OB or Peri?

Hello,

I am 7 weeks and have a few weeks to make this decision since I am still seeing an RE. But we just found out that we are expecting twins (!) and it has been suggested to me that a perinatologist is better, even if there is nothing remarkable about your twin pregnancy (other than the fact that there are two babies, of course!). I've also seen that some people use both. We had found a really great regular OB but she doesn't specialize in high-risk or even have a Peri in her practice. Any suggestions for how we should proceed? Should we leave it up to the OB? Should we cancel with her and find a Peri?

Thanks in advance!!
Mel

 

I'd see a peri if you can, just to be safe. They are better equipped to handle a high risk pregnancy. You could have a perfectly normal, full term, complication free twin pregnancy. But if you don't, it's good to be with a peri.

 

When I was released (at 8 weeks) from my RE, she was going to recommend I go to a high risk clinic until she found out who my OB was... it was someone she had worked with in the past and one who had experience with multiples. He was a very laid back doctor. I loved him. At 20 weeks I was sent to a peri just for level 2 ultrasounds every 6 weeks and then at 32 weeks sent in for weekly NST's (non-stress tests) at the peri's office. Since your OB does not have any experience with multiples, I would suggest finding one who is, at the very minimum.
I would talk to your OB about it... she what she has to say. Ask questions such as percentage of vaginal twin deliveries (if you want to go that route if possible) and what her opinion is. Good luck!

:welcome: to Twinstuff & congratulations on your twin pregnancy!

 

Ditto JicJac; if you have an OB who is experienced with multiples you are probably OK. Ask the OB if they would refer you to a peri at any point, e.g. if complications do develop or to double-check once or twice throughout pregnancy to make sure nothing's getting missed. There was an MFM in my former practice and I saw him once (26 weeks) just b/c I was rotating through all the different docs; he's very experienced, former director of the school of perinatology at the medical school in my city, and he really didn't do much different from the other OBs or catch anything they hadn't noticed, etc. But then, this OB practice lists high-risk (and IF, which would add to it) as one of their specialties and I think they see a lot of multiples.

 

I saw both. My OB was going to be the one delivering the twins and would check the h/bs. The peri did the growth checks. I would see both if you can. I felt much better knowing the peri was specialized in multiples births. My OB had experience as well, but the peri did more in depth checks and that was good. If you can see both, I would. :good:

 

I had the same question until last week. Now, I'm sitting here waiting for a call bc I HAVE to see a peri/MFM and since I didn't have one yet, I wait. I wish I would have already gone the peri/MFM route.

However, with that said, my OB/MW office does not necessarily specialize in high risk pgs, but they do see them. They are also quick and willing to send you off when the case is too much for them to handle (thank goodness, as in my case). They said that normally I would continue to see both the OB/MW AND the peri/MFM, but not with as high risk as we are, so instead we will only see a specialist.

I am brand new to this myself, but I would recommend seeing a peri as well. GL and I wish you a very smooth pregnancy!

 

My OB had me see both. I saw my OB for my regular visits, NST's, cervix checks, etc. He sent me to a peri for growth scans, beginning at 17 weeks and I went every other week until I delivered. The peri that I went to doesn't actually do deliveries, so my OB was the one that did the delivery. He was very experienced in twin pregnancies though, so I was very comfortable with him. They were both overly cautious with everything.

 

we saw both our regular ob and the peri

 

When released from our RE we went straight to my ob and she will deliver, but recommended I see a peri for all of my scans. She game me a name of someone she liked. We went and are so happy so far. They are both wonderful. I see my ob every two weeks and my peri once a month right now I am 19w

 

My OB and peri worked hand in hand. The OB was more focused on me and the "maternal" health while the peri was more focused on the girls and their health. Of course, there was some overlap in both directions. My peri is the one who actually caught our IUGR and admitted us to the hospital. My OB delivered the girls, but was content to leave the big decisions during gestation to the peri. In fact, my OB wanted to deliver us at 30 weeks due to absent cord blood flow on baby a, but the peri said no and we held out another 4 weeks. I couldn't be happier to have had those four weeks as they were hugely important to the health of my girls. Now they're both doing great and are in the NICU as feeder/growers just waiting to come home!

 

Unfortunately I had to have a referral to a peri thru my ob's office. I love my ob, he delivered both my kids, but because we went thru IF treatments, and I've had 2 miscarriages, I wanted the extra monitoring and reassurance that an peri gives.

My first visit with the peri he treated me pretty poorly, insinuating that I didn't need to be there at all. I was very upset about it. But my second visit with a different dr in the practice went much nicer and he was very happy I was there with my "risk factor's".

I hope my ob didn't have a problem with me asking for a referral, he doesn't seem upset, and he'll still be doing the delivery. But he had no intention of doing growth scans until maybe 1 or 2 near the end, and I wasn't comfortable waiting from week 19 until week 30 or so without checking on the babies.