You sound like you are advocating well for your niece..she is lucky to have you.
Can you speak with the nurse again who said "she may be further along than what is in her chart" and stand there while she writes it down. Ask her a direct question: "What do the exams and tests suggest in her medical chart as to how far along her pregnancy is? 33 weeks? 37 weeks?" Again, this is possibly more important then pinpointing date of conception at this point. She has had 7-8 months worth of prenatal care that should provide more medical insight as to the health of her baby and pregnancy.
What about my other questions: has your niece hit the appropriate milestones at the appropriate times in her pregnancy? This will be even MORE important information than the exact time the fertilized egg was implanted. Do you have records when her prenatal appointments were, and at what week you think she was at (compared to the week the doctors have in her chart)? Somewhere this discrepancy will be obvious, as there are very distinct milestones regarding the development of the embryo and fetus, beyond just weight:
Week 8: 2 inches long
Week 13-16: 3 inches long, 1 ounce
Week 17-20: 5 inches long, 5 ounces
Week 24-26: fully formed organs, about 1.5 pounds
Week 33: 3 pounds, 15 inches long
Week 37: 4 3/4 pounds & lungs are fully developed
Last 12 weeks the fetus' weight triples and length doubles
You can read more about the fetal development at Baby Center
Your nieces medical chart is also her property, and she can request a copy of her chart, if you are still uneasy.
One question: what would you do differently if your niece is 37 weeks instead of 33 weeks along? If she has contractions, her water breaks...any of these symptoms of labor and deliver...regardless of the exact week she is in: wouldn't you do the same thing? Take her to the hospital each time? I'm just wondering why you need to prove the doctors and nurses right?
I do not understand why the doctors & nurses would be hesitant to tell you if she is dilated or not. Is your niece speaking up for herself, too? Since you had such a great experience with this team of doctors personally, I am surprised that they would not willingly provide updates after her physical exam to you and her. Your niece needs to ask while she is being checked for the nurse to explain step-by-step what she is doing, what she is checking for, and what she finds. If she does not understand, ask the nurse to repeat herself. You can bring a notepad and write down the answers, and ask the nurse to spell something if she mumbles. Your niece can also request a different nurse, and they are required to send another nurse to help.
Is your niece at the hospital now? What was the latest test they have done on her? They may not be able to tell you if she's going to have the baby or not, but it is within your right and duty to talk with a nurse or doctor and tell them the words you said to us: "I am worried that no one here is listening to me. I am worried that something is wrong and you are not saying anything. I am feeling like I can not trust you, and this scares me.". A doctor or nurse who is most sympathetic will listen to you---the best time to reach them is first thing in the morning and/or at the beginning of their shift. Do you have a nurse/doctor whom you can talk to (call and ask for this person's schedule).
Have the doctors said what condition her baby is in? Has she had a healthy pregnancy this entire time? Has her baby been at a good weight throughout? What do her medical records and tests and exams tell you from the previous 33 weeks?
I hope some of this information helps. I know you are scared and frustrated, so please let me know how we can help any further.
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You sound like you are advocating well for your niece..she is lucky to have you.
Can you speak with the nurse again who said "she may be further along than what is in her chart" and stand there while she writes it down. Ask her a direct question: "What do the exams and tests suggest in her medical chart as to how far along her pregnancy is? 33 weeks? 37 weeks?" Again, this is possibly more important then pinpointing date of conception at this point. She has had 7-8 months worth of prenatal care that should provide more medical insight as to the health of her baby and pregnancy.
What about my other questions: has your niece hit the appropriate milestones at the appropriate times in her pregnancy? This will be even MORE important information than the exact time the fertilized egg was implanted. Do you have records when her prenatal appointments were, and at what week you think she was at (compared to the week the doctors have in her chart)? Somewhere this discrepancy will be obvious, as there are very distinct milestones regarding the development of the embryo and fetus, beyond just weight:
Week 8: 2 inches long
Week 13-16: 3 inches long, 1 ounce
Week 17-20: 5 inches long, 5 ounces
Week 24-26: fully formed organs, about 1.5 pounds
Week 33: 3 pounds, 15 inches long
Week 37: 4 3/4 pounds & lungs are fully developed
Last 12 weeks the fetus' weight triples and length doubles
You can read more about the fetal development at Baby Center
Your nieces medical chart is also her property, and she can request a copy of her chart, if you are still uneasy.
One question: what would you do differently if your niece is 37 weeks instead of 33 weeks along? If she has contractions, her water breaks...any of these symptoms of labor and deliver...regardless of the exact week she is in: wouldn't you do the same thing? Take her to the hospital each time? I'm just wondering why you need to prove the doctors and nurses right?
I do not understand why the doctors & nurses would be hesitant to tell you if she is dilated or not. Is your niece speaking up for herself, too? Since you had such a great experience with this team of doctors personally, I am surprised that they would not willingly provide updates after her physical exam to you and her. Your niece needs to ask while she is being checked for the nurse to explain step-by-step what she is doing, what she is checking for, and what she finds. If she does not understand, ask the nurse to repeat herself. You can bring a notepad and write down the answers, and ask the nurse to spell something if she mumbles. Your niece can also request a different nurse, and they are required to send another nurse to help.
Is your niece at the hospital now? What was the latest test they have done on her? They may not be able to tell you if she's going to have the baby or not, but it is within your right and duty to talk with a nurse or doctor and tell them the words you said to us: "I am worried that no one here is listening to me. I am worried that something is wrong and you are not saying anything. I am feeling like I can not trust you, and this scares me.". A doctor or nurse who is most sympathetic will listen to you---the best time to reach them is first thing in the morning and/or at the beginning of their shift. Do you have a nurse/doctor whom you can talk to (call and ask for this person's schedule).
Have the doctors said what condition her baby is in? Has she had a healthy pregnancy this entire time? Has her baby been at a good weight throughout? What do her medical records and tests and exams tell you from the previous 33 weeks?
I hope some of this information helps. I know you are scared and frustrated, so please let me know how we can help any further.
August 6, 2009 - 1:02pmThis Comment
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