Amniocentesis - anyone had one?

[Smurfette]

I'm on the fence about it. I received an email from my Peri and she wants me to schedule my amnio in the next week. I waived the right to amnio with the twins and TeenBaby but I guess it's a must with the trips because of my age and high risk.

The procedure will have to be done 3 separate times because they all sit inside their own sacs. Lucky me.

[savepaws]

Yikes...what are they looking for with the amnio? I don't know a thing about them.

[mj512]

Amnio's look for chromosomal issues such as Downs Syndrome. It may look for other things too, I'm not sure. I know sometimes they do them later in pregnancy and it can tell them about lung development.

They come with a kind of high risk IMO, so it just wasn't worth it for me, especially since I wasn't high risk and even if there was an issue we would have still continued with the pregnancy, we just would have taken the time to educated ourselves. So we just stuck with ultrasounds. Lots of people get them though and all is fine and it helps them to better prepare for any possible issues.

Good luck in your decision! They cannot force any procedures on you that you do not want, so if in the end you decide you are uncomfortable with it stick to your gut.

[Danielle9608]

I never had one, but I did have the nt scan and blood work at 11 weeks for generic abnormalities. I was of the understanding that they do this first and if they find something unusual then they would procedure with a amino. Did you have a NT scan? I know they can only be done up to a certain point I forget when that is though.

[Smurfette]

I had the NT scan already - when they found the trips as well as genetic testing. You Mommies forget I'm an old lady. :laugh2: My Peri recommended it because of my age. I was telling DanDan that I scheduled my appt this morning but the only opening they had was 3 weeks away. My case manager called as soon as I hung up and asked if I could come in this morning. Whoa! She didn't want me to wait until I was 17 weeks and felt it should be done before my quad screening.

I just came home from amnio. It was PAINFUL! The risks are actually very minimal. Considering I've been under GA for my rhinoplasty a month ago and all the other dumb stunts I've pulled since the beginning of this pregnancy, this is just another drop in the bucket.

I actually got 4 pricks from the needle because Baby moved and they withdrew. I felt very safe and in competent hands. The NT scan results were all good - no abnormalities were seen. The amnio was more for the lung development. Their heart rates are good, measurements are right on target for Feb 2012. As I get closer we'll discuss a c-section date. They don't recommend a natural trip delivery. I don't want a c-section! :urgh:

I'm kinda bummed but my insurance is denying me coverage with the current Peri and I need to find another one within my network by August 15 otherwise I'll be financially responsible for all subsequent services. That sucks. I deal with insurance companies all day long for my own patients and I pay over $1500/mo for medical insurance for my family and I can't even see a specialist without some unseen medical board reviewing my history. It's lame. My ins. co says my pregnancy with the twins went really well and they haven't identified me as high risk so why do I need to see a Peri? :purplex:

Time to go put my feet up. I'm on the prowl for a nursing laptop podium. Anyone seen or heard of one?

[Smurfette]

Just got a goodbye email from my Peri. She was notified by my case manager that Anthem is acting a fool and won't continue to approve services outside my network. This SUCKS balls! Seriously! If I could afford it, I'd pay cash. :bbcry:

[Danielle9608]

Have you submitted a appeal to keep seeing your current doctor? Maybe worth a shot. When I was doing IVF I was denied at first but I submitted a appeal and they over turned their decision and now I have Averi :)

[Smurfette]

Have you submitted a appeal to keep seeing your current doctor? Maybe worth a shot. When I was doing IVF I was denied at first but I submitted a appeal and they over turned their decision and now I have Averi :)
Yeah the current Peri is trying to help. She moved up our "16 week" appointment to this Friday since Sun Aug 14 will be the last day I'm allowed services. I know life doesn't always go as planned. And I'm the last person that likes to be tied down and confined to a strict schedule but once again it just feels like I am not in control of this pregnancy. I felt this way with Sofigra and already at 14 wks, this cr@p is spiraling out of control. Or maybe I'm imaging it all.

TeenBaby has never had a broken bone or been taken to the ER. She has only had 3 ear infections and one sinus infection in her entire life. No cavities, sure she suffers from asthma but it's controlled and yet I faithfully pay my health insurance every month. Don't I get some kind of credit for raising a healthy child? Once my PCOS was diagnosed, I effectively treated it and saw the doc maybe once or twice a year. It just feels unfair that when I actually need to use my medical benefits the insurance companies are balking. It doesn't help that my Peri agrees with their decision that I'm high risk only in the sense that I'm carrying multiples. I'm thankful for her honesty but she ain't helping the situation! :laugh2:

[savepaws]

Insurance companies SUCK! Sorry you have to deal with this. My husband had to see a specialist outside of our network when he broke his feet and it was not fun but with the help of the doctor's office we were able to get an exception and he was able to continue seeing his doctor. Hopefully it'll work out so you can keep your perinatologist. When you find one you like and trust, it would really suck to have to go to another just because insurance says so.

[Smurfette]

Insurance companies SUCK! Sorry you have to deal with this. My husband had to see a specialist outside of our network when he broke his feet and it was not fun but with the help of the doctor's office we were able to get an exception and he was able to continue seeing his doctor. Hopefully it'll work out so you can keep your perinatologist. When you find one you like and trust, it would really suck to have to go to another just because insurance says so.
They've been giving me the run-around all day! And I do this for a living. I submit claims for our services all day long. Sometimes they're rejected for any number of reasons, mostly because some back office employee somewhere didn't input the right code or authorization number and my claim goes unpaid. It's tedious, boring work. And now that I have to advocate for myself - it's even more frustrating.

I like where I'm going right now because it's a University of California campus medical center. Everything is shiny and new and the Docs are energetic and spirited. They're all about the research and study of maternal medicine. And because my multiples are spontaneous, they really took an interest. But Anthem says no. They want me to find a Peri that will deliver at my local hospital. That's what it all boils down to. The delivery. I guess the cost of delivering at a private hospital is too great so I need to find someone in the area. Boo. I'm on the phone right now with a Perinatal med group - :urgh: they sound busy and unorganized. Lol. :bblol: I'm ridiculous.

I'm thinking more and more about going off the radar. After the quad screening of course. Doggone it these hormones!!! :laugh2:

[Smurfette]

I just found an u/s machine for $750!!!

:purplex: I just might buy it... skip a car payment and buy the dang thing. Yep. I'm gonna do it. Can anyone loan me $500? What did you say? Do I know how to perform an u/s? No. But it can't be that hard. They have u/s for dummies book.

From the ad:
NEW LISTING! We have this Advanced Technology Laboratories Ultramark 4A Ultrasound machine (model UM4A), including (1) 5.0 MHz 10mm Vaginal Transducer & (1) CLA 76 3.5 MHz Linear Transducer, available immediately & PRICED to SELL!

Please make an offer and we will ship worldwide from Reno, NV.

[Smurfette]

Got our amnio results today. All good across the board. The trips
are measuring via hi-tech u/s a little bigger than they've been but
so far so good.