Monday, November 29, 2010

No AIDS or syphilis here!

My fetus is still alive (shoop shoop shoop!) and kicking (sploosh! sploosh!). My OB went over the results of my genetic screening and other blood tests and I was pleased to learn that I am still AIDS/syphilis free that that my blood type hasn't changed. Anatomy scan in three weeks.

When I have an appointment, I always think about my OB practice relative to others in town. As I've said before, I LOVE the fact that my RE's office is across the hall, that I had my surgery and recovered in a room three floors above, and that, God willing, I'll deliver and recover two floors above. I love the continuity of the experience, the way that I am always reminded both of how lucky I am and also of what I had to do to get here. And of course I love the fact that it's a mile from my house and across the street from my office. But there's another interesting feature to the practice. This is not a practice where people from my socio-economic bracket come. Not to put too fine a point on it, the middle-class white folk all go to offices in the suburbs. Even fellow faculty members, for whom this office is obviously convenient. As I sit there surrounded by 15 year old African American girls, I often wonder: Is this avoidance of a perfectly nice practice just classism, or am I missing out on a better experience? I think the service I receive might be a little slower (in the sense of waiting times) and more harried. (E.g., today I sat in the exam room for quite a while. When my OB came in she said she'd just come from the ER. I couldn't help but feel a chill, and found myself inspecting her coat for blood spatters.) The flow of information might be a little less clear (e.g., I had no idea how to get my NT scan results). There are no cashmere exam robes or lavender-scented organic doppler jelly or whatever. And the fancy pants OBs don't practice here, so if I wanted someone with fancy pants, I'd be out of luck.

But you know what? Regular pants are just fine with me. And I guess, as a formerly poor person, I'm more comfortable with my old bracket than my new one. What's more, Bun Bun needs to learn early about the real world, even if that means being probed through a layer of low-rent jelly.

18 comments:

  1. I'm sure the care isn't substantially different and it isn't necessary, in any case, unless you have a particularly high risk pregnancy, which it doesn't seem like you do.

    I must confess, I used to feel very "pshaw whatever" about people who insisted there was only ONE hospital in NYC worth delivering at, but after my loss(es?), I kind of want to go there, too. I'll need all the reassurance I can get when I get pregnant again.

    I will not, however, be like my SIL and pay $1,000 out of pocket just so I can have a view of the park in my private hospital room for one day.

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  2. I have a similar situation with my OB and to be honest I have received far better service/care with my current OB than any of the fancy schmancy OB/GYNs I've seen previously. I even went to the same practice where Op.rah goes for a while and it sucked.

    Great news on Bun-Bun and glad everything is going well.

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  3. there's something to be said for convenience! you're obviously a smart girl and happy with the care you're receiving, so i'm sure it's top notch, albeit lacking in the fancy schmancies. i wanted to deliver at "the" hospital that sloper's talking about, but ended up choosing the practice that felt best over the hospital. there was no comparison, in my opinion. plus, i was more interested in being at the hospital with the better nicu, bc i'm paranoid like that.

    glad baby bunny is doing well in there!! do you have any *feelings* about whether you're having a boy or a girl?

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  4. Ah that's great news bunny. The good feelings were right on the money, see?

    You're comfortable with your whatever you call 'em over there - you know, your *female reproductive area and related activities doctor* - that is great. I like the idea you'll be so close to home. Mr B can run back and forth energetically, with stuff you forgot and things. It's good.

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  5. It sounds like a pretty ideal situation. Keepin' Bun Bun's feet on the ground...nice.

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  6. You know if this works for you, don't question it. We all have our reasons for chosing one practice/ob over another. I am glad you are happy and it sounds like you are getting good care (i am glad that those 15 yr olds are getting good care too, despite their SES).
    good luck on the anatomy scan.

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  7. Agreed that a convenient place that you feel comfie in is what matters the most!!

    And yessssssssssssssssss on Bun Bun! I hope you are on Cloud Nine and that you don't come down for a loooong time. :) xoxo

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  8. So glad the appointment went well, and you don't have AIDS! I agree with the others - if you're comfortable there, stay! And I like that Bun Bun won't get too fancy...

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  9. What, no results for the Herp or the Hep? How do you know you're clean of these diseases, huh?

    Three weeks til you meet Bun Bun as a he or she! Unless you're gonna keep it a surprise...I can personally vouch for the awesomeness of this approach, since it gave me something to think about during the final moments of labor. Others can weigh in on the awesomeness of knowing in advance...either way, three weeks!

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  10. Shoop! Sploosh! I love it! Looking forward to reading about the anatomy scan.

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  11. Glad to hear all is well. I hear you on the "keepin' it real" part of this. I think it's especially bad here in NYC where everyone has an opinion about the "best" of everything. But I'm going with what makes me happy and with what is working for me, and I'm glad to hear you are doing the same :-)

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  12. It is always a good day when one learns that she is AIDS and syphilis free. Pregnant with a live fetus on top of that, well that's just cake! Glad the appointment went well, Bunny. I feel so calm and content when I think of you fully into the second trimester. You are so close to becoming a mom, dear woman, and that makes my heart sing. It really does.

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  13. I believe I just fell head over heels in love with you.

    Already there with Bun Bun, but now batty in love with you too.

    What a darling post.

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  14. You continue to crack me up. :)

    I'm thrilled that Bun Bun and you are doing so well.

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  15. Congrats on being AIDS and syphilis free!

    There are a lot of 15-year-old African American girls at my OB's office too, and I think the care I have gotten there is FAR BETTER than my last OB, which was all white yuppies. Regular pants = totally the way to go!

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  16. Yay that Bun Bun is doing well!
    Convenience is a great reason to pick a practice, IMHO -- I cross a quarter of the city to get to my doc, and it does annoy me with all those frequent visits now (and they're not actually that frequent compared to treatment monitoring etc.)

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  17. I snarfled at low-rent jelly. I expect that your current practice has loads of experience and leans towards being straight forward with patients. Fruity posh digs are not required, appreciated, but not required at all.

    Excellent news on all fronts on that scan as well!

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  18. So glad bun bun is doing well and you are AIDS and syphilis free!!

    It's sounds like you're well taken care of at your doc, you like it there, and that's all that matters. fancy schmancy is over rated (and over priced).

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