I am rather frustrated with how today’s doctor appointment went along.  My doctor is on vacation this week (she has been my doctor for over 12 years) through Monday.  So, because I am being watched weekly, I have to see whoever is available when she is not in for the week.

So, I went in, my blood pressure, was decent, but typical for the dr’s office (bottom number normal and only top number is at the cross over line).  I had checked my BP this morning and then again when I got to the doctor’s office. Nice and low this morning, up in the doctor’s lot.  My doctor has had me do this – just to see.  So, often, I will take it at the normal time in the morning, right before we leave and then in the parking lot at the doctor’s office.  You can clearly see the trend of normal until I get there (and it goes up a bit more in the office itself – ugh).  So this doctor, although she see’s what is on the sheet and I tell her what my doctor and myself have seen, decides now that I have chronic hypertension (?!!?)  Where she came up with that, I will never know.  Keep in mind that my doctor has been in practice for 20 years (she is also a D.O.) and she is known in the practice for dealing in high risk pregnancies – I am lucky that she is my regular ob/gyn. 

So, now that this dr. has decided that I am a chronic hypertensive patient, she seems shocked that my dr. has not had me do any non-stress testing or ultra-sounds to make sure that Jr. is growing on schedule (something in my belly has been growing weekly, lol – I am 1 cm ahead of normal, lol – and given my weight gain, it is baby, not fat!!).  She wanted me to stay and do the NST today or at least come in tomorrow and do it. 

Unfortunately, due to reasons beyond my control, I was not able to do either thing (which is fine by me).  I have been doing kick counts of both kinds at home (daily and the periodic 10 count within a given time period).  Jr. is very active and neither my dr. nor I have been much worried in that area (that 10:30pm-12:30am zone of activity keeps me awake!!).  So, she wanted me to come and do it on Monday. Well, on Monday, the only doctor with time in her schedule is the doctor who, if on-call when I go into labor, will cause me to deliver in the car in the hospital parking lot (only partially serious here – I think….).  You guessed it, I am having the NST scheduled on Tuesday with MY doctor.  Because there will be a few days between appt’s, it will most likely count as my weekly appt. as well, so I can talk to my doctor about all this.

It also occurred to me that perhaps my great lack of weight gain is part of this doctor's concern.  With M & G, I had a net weight gain of -2 to -5 lbs.  I tend to lose a lot of weight during the first trimester (ie 15 lbs) and then have a slow weight gain the last 4 mos. or so.  I am guessing that while my doctor knows this, this other doctor would not be aware of this.  I have only just cleared my weight loss the last couple of weeks (I did not lose as much this time), so perhaps she only sees the beginning/ending numbers.  No idea - just trying to think this out.

Please understand that I truly do not mind doing the tests if that is truly what is in mine and Jr’s best interests, but if it just being done because another doctor is freaking out over my in office BP’s, well, then that is absurd.  I know they are not unheard of in cases of preeclampsia – in fact my doctor and I had discussed that we might do the NST’s at some point in time, but she had not seen a need at this point.

To me, the most interesting thing was when this doctor gave me the standard preeclampsia changes quiz (headaches, vision changes, contractions, etc.) before I left, she acted like she did not quite believe me (hmmm – maybe because I should have some issues to fit into her hypertensive dx).  I did, of course, mention (as always) the random Braxton Hicks that I have.  She perked up for that until I told her that with M & G, by this point in time, I was having sessions of painless, time-able BH’s with them and I have had none of those sessions with Jr. to date.  She seemed surprised by that, lol!  It is kind of fun, messing with the doctor’s head when you think about it.

Anyway, I will feel better after talking to my regular doctor on Tuesday and going over all this - I hate seeing someone other than my regular doctor during pregnancy.

One interesting point that my "pert near family" friend made to me today:  If my doctor does decide we should induce at 37 weeks, at least I should have MY doctor be there for delivery!  I will not have to worry about Helga the psycho-doctor in the delivery room, lol!