advice re post-miscarriage care at GW

[Anonymous]

Hi. Just looking for some advice and feedback. Saw Dr. Bridges when I had my now-16-month-old, but due to severe postpartum hypertension, needed to switch to a high-risk OB for the second. So I chose Macri at GW based on recs. Got pregnant in November, and my hcgs were low all along (with some spotting); he was very responsive and called me himself with every hcg level. I wound up miscarrying at about 6 weeks. He didn't call to tell me the final test showing my hcg was going down and it was indeed a miscarriage - a nurse called instead. Having a miscarriage was, obviously, very upsetting.

When i saw him at the followup appt a month later, he said if I got pregnant again I should wait a few weeks before calling for testing. I agreed at the time, though I wasn't sure how I felt about it - we just didn't have a long conversation about it.

Now I am lucky enough to be pregnant again, just two months later. I feel very fortunate to have a chance again. I found out at home on Saturday, and on Monday I called his office - not to demand testing, but just to touch base about next steps for following HCG. I was starting to feel pretty clearly that I want to know the numbers, because if they're higher than last time I can feel slightly reassured, and if they're very low again, I can manage my expectations better.

His assistant scheduled me for an US at 6 weeks 1 day, which surprised me a bit (didn't ask for an early one), but that's cool. That's two weeks from now. She also said she would check with him about ordering the HCGs. I waited all day... no call.

The next day I waited... and finally called again midafternoon. She checked and said oh, he hasn't checked that message (??) and said she'd write him again. Waited the rest of the day... no call.

Today's Wednesday... no call. I call again early afternoon and she says she's going to go talk to him now and call me back. And... no call.

I have been very calm and polite on all these calls. I don't think it's unreasonable for someone who just went through a miscarriage to ask her doctor about doing very basic tests to learn more about how this pregnancy is going. I mean, if he wants to make the case that I should delay testing, he could convey that message to me, instead of just NOT RESPONDING!

I am finding that the stress of dealing with them is starting to be even worse than the stress of worrying about another miscarriage. This is not what I need right now. I have a different appt at GW tomorrow and plan to just walk to the offices and see what's up. But I wanted to see if other people have had similar experiences, and what happened. Maybe I was spoiled by the small practice at Bridges (and by Dr. Macri's initial, though brief, period of responsiveness last time). I just expect at least SOME kind of communication and followup. They must know that becoming pregnant again after a miscarriage is a very challenging time.

Any thoughts/advice?

[Anonymous]

That sucks. And the anxiety doesn't help. Find a new doc who is more compassionate. You're going to be very worried throughout the next few months and don't want a doc who is already brushing you off.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I found Wisdom and Marfori more responsive than that. If you want to change doctors, you might stick with GW as there are some really good ones. Good luck and i hope you get good numbers!

[Anonymous]

Oh hugs OP - my OB is at fairfax and I adored her for how she handled me during my miscarriage and with my next pregnancy - she basically saw me whenever I wanted first trimester and even let me come in an extra visit between 8 and 12 weeks since that was around when I'd miscarried before and she knew I'd be on pins and needles. I know OBs are really busy, but a nurse should be able to make a call on this if she can't find the OB -