He's STILL Fine

So today I had a fetal echocardiogram (The spellcheck says that's wrong. But I disagree. And). Basically a specialized ultrasound where an actual doctor checks out the baby's heart.

The doctor was nice, I liked her even more after she said that everything looked good. But then she had to ruin it by explaining the things she couldn't see yet, that can happen to any newborn. I'm pretty sure I didn't need to hear about them.

The reason I had the echo-whatever was because of that long ago nuchal translucency test, which turned out to be a whole lotta worry about nothing. You know what? I am fucking sick of worrying about nothing.

If anyone wants my opinion (that's why you're reading, right?), skip the whole freaking nuchal test and just have an amnio. They are much safer now (problems with 1 in 1600)and they are CONCLUSIVE about genetic problems. I have read so many stories of people who had increased nuchal tests and perfectly healthy babies. Or skip the whole testing thing altogether. I mean, I've had so many ultrasounds this time around that I barely even get excited anymore. And I'm only halfway done!

Today's doc and I were talking about "advance maternal age" and what a painful term it is and she told me this: they are thinking of LOWERING it so insurance companies will pay for more amnios. Probably because the nuchal translucency test isn't so great. Or so everyone can make more money from keeping pregnant women paranoid.

I am so ticked off right now. I have gone through so much drama because of that one increased measurement - everything else in my pregnancy has been just fine. Well, except that I'm already huge and plagued with carpal tunnel. But neither of those things affect the baby.

You've Gotta Be Kidding Me

So this morning my regular OB's office calls me (the whole nuchal translucency thing was done by the high-risk pregnancy office) and asks me if I've scheduled my early anatomy scan with the high risk people yet.

HUH?

The office girl (you don't think it was a nurse or a doctor who called me, do you?) says that because of the high measurement, I need to have the twenty week ultrasound done at 16 weeks, and it should be done by the specialists. I mention my normal blood tests and the fact that the genetic counselor didn't mention this.

Office girl doesn't have my blood tests, but she says that the OB I saw last month (whom I disliked) says I need it. Because of the nuchal measurement.

Now then, part of me says - hey, it's another ultrasound! If NewBaby is cooperative, I could find out the sex early. But the other part of me says, if this is necessary, why didn't the genetic counselor mention it when she mentioned the blood test I need at 16 weeks and the fetal echocardiagram I need at 20? (BTW, I am using the term "need" loosely)

I cannot express how deeply I want to go back to my doctor in Kansas City, who had a sense of humor and never freaked out. Or possibly I should try to find a mid-wife, thanks to comments on my previous post.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Ways to soothe my nerves that don't involve beer or Brie?