I think the ultrasound tech was drunk when she did my anatomy scan today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had 2 week cervix checks after a premature baby. Those questions are completely normal and justified. Most women know the gender by 18 weeks because of testing which occurs at 11 weeks or so. Asking about your previous preemie is standard and there are things that might seem insignificant to you but could be important info that could help prevent another premature birth. Just because you had a seemingly random premature baby doesn’t mean that’s the norm. Many women have contractions leading up to preterm labor, or they had a shortened cervix early on, or a whole host of other medical possibilities. You seem very uninformed beyond your single experience.

This

OP here. You're right. My medical care for my first baby was very bad. I live in the south. Medical care here is known to be bad. The state I live in now is 3 away from being the worst state with medical care in the US.

[Anonymous]

Yep it was odd. But do you think there is a problem you should get involved in? You still have many appointments left to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had 2 week cervix checks after a premature baby. Those questions are completely normal and justified. Most women know the gender by 18 weeks because of testing which occurs at 11 weeks or so. Asking about your previous preemie is standard and there are things that might seem insignificant to you but could be important info that could help prevent another premature birth. Just because you had a seemingly random premature baby doesn’t mean that’s the norm. Many women have contractions leading up to preterm labor, or they had a shortened cervix early on, or a whole host of other medical possibilities. You seem very uninformed beyond your single experience.

This

OP here. You're right. My medical care for my first baby was very bad. I live in the south. Medical care here is known to be bad. The state I live in now is 3 away from being the worst state with medical care in the US.

Honesty-maybe it's you. You complain a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was your first ultrasound. You don’t know what to expect from the procedures or the questions from the tech, OP. You are likely just nervous.

I can bet one thing, though: what race are you and what race is the tech?

This wasn't my first ultrasound. This is my second pregnancy. This was my first ultrasound during this pregnancy. I did not know what to expect in terms of questions about my preemie. They also didn't have records from my OB about my previous birth. She kept asking why he was premature. I don't know what caused my son to be premature. I went into labor naturally. I was never told there was a reason.

Lady, you don’t get it. She was asking routine questions that are important. No, you did not “naturally” go into labor. Our bodies don’t naturally give birth early. We give birth early when something atypical happens. It could have been an incompetent cervix, an infection, a medical condition that induced uterine contractions, or a million other things. Most likely, your preterm labor resulted from one of a handful of common explanations, some of which can be prevented this time around, and most can at least be monitored for. You are fortunate that you did not have complications with your first. However, you are now more likely to have another preemie, possibly even earlier. Please have some faith in your medical professionals, and if you don’t understand something you should ask for clarification.

OP here. If these questions are so important then WHY doesn't she have access to my records? I was sent to another office to do my ultrasound. Why wouldn't my ob give them this information.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't know why people are giving you such a hard time. I would raise your concerns with your OB and take it from there.

[Anonymous]

Three times, we've had people in my clinic raise concerns about patients smelling of alcohol, and each time we figured out it was the scent of the hand sanitizer.

Obviously, I don't know whether your US tech had been drinking alcohol. I can tell you it is normal to ask the questions she was asking, and that she would not read the ultrasound -- just do it. If the images were substandard, the radiologist would have them redone. Usually someone checks before the patients leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't know why people are giving you such a hard time. I would raise your concerns with your OB and take it from there.

OP here. I will definitely speak to my OB. I was NEVER told there was a reason my son was premature. My water broke. He was breech. I wasn't told anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three times, we've had people in my clinic raise concerns about patients smelling of alcohol, and each time we figured out it was the scent of the hand sanitizer.

Obviously, I don't know whether your US tech had been drinking alcohol. I can tell you it is normal to ask the questions she was asking, and that she would not read the ultrasound -- just do it. If the images were substandard, the radiologist would have them redone. Usually someone checks before the patients leave.

OP here. Aha thanks so much for responding. I wanted to see if this is a thing that sometimes happens. Maybe it was the hand sanitizer!

[Anonymous]

She left for 5 minutes for something and then forgot it? And asked to take a personal call? Forget that you smelled alcohol, those are reasons enough to request a different tech. I don't know why people here are being jerks, but I'd like my technician to be paying attention to what they're doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three times, we've had people in my clinic raise concerns about patients smelling of alcohol, and each time we figured out it was the scent of the hand sanitizer.

Obviously, I don't know whether your US tech had been drinking alcohol. I can tell you it is normal to ask the questions she was asking, and that she would not read the ultrasound -- just do it. If the images were substandard, the radiologist would have them redone. Usually someone checks before the patients leave.

OP here. Aha thanks so much for responding. I wanted to see if this is a thing that sometimes happens. Maybe it was the hand sanitizer!

Maybe. I would not be surprised.

Regardless, I would recommend that you talk to your OB about your concerns regarding your records not being sent over, the smell of alcohol, and any thoughts about why your first child was born early. These questions are all relevant to you feeling comfortable with your care and to your provider understanding your state of mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three times, we've had people in my clinic raise concerns about patients smelling of alcohol, and each time we figured out it was the scent of the hand sanitizer.

Obviously, I don't know whether your US tech had been drinking alcohol. I can tell you it is normal to ask the questions she was asking, and that she would not read the ultrasound -- just do it. If the images were substandard, the radiologist would have them redone. Usually someone checks before the patients leave.

OP here. Aha thanks so much for responding. I wanted to see if this is a thing that sometimes happens. Maybe it was the hand sanitizer!

Maybe. I would not be surprised.

Regardless, I would recommend that you talk to your OB about your concerns regarding your records not being sent over, the smell of alcohol, and any thoughts about why your first child was born early. These questions are all relevant to you feeling comfortable with your care and to your provider understanding your state of mind.

OP here. Thanks so much. I will speak to my OB soon about this. The tech said it sounds like I have an incompetent cervix. My OB did not mention any cervix issues in previous appointments. I know my records for my first birth were sent to my current OB office. I have moved to another state since my first birth. My OB is new.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's unusual for the ultrasound tech to not have all of your medical records. They are not doctors. Their job is simply to get necessary measurements and images from the ultrasound for the doctor to then interpret. Her questions would help provide a focus to the exam.

[Anonymous]

I get a lot of breast ultrasounds. The alcohol smell from the gel is very strong.

[Anonymous]

I agree the questions sound weird. My ultrasounds were a long time ago (they didn't give you pics then) and comments made by the tech were very neutral, the questions you describe sound not altogether appropriate especially related to previous premature birth--I can't see that that would be directly related to performing the ultrasound. And to bring up her split with her ex? Small talk by medical professionals is usually of the nature of positive things but also rather bland. Mentioning the split sort of sets herself up for a patient wondering if she's really got her mind on what she's doing. And comparing you, the current patient, with "most women" is also inappropriate. Have DH with you the next time and see how it goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three times, we've had people in my clinic raise concerns about patients smelling of alcohol, and each time we figured out it was the scent of the hand sanitizer.

Obviously, I don't know whether your US tech had been drinking alcohol. I can tell you it is normal to ask the questions she was asking, and that she would not read the ultrasound -- just do it. If the images were substandard, the radiologist would have them redone. Usually someone checks before the patients leave.

OP here. Aha thanks so much for responding. I wanted to see if this is a thing that sometimes happens. Maybe it was the hand sanitizer!

Maybe. I would not be surprised.

Regardless, I would recommend that you talk to your OB about your concerns regarding your records not being sent over, the smell of alcohol, and any thoughts about why your first child was born early. These questions are all relevant to you feeling comfortable with your care and to your provider understanding your state of mind.

OP here. Thanks so much. I will speak to my OB soon about this. The tech said it sounds like I have an incompetent cervix. My OB did not mention any cervix issues in previous appointments. I know my records for my first birth were sent to my current OB office. I have moved to another state since my first birth. My OB is new.

Yeah, that's getting into the tech diagnosing things, they're not supposed to do that.