New High Risk Doctor

We went into the new high risk doctor with some trepidation. Having only ever known the other doctor, we were fairly nervous that this was just how high risk doctors were and that I would spend the remainder of my pregnancy fighting.

We were pleasantly surprised when we were called back to the room within 5 minutes of our appointment time. We would wait at minimum an hour at the other office. We met a very sweet and caring ultrasound technician who listened to our concerns about the other doctor while she performed the anatomy scan. This took a fairly significant amount of time, considering that we had two babies in there. Mike was getting antsy because we had had to schedule this appointment for the afternoon and he had to be at work soon. Our friend was watching Zachary for us so we didn't have to worry about him interrupting.

Once the ultrasound technician was done, she went to get the new high risk doctor. Mike had to leave to get to work, so I was by myself when the new doctor confirmed the findings that Dr. Amnio had suspected. It appeared Baby B, our boy, had two enlarged brain ventricles that appeared to be filling with fluid and may indicate a problem. The doctor sat down and let me know that his suggestion was a fetal MRI as the next step and also to perform some bloodwork. He suggested the same blood test as the other physician, but I would have no out of pocket cost for it. Because this office is part of the large hospital group in our city, they had a deal with the lab that the lab would accept whatever amount my insurance paid, even if it was zero dollars.

The doctor also suggested that we meet with their on-staff genetic counselor to get an idea of what we may be in for. While the diagnosis was the same as the previous office, the care was infinitely better. This doctor was warm, didn't rush me, answered every question I threw at him as my brain tried to process that there might be something wrong, and even hugged me at the end of our consult when I started crying. He told me, "I wish I could just come in here and say congrats see you next month. I hate that we have to start our journey this way." He remembered that I was a human and that I had just found out something that may alter my (and my husband's) parenting journey forever. He told me not to Google, but that when I went home and did, CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) and the Hydrocephalus Association would be good places to start.

I received a call from the large hospital downtown a few days later and scheduled my fetal MRI. I also scheduled a fetal echocardiogram ultrasound through my high risk doctor to look at Baby B's heart and make sure he was developing normally, an appointment with the genetic counselor, and took home information about hydrocephalus. I was overwhelmed. I was terrified.