Did you all switch doctors when you found out?

When I found out I was expecting twins, I bought a bunch of books and started reading a bunch of stuff on the internet. Everywhere I turn they are telling me to switch to a high-risk OB. I think they are called maternal fetal specialists? Oh, and to get a perinatologist (still not sure exactly what this is) and a nutritionist. I really like my OB and I don't want to switch, but I will if I really need to for the babies. What are your thoughts on this? Did you all do this? Do you really think a regular OB won't be able to handle twins - they are getting more and more common.

 

I didn't switch with mine, but my OB has a lot of experience with twins. She told me that if it were HOM then she would send me to a peri. She was confident and that made me have confidence in her. Also, she's a triplet mom so I really felt like she knew what she was talking about.

I think if you like your OB and she doesn't have any reason to send you and you feel confident with her, you should stay.

 

I didn't switch, and my OB monitored me very closely.

 

I switched OB's when I found out it was twins...not to a high risk doctor...just another OB that was more supportive of vaginal birth with twins. The one I was seeing said we could "try" vaginal delivery, but that "it isn't likely"...and I didn't like that answer, so I found someone whose views were more aligned with my birth goals. My new OB does send me to a perinatologist (a high risk OB) for all of my ultrasounds (they have higher powered machines and look for more detailed things).

 

I didn't switch ~ my OB was confident with twin pregnancies :good:

 

I'm very attached to my OB and as she has vast experience with twins, i felt more comfortable sticking with her than switching to someone i didnt know. She doesnt hesitate in sending someone to a peri or whatnot if they need it. She definitely keeps a closer eye on me. As long as you feel your OB is qualified to handle twins and YOU feel comfortable, that's whats important.

 

I was in the process of getting a referral for a midwife when I found out I was having twins, so for me to stay with my OB was kinda my "next-step-up." I don't think the other specialists are needed unless by preference or if there are known potentials of risks/complications. My OB won't do triplets, but he has had plenty of twin births and is supportive of a vaginal birth so I am very comfortable with him on the whole. I think the advantage with the others--which has disadvantages too--is they are more focused on pathology and thereby do more screenings and checks. I have posted before I feel like this pregnancy is being treated by my OB as a normal singleton, but for me there is no reason why it should not.

 

I live in a smaller town and didn't really have much option to switch and still stay local. I LOVE my OB and she has some of the most twin experience in our town, plus she was very supportive of trying a vaginal birth (which ended up not happening--the babies had different plans). I was monitored more closely, and she was always available for questions. I don't think I would have switched even if I lived in a bigger place with more options. I was very comfortable with her from the beginning.

 

I switched OB's but only after my first appt with my OB. I had went through IVF to get pregnant and when I had my first appt with my regular OB he was very negative towards the whole thing. He talked that twins were going to be extremely high risk and didn't make us feel comfortable at all. It was overall a very bad experience. He didn't have much experience with twins as he's just a small town doctor. We switched to a different OB (Not a specialist) but an OB that had experience with twins and made us feel comfortable. I think that is all you need is a doctor with experience with multiples that you like and trust. Good luck!!

 

I saw a high risk OB along with my regular OB. The high risk OB did all the u/s and they were more in depth. My OB would just do the basic care and check the heartbeats. The OB was the one who would deliver them though. I enjoyed seeing the high risk OB because my insurance covered an u/s at every visit for them, and would only cover the 20 w one with a regular OB.

I was not considered high risk, other than being pregnant with twins. If your insurance covers both, you could see both of them.

 

I may be wrong, but I think a peri will only accept you as a patient with a referral from your regular OB or midwife. I saw a peri once for an ultrasound at about 33 weeks. I had no other need to see one.

 

I"m considered high risk because of my age (37) and had a previous miscarriage. I called the peri on my own at 7 weeks pregnant and went right in for an u/s and did not need a referral. I have also seen him since then and will continue to throughout my pregnancy.

 

I was going to a low-risk clinic when I found out, and when they got the ultrasound results, they phoned and said "congratulations, but we don't want to see you anymore" . I was automatically switched to a high risk OB. I think it depends on what your current doctor is comfortable with.. you should talk to them about whether they have experience with twins and what they think you should do. If you feel more comfortable going high risk, by all means do so.

 

I switched,but only because I was considered "high risk" in the beginning bc they knew the boys were identical. (they were sharing a placenta) and my local hospital didn't have the newer equipment to monitor me better, so I switched. That and if they had come early, they would have taken them to the NICU in Albany (where I delivered) and I would have been stuck over an hour away at my hospital. So although it sucked in the middle of summer to drive an hour and a half being huge, at least once a week, it was the best choice for us...

Shannon

 

My OB referred me to a peri for my "big" ultrasound and that's when we found out the babies share a placenta so I'll be followed by both my regular OB and the peri until the end of the pregnancy. My OB will be the one who delivers them, though.

 

I live in a small town, so I didn't have a choice. My OB had the most experience with twin births and births in general. He is literally in his 70's and stopped counting after 7000 births performed. He and his wife also had twin boys. So I felt very confident his is ability and decisions.

 

we originally were going to hire midwives & then we found out we were having twins. we had the option of doing a shared care plan (where we would see the midwives AND an OB) but we felt with twins on the way, we couldn't really afford the cost of the midwives. we decided to hire a doula instead. it all worked out in the end & i feel i had a great birth & my girls were/are very healthy, but looking back i really wished we'd shelled out the money for the midwives. while i feel that my OB was a good doctor, we had such different philosophies & approaches to pregnancy & birth that i just did not trust her & often felt like she was trying to manipulate me.

anyway, i think it boils down to what you & your OB are comfortable with. GL with your choice!

 

QUOTE(forbiddendonut @ May 3 2009, 10:36 PM) [snapback]1298936[/snapback]
When I found out I was expecting twins, I bought a bunch of books and started reading a bunch of stuff on the internet. Everywhere I turn they are telling me to switch to a high-risk OB. I think they are called maternal fetal specialists? Oh, and to get a perinatologist (still not sure exactly what this is) and a nutritionist. I really like my OB and I don't want to switch, but I will if I really need to for the babies. What are your thoughts on this? Did you all do this? Do you really think a regular OB won't be able to handle twins - they are getting more and more common.


Yes I did. I was seeing my Mid-wives again when i found out and had to go to a High Risk Doctor, they could have done it for me but it would have been a bit of a Malpractice thing. LOL. It broke my heart because those are the Ladies that I'm used to. I've never had a Male OB/GYN so that is all new to me. I feel more comfortable with the females but I've heard such great things about my doctor that it put my mind at ease a bit. But yes I did have to switch which I think kinda screwed up my appts. but they will get me back on track


QUOTE(forbiddendonut @ May 3 2009, 10:36 PM) [snapback]1298936[/snapback]
When I found out I was expecting twins, I bought a bunch of books and started reading a bunch of stuff on the internet. Everywhere I turn they are telling me to switch to a high-risk OB. I think they are called maternal fetal specialists? Oh, and to get a perinatologist (still not sure exactly what this is) and a nutritionist. I really like my OB and I don't want to switch, but I will if I really need to for the babies. What are your thoughts on this? Did you all do this? Do you really think a regular OB won't be able to handle twins - they are getting more and more common.


Yes I did. I was seeing my Mid-wives again when i found out and had to go to a High Risk Doctor, they could have done it for me but it would have been a bit of a Malpractice thing. LOL. It broke my heart because those are the Ladies that I'm used to. I've never had a Male OB/GYN so that is all new to me. I feel more comfortable with the females but I've heard such great things about my doctor that it put my mind at ease a bit. But yes I did have to switch which I think kinda screwed up my appts. but they will get me back on track

 

I didn't switch. My OB delivers plenty of twins (we're in one of those areas where moms tended to be older, which increases the incidence), and she's also part of a fairly large practice, so I was confident that someone else would have any expertise she might lack.

She did refer me to a peri for my nuchal scan and associated bloodwork, and again for the Level II ultrasound (at about 19-20 weeks). She also said she would have me see him more often if any problems arose. They never did, and the peri told me both times I saw him that everything was fine. But it reassured me to have an existing relationship with a peri just in case I needed one in a hurry.

 

I saw both my OB and MFM.

 

Thanks for all the responses! I guess the thing for me to do is ask my OB how much experience she has with twins. Any ideas on how to do this without sounding rude?

 

You can just ask how many twin sets she has delivered and what her c-section rate or views on delivery are for multiples...you could just kind of ask her how your visits with her will be different than they were with your previous pregnancy...that way, you get a sense of how knowledgable she is and also what her philosophy is...and most importantly, if it aligns with yours.

 

QUOTE(angieb1979 @ May 4 2009, 07:48 AM) [snapback]1299188[/snapback]
I switched OB's but only after my first appt with my OB. I had went through IVF to get pregnant and when I had my first appt with my regular OB he was very negative towards the whole thing. He talked that twins were going to be extremely high risk and didn't make us feel comfortable at all. It was overall a very bad experience. He didn't have much experience with twins as he's just a small town doctor. We switched to a different OB (Not a specialist) but an OB that had experience with twins and made us feel comfortable. I think that is all you need is a doctor with experience with multiples that you like and trust. Good luck!!


This was the same reaction I got from my regular OB when I got pregnant with IUI. I switched just because she made me feel that I could never carry twins. I work in a hospital, so I just asked around the nurses on the maternity floor and they referred me to someone who does lots of multiples. He is very experienced, puts us at ease and I love him. So far everything is going perfectly, so I haven't had the need to see any specialists.

 

I didn't switch. Saw a peri. as needed about every 4 weeks.

 

I am going to see both. My OB said the perinatologist would do ultra sounds and I would see them every four weeks starting at week 18. I am only at week 14 now. I am continuing to see my OB for normal check-ups.
I am a high risk age and will be 37 when I deliver.
Now the nutritionist…..no one has mentioned anything about seeing a nutritionist yet.
Is anyone else seeing one?

 

QUOTE(mishellelewis @ May 5 2009, 11:09 AM) [snapback]1301112[/snapback]
I am going to see both. My OB said the perinatologist would do ultra sounds and I would see them every four weeks starting at week 18. I am only at week 14 now. I am continuing to see my OB for normal check-ups.
I am a high risk age and will be 37 when I deliver.
Now the nutritionist…..no one has mentioned anything about seeing a nutritionist yet.
Is anyone else seeing one?


I only saw a reg. dietician due to GD. I don't think it's necessary otherwise. Nutritional info is everywhere. Use common sense otherwise. Avoid processed foods, chemicals, and other "fake" stuff. Take it easy on the sugar. Lots of healthy proteins and complex carbs. It's not that much different than what is recommended for ANYone...just more of it!

As for the OB, I've seen mine thru this whole pregnancy and am fully confident in her abilities and knowledge (actually all 3 docs that would be on rotation and possibly deliver my babies). I saw a peri once (also due to the GD) and after reviewing my file and doing an anat. scan, he said he didn't need to see me again unless I started having new complications.

I might add that at 41 and post-miscarraige, I'm as "risky" as they come (at least according to the textbooks), but I've had a remarkably spotless record in terms of complications thru this pregnancy (and DS was born - with no issues - when I was 38, btw). The only issue I've had has been the GD, which has been controlled w/ diet without any problems. At 34+ weeks, it seems the staff at my dr's office seem happier and happier to see me at every visit because I. Might. Just. Make. It. All. The. Way. :good: So AMA doesn't freak me out like it once did.

Eve


Eve

 

I did not switch. My OB had lots of twin experience!

 

I went with my instincts and commute 75miles to a major metro private hospital once a month to the ob. I'll just have to have ambulance or lifeflight transport me if an emergency occurs.
Since my 4th month I drive an additional 15 miles (total 90miles at least) down the highway to my peri specialists every two weeks for ultrasounds.
Depending on how things go I could drive once a week to the peri's my last trimester.

I refuse to be treated at the local hospital by my old obgyn due to lack of staff, inadequate facilities, and just plain unreliable. They will transport you anyhow if they don't have someone on staff.

Mom, neighbors, friends all commute the same distance and route for daily work. I can do that at least for babys. Luckily I have many folks too who can drive me with no problems!

 

I kept my same doctor and he was FABULOUS! Another MoM here had the same doc too
I asked him what his level of comfort was with a multiple pregnancy, he assured me he it wasn't his first rodeo and outlined his contingency plans in the event that something should go awry. My husband and I discussed our options and decided that our regular OB/Gyn was able and we liked him. He proved invaluable to us and we will never forget him and the loving care he has always provided our family.

 

Didn't switch, had a very easy first pregnancy, got pregnant without help, my OB (practice) had lots of experience with twins and I was going to one of the largest birthing centers in the Midwest and a very good hospital so I went with the flow ... and all continued to go well. I had them at 38w2d, close to 8lbs a piece, vaginally ...