Perinatologist Advice?

Hello, all!

I am SO glad I have found this forum. I was going nuts looking around the internet for help!

I am 27, 18 weeks pregnant with a so far healthy twin pregnancy, and with a reputable OB group here in Long Island (Rifkin, Sada ty, etc). Anyway, I have never been pregnant before but I am CERTAIN that they are treating my pregnancy just like a singleton pregnancy... but I just have this feeling in my gut that it's different. For example, I asked a doctor the latest they would recommend that I fly on an airplane. The answer? I can fly up until 37 weeks. I was in such disbelief, I just didn't say anything. Call me pessimistic, but I would be shocked if I even MADE it to 37 weeks without delivering.

Should I see a specialist at all? Switch to a high-risk OB? See a perinatologist? I just get this feeling that the doctors in my OB practice are very casual about the twin pregnancy thing and it sort of unnerves me a bit. But then I wonder if I'M actually the crazy one.

Can anyone recommend a very good perinatologist or high-risk OB (are they the same thing?) who delivers at North Shore Manhasset?

Any thoughts??

Thank you!

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

I didn't go to a high risk dr, but I had appts more often than my first pregnancy and way more sonograms. I didn't have any restrictions until my dr told me to stop working about 33 weeks. But I would never been able to get on a plane 37 weeks pregnant with even 1 baby. I know that practice you go to, I used to go there, they were great, and they do have expereience with twins, Dr. Sadaty delivered Jlo's twins.

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

The best advice that I can give you is to go with your gut....

If you are feeling uneasy that something isnt right then, by all means, meet with some other doctors and see what they have to say...

Especially since this is your first pregnancy and you might not recognize the signs of preterm labor...

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

Welcome! I am 16 weeks along with twins.
I feel the same way as you. I go to the Stony Brook Midwives but am supposed to also see the high-risk dr. there eventually. SO far I've had the normal appointments like a singelton pregnancy and have had no extra sonos. At my last appt I asked when I would be seeing the high risk dr, and the midwife said there was no need at this point. In the back of my mind I wonder if I should be seen more.. but since everything is going great I guess there is no need right now.

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

hi and welcome!!

i am now 29 weeks pg with twins..
i see a perinatologist, not only because of multiples, but i have other issues.
if you are not 100% comfortable with just an OB. there is nothing wrong with seeking out a Peri as well.

i highly recomend Dr. Kofinas located in garden city.. he is amazing!!
but he does not deliver, so i see the OB and him. i am completely happy with that .
so you need to do what is best for you and the babies!!

good luck!!

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

I had no previous issues, including a previous health pregnancy and started seeing a high risk doc about 16 weeks (i think)

I saw my regular doc every 2 weeks and he did a sono. He said it was the only really true way to know that both babies heartbeats were good. With the doppler there is no guarantee that you are getting 2 clear, healthy heart rates. The high risk docs kept track of the babies growths to make sure they were growing at a consistent rate, and that one was not growing faster than the other.

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

I was high risk from the start of my pregnancy so I started going to a Perinatolgist around 16 weeks or so. They pretty much took over my care from by OB/GYN until I gave birth.

I am not positive but for the one I went to....Madonna....you had to be referred to them from a primary OB/GYN. I don't think they accepted you if you were worried. Not sure how they all work.

Other people I know who had twins (many on this board) were not considered high risk and never went to one. I think it really depends on the type of twins you are having and any issues you might have.

I do find it weird that they said you could fly up until 37 weeks. That's a little too laid back for me. But they might be wanting to put you at ease and wait to see what happens.

Good luck!

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

def seek a second opinion your instincts are there for a reason.. i had the hardest time at 12 weeks considering switching ob's b.c of the same reason , my dr seemed to laid back and said "twins are no problem, you can do whatever" I just wasnt comfortable with that way of thinking and with delivering at stonybrook or at catherines. I always thougt in my gut i would deliver early and I wanted to be where there was a good nicu..
I switched to dr klein with northshore and, I went in to preterm labor at 23 weeks! i held out till 32 weeks but i was in the hosp for a long time. My experience there and withthe drs were great, and i dont know if I would have 2 healthy babies righ now if i didnt look around and change drs when i had the gut feeling to do so. Def. if you dont feel comfortable switch dont worry about making your dr feel bad that was my big thing. As much as I liked my drs "personality" I wanted someone to be overly concerned so that nothing would be missed.

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

Thanks so much, everyone! Very helpful advice. Tomorrow, I have my *big* 18 week appointment where we find out sex, etc. So I will see how that goes and take it from there.

mrsw110207: I'm so glad your babies are okay now! Preterm at 23 weeks, wow. Did you know somethign was wrong? Or did you not really find out until you went to another appointment? I had a friend who went into ptl at 32 weeks... she ahd no idea until the OB checked her cervix at a regular appointment and realized she was starting to dilate. I think if I do switch, it would be with Klein as well.

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

Just so you know Klein, Nimeroff, Rifkin, et. al. all used to be in the same practice. That's the practice I went to while pg with my DC's.

I was referred to Klein by my OB. When I first met him my first impression was, "OK, this guy is a typical specialist... socially awkward genius ".

I've since met several women who had their babies with him... some very high risk cases... trust me, some you do not want to know the details of their cases... no other doctors wanted to go near these women. Klein takes on very complicated cases... many other high risk OB's consult him! As of a few years ago, that practice was one of the top practices in the tri-state area in amount of twins they delivered, #1 in the tri-state area for triplets. When I saw him in the hospital (Nimeroff delivered my twins, he was head of OB-GYN at NSUH Manhasset at the time) he joked with me saying he delivers so many twins that sometimes when he delivers a singleton it seems unusual...lol... he's so used to having at least two in there

I would definitely recommend scheduling a consult with him, see how you feel and then consider making the switch.

I'm also really surprised that Rifkin's practice recommended flying at 37 weeks OB's don't even recommend ground travel more than 2 hours away from your hospital that close to your due date

Message edited 3/8/2010 9:56:52 PM.

Re: Perinatologist Advice?

lol i agree with the previous poster. Dr klein is socially awkward but very nice, as is dr nimaroff and dr alkasab i love her. They deliver alot more twins than singletons so they are always prepared for everything.

I started feeling contractions around 19 weeks but i was told at that time it was just braxton hicks and as long as im not getting more than 4 an hour i would be fine. But at 23 weeks( thanksgiving actually) I was having 3-6 an hour for most the day on an off, So i call the on call number and Went into L&d i spent like 12 hours there until they finally were able to stop the contractions, They almost gave me steroids and i ddilated 1 cm it was very scary. I was able to go home , only to go back the next day for more terbutaline. Dr klein started me on a tpump the next day and said pack ur bag b/c you will most likely be inthte hospital a few times( which he was right lol) I spent 2 weeks in l&d on magnesium, including christmas and new years it sucked . but i finally went back home on the tpmp again and at 32 weeks the mag didnt work i dilated from 2 to 6 cm in 40 min.
Dr kelin was ther in 10 min and my whole c section from open to close was 20 min superfast!

I am so glad i switched to him, I def dont see another dr beingso agressive to keep my babies in so long.