much fluid surrounding one baby. If you measure 31 wks @ 17 wks, that's big even for twins. One reason they may not be able to see a 2nd baby could be that it is much smaller and, as I said, size discordance is a symptom of TTTS.

Please check into this ASAP, since this condition is very treatable when diagnosed early enough!

And let us know how it's going!

[Lolli25]

Hey all :) , First off I want to say i've read so many nice responses to my posts, I really want to thank everyone for their concern and heck even attention lol. With my worring so much i've even posted on another board and only got 2 replies. Thanks lady's your wonderfull!!!.. Now I can give an update. Well I contined to my ultrasound that my Dr. had ordered. I mentioned twins to the lady and she said "in a snotty tone" well I scanned all four quadrants and nothing" we still see only one baby. Heck maybe there is only one LOL.. I dunno :(.. however, my cervix efaced another 2 cm, From the previous week. This ultrasound was to mainly check for cervical change. Get this.. I knew this at this moment, that this Dr. wasn't for me when I asked... ok, now the bedrest, since I have cervical change, may I get that in writintg so I may try to find some help for at home. He said.. "well bed rest dont seem to be helping you anyway, and it's never been proven to stop or prevent premature labor so, why dont I take you off it and we'll continute to check month by month"... "What????" omg.. that was it. He continuted to tell my why he wouldn't give me terbutiline or Procardia, or steriods for the baby. It put me at risk. ugh!.. As a Dr. inform me of my risk's and i'll make the decision. So I did follow up with a Dr/midwife practice. ( Dh and I decided we couldn't make it to Grand Rapids a couple of times a week for appts although it's not that far. ... ok i can talk forever so i'll get to the point lol...new midwife did an inital consultation, i told her my concerns, somethings she explained to me, which went along with what the last Dr. said. However, as in her practice they dont use anything such as at home meds until 26 weeks but definatly agreed that they are in order. She also said with 4 ultrasounds it isn't possible that there could be twins. But she said she would love to see my ultrasoundin which I had concerns with. She also mentioned as far as me measuring 31 weeks at 17. She insisted i was mismeasured although I assured her it was previous visits as well and different Dr.s opinions. ( she didnt measure me at that time ) but was insistant that it was obsurd LOL. **** am I a medical wonder or what??? LOL.. So I like the new approach of this practice so i signed consent for records and for them to continue my care for the remainder of my pregnancy. Although I dont want to make my other Dr. seems like a bad Dr. I just dont like the approach that was taken with this pregnancy, and heck he did go to school for it not me, but i'm intitled to a peace of mind. It seems as this baby (ies), moves constantly, all day long lol.. least he is active. Oh, and another question, could a tipped uterus have anything to do with maybe a twin hiding?.. All these things completely make sense about sharing placentas and such, which is why i'm so determined that I at least get someone to take me seriously or to settle my mind. I'm still not sure what to think, but least I am a little more settled with my care. I'll defintely keep you all updated, heck I dont want to leave the board.. heheh so many nice ppl here :) If any of you can think of anymore questions I can possibly ask my Dr. or midwife about please let me know. I always wonder if there is something i should be asking them to do, or at least inquire about.

Thanks and blessings to all :)
Rhonda #4 Canyon Jacob Johnston... due....02-13-04

[Lolli25]

EEK! I always for get something... whew.. and after such a long post LOL. From what I understand everything looked fine, amniotic fluid, no fibroids or anything else, they kept telling me we dont know :(.. I wish I knew, maybe i'll get more answers from the new practice, although they say maybe it's just hte way you are carring. HEHE when this baby or babies get older, i'm sure gonna give them some hassle bout this.. LOL..

Thanks..
Rhonda , and baby Canyon

Kiera Faith 7
Alexander Lee 5
Ana Sha'lee 3

[oneplusII]

Rhonda -

Thanks for responding. Good luck with this new practice. Listen to your body and if it telling you to rest, you should. Especially if your cervix is already changing.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[mamabear]

Thanks for letting us know. I have been wondering about you. At least you feel you will have better care. Dont you just hate the unknown. :(