baby no2 in US after 1st baby in uk... culture shock!

[deafgal]

After having done a lot of reseach on it I believe PAP smears are way overused in general.

The idea behind doing one when pregnant is that if there is already an abnormality pregnancy hormones can speed it up. They wont generally do anything about it during pregnancy but they want to be ready to act as soon as the baby is born. In other countries they do one at one of your postnatal visits. My MW told me I should get one after having the baby and I said I had decided not to, after I explaind why she admitted that she agreed and doesnt do them any more either.

With my first born back in the 2000, they found some kind of bacterial STD (i believe it was Vaginosis but it was so long ago and I never had it since). And they prescribed me antibodies while I was pregnant.

 

[BunnyN]

With my first born back in the 2000, they found some kind of bacterial STD (i believe it was Vaginosis but it was so long ago and I never had it since). And they prescribed me antibodies while I was pregnant.

Vaginosis isnt usually diagnosed with a PAP smear but maybe they did other swabs at the same time.

 

[deafgal]

It could be trichomoniasis. Something that ends with sis and very curable. Like I wrote , it wad 13 years ago so I can't remember anymore. Mainly because I didn't care to remember.

 

[hannymunchkin]

I thought the whole big point of the American system was that it was set up so that you could have the care you choose for yourself, no outside party telling you what and when and how you can receive your care. It's BS! Lol....people are going mad about Obamacare because they don't want to government telling you what you can and can't do with your own healthcare and yet here we are with these awful insurance companies doing just that and worse because there's so little regulation...etc. just a rant! I get fed up too sometimes...it's ridiculous they won't allow you to birth in a birthing Center...you pay for your insurance you should be damn well able to birth your baby wherever you darn well
Please.

I totally agree but it seems they don't. funnily enough they sent me a survey yesterday and I ranted too. not sure if anyone reads them at all but hey, I tried.

 

[vtjess423]

I'm so sorry hun that you are having such a rough time. I have to agree though that a lot of what you mentioned is pretty standard practice in the US. I had a pap smear done during one of my early visits during this pregnancy as well. But i was extremely overdue for one too so I had no problem consenting to one. With my son, I had had one done a few months prior to getting pregnant so I just had to have my results forwarded to my OB. I am surprised that you got a transvaginal at 13 weeks. I'm sure at where I go for my u/s they only do those earlier. I'm not 100% because with both my pregnancies I only had u/s at 7/8 weeks where they did transvaginal and then at 20 weeks (coming up soon for this pg) where it was strictly abdominal. I actually thought about looking into birthing centers and midwives for this preganncy but when I did a quick search (and I mean really quick) I didn't see any options in my area and I also live in Maryland. But I was happy with my OB as she handled my 1st pregnancy well. I never felt pressured (said no to the flu shot) into doing anything I didn't want to do though I did usually do most of what she suggested. She was pretty hands off most of the pregnancy. Most visits were really quick- just pee, bp, weight and listened to the hb and then I was good to go. When I got closer to my due date, she did check me for dialation a few times but it wasn't every visit and was just a quick check. I liked knowing how far along I was. But I'm sure if I didn't feel comfortable with that, I could have said no. And the hospital I gave birth in was great too; the nurses were awesome! I actually ended up having complications and had to have weekly NSTs (non-stress test) just to make sure baby was Ok and they were always explaining to me what was happening and made me feel comfortable. So I think it all depends on where you are and if you are not comfortable with the doctor and hospital; I'd see if you could change. I hope your new OB is better! Good Luck!