Visit to Ultrasound School

Yesterday, Feb. 20th, I went to my appointment at the Ultrasound School in Ontario. It was an hour long appointment where I got to watch my lil peanut. It was an amazing experience! I've had ultrasounds through my Dr. a few times before, but nothing like this. I was able to watch my lil one for an hour while the student and her instructor took different measurements, looked at the baby from all different angels, took a few still shots for me, and searched to determine gender. They are unable to diagnose or give you "for sure" answers, in order to protect themselves, which is understandable.
My lil peanut loves to snuggle up on my left hip, transverse and breech. When I'm laying on my back, the baby is sitting, bottom on my spine, and the head up towards my skin. Peanut sits in a V position, feet up by the head, which looks pretty uncomfortable but Peanut loves it! :) It is also very active. My appointment was at 10am and the baby was wiggling, squirming, and moving all around. After an hour of looking, they said it looks like a girl (and no boy parts were found), but "they can't say for sure". Peanut kept opening, closing, crossing, and moving its legs so getting a good look was difficult. In order to determine sex, they look for a penis (male) or three distinct lines between the legs, which show the vagina (female). The student and instructor said they saw the lines two different times, but were unable to get a still shot because the baby was moving. So, we'll just have to wait until my 2nd trimester ultrasound on Thursday to know for sure! I'm trying not to get too excited until it is confirmed! I hope it is a girl, but all I really pray for is a healthy baby! :)
<3

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Going on from here

Two weeks past the event. I have accepted the reality of the miscarriage but I didn't think I'd still be dealing with the physical aspect of it. How can I go on to the next part of my grief and loss while I'm still suffering the bleeding and other side effects of it all.
Today I went to the gym for the first time in two weeks and I gave myself a good work-over, There was no worry about how hard I pushed those weights because I know my body needs to be pushed now. i need to feel like I can control how much,I can control how long, and I can control when and where. That's basically what I'm feeling now, my body is out of control and I feel completely betrayed by it.
I can't even trust it to do the typical miscarriage, I have endure prolonged bleeding cramping and hormone plunges. The whole feeling that the universe sucking right now is still pretty high on my outlook.
I'm stuck. I'm the record that keeps skipping over the same line, over and over again. What could I possibly learn from this feeling of purgatory?

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Measurements Decreasing as Pregnancy Continues

QUESTION

I am 31 weeks they say right now. Two appointments ago I measured right at 29 cm. and then I went back two weeks later and measured 28. They sent me for ultra sound and it came back good. I went to my two week appointment today and measured at 25. They have me going to other ultrasound.

I'm not dropping and this is my first pregnancy so I don't know what to think. They tell me I am doing ok but this makes my third ultrasound in two months. I ask them how this is and they don't tell me anything. I'm keeping my weight up too so I hope you can help me understand.

ANSWER

My first question would be about your water intake, as insufficient hydration can cause smaller measurements. I'm also wondering about the position of the baby, as some positions make the measurements smaller.

That said, I would trust the ultrasound if they tell you your baby is growing normally and is normally formed.

Good luck!
~Cynthia

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New Job

I finally got a call that I've been waiting for! I received and offer for a full time position! This is one of the most exciting things to happen to me in a long time. I'll have a regular schedule, and a regular pay check to count on. No more depending on other people's generosity to pay my bills!! The best thing by far in the benefits package that seems to be a very good one. I will be insured through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. There is no waiting period for benefits so I don't think I'll have a problem if I end up getting pregnant in the near future, plus the coverage seems to be really good for maternity and early childhood related things. I'm not going to jump for joy yet. I know I need to call the insurance provider once I'm covered and ask them about maternity and prenatal care. I just hope the doctor I go to now is one that I can keep seeing since I like her a lot.

Kohl Montano's blog Printer-friendly versionSend to friendLogin or register to post comments Associated topics: Preparing for Pregnancy Related Content When to Call Your Provider Pregnancy After Miscarriage, Stillbirth or Infant DeathProzac during PregnancyEmotions During PregnancyTwin to Twin Transfusion SyndromePost-Miscarriage ChecklistAre These Symptoms of Listeria?Cytoxin and Pregnancy Join the Community login or
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Read moreSubscribe to Feed Site Search Your "Tools" Area Baby Name Database BBT Charting Tool Fetal Development Growth Charts Podcasts Pregnancy Calendar Our Glossary of Terms Get Answers! Have a question?Check out our panel of experts to address your questions, challenges, and concerns! From getting pregnant to parenting, we have the answers for you! Become a Member! About UsAdvertise With UsContact UsTerms of UsePrivacy PolicySitemap MORE SHORTCUTS, TOOLS & RESOURCES FOR YOU!Getting PregnantPregnancyLabor & DeliveryBaby and BeyondFetal DevelopmentPregnancy CalendarBasal Body Temperature ToolBabyNamesPodcastsWatch Videos Now!CommunityLive ChatBulletin BoardsArticles A - ZGet AnswersBecome a MemberBecome a VIPProduct ReviewsFan Us on FaceBookFollow Us on TwitterAll contents herein this site including the site name are under copyright protection. © 2001-2011 Pregnancy.org unless specifically noted otherwise. This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other health care professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use. This site is designed to be used with Internet Explorer (IE) 6 or higher, FireFox, Safari and Chrome.

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Rudeness and Pregnancy

by Pregnancy.org Staff

You are pregnant and glowing, basking in the idea of being a new parent. Strangers suddenly feel the need to give you advice, tell you all the horror stories they have ever heard about pregnancy and birth, and touch your growing belly. What is it about pregnancy that breaks down social barriers?

Many people feel an instant bond with a pregnant stranger or new mom. This bond causes normal social barriers to break down and disintegrate, creating a feeling that they have license to offer advice, stories and touches when they would normal restrain them.

Sometimes it's easy to shrug off some comments; other times it can undermine a woman's confidence during a vulnerable time. Pregnant and new moms know more than they realize, and should feel confident in their abilities and instincts!

You can probably safely ignore most of the comments you receive, but be aware that you may also gather a good idea or two or a pleasant compliment. Try to keep a open mind. If you learn nothing else from the onslaught of advice and comments, they may help you become more sympathetic to new moms in the future.

Has a comment been so shocking that you don't know how to respond. As tempting as it is to respond to rudeness with rudeness, its better for you to rise above that, it will only make you feel worse afterward. No matter what the comment the best response is a positive one, something like, "Thanks for the tip. I will consider it." You may want to walk away from the situation if the person is just plain rude. Here are some other ideas to help you survive this aspect of pregnancy:

Poker Face
Silence and frosty body language (arms akimbo, not making eye contact, appearing distracted) are powerful tools.Honesty
Be honest. Tell the offender "This is making me uncomfortable," Or "This is upsetting to me." Walk away if need be.Humor
It's important to keep your sense of humor or you would go crazy listening to all these people. Humor also helps knock them off guard and keeps you in control of the conversation. Sometimes a self-deprecating comment can help lighten the mood, and make you appear less defensive.Vagueness
You don't have to tell anyone your complete medical history. It's just none of their business. If someone asks your due date, it's acceptable to say it's getting close and stay it at that.Turn it around
Offer them advice. Saying something like "Sure sounds like you had a rough labor. You may want to check out hypnosis as a means of dealing with those fears" ends the conversation without being rude, or challenging.Keep your personal comfort zone
To help prevent touching try to keep a safe zone around yourself. Don't let strangers in that zone. Generally a foot or so is safe without seeming rude.

And if all else fails, chalk it up to camaraderie. Welcome to the "Pregnancy Club."

Copyright © Pregnancy.org, LLC.

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Solving Common Health Insurance Denials and Rejections

Anyone who has used the healthcare system has probably had to sort through billing issues with their physician, dental office, clinic, or hospital. Due to a combination of aloof patients and disorganized medical offices, key information regarding insurance and coverage can often be lost in the mix, or omitted altogether.

As a savvy consumer of healthcare, be a step ahead of the system when it comes to knowing your coverage and ensuring your clinicians are getting it right.

Here are the most common errors made in the exchange of medical information between the patient, medical office, and insurance company. Minimizing these may require a little extra verification and review of Explanation of Benefit (EOB) forms, but could save hundreds of dollars in overlooked, errantly processed claims.

The wrong insurance is billed. As obvious as it seems that this step is at least done correctly, it is probably the most common billing issue that affects patients. By design, it is simple. You give a coverage card to the billing office, they copy it and input that info into their system, and when the time is right they bill the insurance.

But what happens when you switch jobs mid-year, and your doctor, your kids' pediatrician, your family dentist, your pharmacy, and your eye doctor all have the old insurance on file? Even when you give the information to them, they might not get it right on the first try. When you switch your health insurance, be vigilant about ensuring all of your providers get the change right. It could take months.

Incorrect insurance is billed for particular procedure. Count yourself lucky if you have one insurance company for every medical service -- medical, dental, eye, preventative, pharmacy, etc. Many employers, in an effort to keep a lid on benefits expenses, shop around and find a la carte pricing on all the different services.

While it saves you and your company money, it adds a layer of complexity. You may have one insurance for medical, a different administrator for preventative care, and a different plan covering your dental, vision, and drug costs. It is easy for a patient to get these confused, much less your medical office.

Make sure that you and everyone in your family understands which insurance is right for which service, and take an extra look at each EOB when you get them. Any rejections for "procedure/service not covered" could be a sign that your medical office billed the wrong insurance on file.

Authorization was not obtained. One HMO-era change that stuck was the idea of prior authorization or precertification prior to obtaining service. The idea was that if you, as a patient, needed to call and authorize a service prior to having it done, the insurance company would have an opportunity to steer you to the most appropriate level of care, or in some cases discourage you from having an unnecessary procedure. Today, it typically applies to major procedures and elective procedures.

There can be big dollars at stake if you don't get a service authorized correctly. Know your plan and what is required to be authorized. When in doubt, call your insurance company and ask. The good news is that the hospital and doctor's office has just as much interest in getting an authorization as you do. They would rather be paid by the insurance than to have to call on you after-the-fact for payment. So work with your hospitals admissions or pre-registration department and provide all the information they need. In this case, you are all on the same team, and they can help ensure the prior authorizations are obtained as needed.

Need some help sorting out your denied claim? Try HealthHarbor's interactive denial analyzer tool.

HealthHarbor is a consumer healthcare website whose mission is to help people become smarter consumers of healthcare and health insurance. They offer advice and articles as well as interactive tools to help you be a more informed healthcare consumer.

Copyright © HealthHarbor. Permission to republish granted to Pregnancy.org, LLC.

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Sandy's Surprise -- Amazing Baby Boy

Read All of Sandy's Surprise -- A Pregnancy Journal

I have some "homework" from my Bradley instructor, namely making sure I get around 80g of protein a day. So far, I'm finding that ridiculously difficult! I eat so many more carbohydrates than proteins, it's crazy. The only day I came close was Sunday with 77g... the rest of the time I'm hanging around in the 60's. Tomorrow I'm going to make some bean casserole, and that ought to bump my protein numbers up!

Oh, and here's a tip if you're looking to eat more protein but don't want to do the whole chicken/meat thing - get Morning Star Spicy Black Bean Burgers! They are sooo good! You can find them in the breakfast food section of your grocer. They are all veggie, but are chock-full of protein! One patty has 12g of protein. I ate two on Sunday (with no bread) which is why I was so close to getting my recommended amount of protein.

Tomorrow (well, today I guess!) I have my follow-up ultrasound to visualize the baby's eyes, lips and heart. It should be a quickie ultrasound and I'm going to ask for the guy to make sure there really is a penis there! I'm also going to see if he'll give me better pictures and actually let me watch the darn screen! I'm going on base this time, and the tech is supposed to be good so I hope my experience is at least marginally pleasant this time.

Later today....

Okay, so the baby is DEFINITELY a boy! Phew! Tim and I were both relieved. This time there was no doubt. Our u/s tech was so nice! He explained every single thing he was looking at, made sure I could see the screen at all times (when he had me roll over onto my side so I couldn't see the big screen, he turned his screen sideways so that I could see it too).

Tim and I both told him how much we appreciated his bedside manner and how nice he was. We told him about our horrible experience at the other hospital, and he said he had heard many bad things about that hospital and the u/s techs there being mean to patients.

Baby Boy was *adorable* as usual! But of course I may be biased! We were able to see his lips, and he definitely has my lips! They were full like mine, whereas Tim has thin lips. He also seems to have my nose in his profile shot. It was just so neat to see! At one point he opened and closed his mouth like he was blowing bubbles. And he also swallowed amniotic fluid.

I am just amazed by this little boy already! He is this whole little person with his own idiosyncrasies. He did some funny things (legs by his head, thumbs up, punching at the transducer) and we were all laughing. He has such a cute little personality already! This time we got a disc with all the best pictures, including some more money shots.

I'm so excited for my little boy to be here (but not too soon!)! He is just perfect.

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Sandys Surprise's blog Printer-friendly versionSend to friendLogin or register to post comments Associated topics: Pregnancynutrition during pregnancypregnancy journalultrasoundvegetarian protein sources Related Content When to Call Your Provider Pregnancy After Miscarriage, Stillbirth or Infant DeathProzac during PregnancyEmotions During PregnancyTwin to Twin Transfusion SyndromePost-Miscarriage ChecklistAre These Symptoms of Listeria?Cytoxin and Pregnancy Join the Community login or
create an account Watch Videos Get Social! Fan/Follow Us! Getting Pregnant The Importance of Genetic Testing

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Read moreSubscribe to Feed Site Search Your "Tools" Area Baby Name Database BBT Charting Tool Fetal Development Growth Charts Podcasts Pregnancy Calendar Our Glossary of Terms Get Answers! Have a question?Check out our panel of experts to address your questions, challenges, and concerns! From getting pregnant to parenting, we have the answers for you! Become a Member! About UsAdvertise With UsContact UsTerms of UsePrivacy PolicySitemap MORE SHORTCUTS, TOOLS & RESOURCES FOR YOU!Getting PregnantPregnancyLabor & DeliveryBaby and BeyondFetal DevelopmentPregnancy CalendarBasal Body Temperature ToolBabyNamesPodcastsWatch Videos Now!CommunityLive ChatBulletin BoardsArticles A - ZGet AnswersBecome a MemberBecome a VIPProduct ReviewsFan Us on FaceBookFollow Us on TwitterAll contents herein this site including the site name are under copyright protection. © 2001-2011 Pregnancy.org unless specifically noted otherwise. This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other health care professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use. This site is designed to be used with Internet Explorer (IE) 6 or higher, FireFox, Safari and Chrome.

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