38 weeks pregnant, legs are swollen bad. doctors says there is not a big problem should i find another doctor?

Question

i have had a crappy time with this doctor office, they have been very rude at times. and with it being so late in my pregnancy i didnt know if i could find another one to take me on, rather quickly that is. I hate doing this to my doctors office they had been great though out my other children. i just feel very disappointed in the service im recieving. there are a group of 5 or 6 doctors and i like one out of all of them and he is gone on vacation. isnt that convient. what should i do? they know she is a big big big baby. and they wont induce me till im 39 weeks. I MEAN SHE IS BIG! said that she could still be premature.. BULL if you ask me. i have had a premie baby and he was as healthy as can be at 35 weeks....

what should i do?

Answer 1

You probably won't beable to find another dr to take you so late in your pregnancy. I had the same problem with my first pregnancy. I was sooo swollen. I could barely fit into my clothes, I had to wear my running shoes with my prof dress clothes...that was a pretty site! lol. Anyway, my dr who had been great the whole pregnancy kept saying that it wasn't a big deal. Even tried feeding me some line of crap the babies born to mothers who had edema were smarter. My baby was a little big...for my frame he was huge!! I ended up needing a c-section b/c my labor didn't progress. And afterwards I was so swollen I couldn't even fit into my maternity clothes when I left the hospital. my husband had to go buy me extra large sweats. lol About a week and half after I had him the swelling went away. And I was back to my prepregnancy size by the time I went back for my 6 week check up. Everything ended up being fine. So don't worry about your swelling. I know its uncomfortable, but as long as you don't have a high BP you should be just fine. It does suck that they won't induce you. You should only have to see these drs 2 or 3 more times. Let them deliver the baby and when you go back foor your 6 week check up request your records and tell them that you were unsatisified with your care for this pregnancy and will not be returning. YOu might even go and get your records before that and get a different OB to do your check up. Just make sure you tell your Dr's what they did. Maybe they don't realize that they aren't doing a good job. good luck.

Answer 2

You can always look for another practice if you are unhappy with the care you are receiving, but I can't imagine that any other OB providers would do anything different.
Swelling is uncomfortable, but not dangerous, as long as your blood pressure is normal. Lie on your left side for at least half an hour several times a day. This is the best position to help your kidneys function to get rid of fluids.

No respectable OB will induce labor before 39 weeks unless there is a clear medical indication.
A large baby can sometimes mean gestational diabetes, even if your glucose tolerance was normal a few months ago. This condition can sometimes develop late in the pregnancy. Babies born to diabetic mothers are even more likely to have lung immaturity.

Good luck! I hope everything works out OK.

Answer 3

It depends. Are you being oversensitive, OR is there a real problem? First, how many times has this group been successfully sued? You can call the Nataional Practitioner Data Bank which physicians are required to report this via their malpractice insurance carriers. Settlements are also included.
IF they have MANY, not several, this may suggest your OBGYN group sucks.

Second, have you had preeclampsia before? Could you be now?Other symptoms besides swelling include protein in urine, sudden weight gain, headaches, and high blood pressure. IF you have this condition, please do what your docs tell you to. Your swelling may be related to too much time working/ on your feet. Decrease and get bed rest as needed. If you are preeclamptic and have been told to stay off your feet, you MUST do what you are told as the swelling may be a warning sign. IT could however mean nothing.

Finally, you seem to imply that they don't want to induce because your doc that you like is away. I doubt this has anything to do with it. I'm sure he didn't factor you in when scheduling time off. There are many other patients besides you. By now you know that while they will try, they can't guarantee who will deliver the baby anyway.

You know by now that pregnancies are about 37-42 weeks long, Induction may not be in your baby's best interests. Have they done a pelvimetry to make sure this kid will be delivered succesfully vaginally? If this kid is huge, one should be done, and they are generally done early on in your visits for this child, but check.

Finally, if you are considered a high risk patient, the answer on who will take you is less clear. If you are doc-shopping to get this kid out early, I doubt you'll have much success. Most groups rather let nature take its course. Maybe you should too. Good luck and PLEASE if you are preeclamptic and have been given instructions about it, follow them.

Answer 4

You are a client paying for a service.If they are rude, simply call them up on it and tell them that you don't appreciate the attitude you don't feel well as it is. You have that right. All it takes is one ***** to screw up the whole front desk scene, and one who probably has never been pregnant to boot! Anyhow, make a pest of yourself and get an appointment with one of the other doctors, INSIST on asking them for reasons for not inducing. They may be valid but you need an explanantion. As far as sollen legs, lay down on your back if you can throughout the day for 1 hour with legs slightly propped. It takes approximately 40 minutes for your lymphatic system to circulate and process fluid ,so that should help somewhat with the swelling discomfort. Also, there is absolutely nothing wrong with calling another practice to see if there is any chance they can get you in but at this stage it might be difficult. BUT REMEMBER, YOU ARE PAYING FOR A SERVICE AND THEY HAD BETTER, AT A MINIMUM, TREAT YOU WITH RESPECT AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. Good Luck and hope everything works out well! (PS - when your doc comes back from vacation make a point to tell him about the rudeness, don't be intimidated)

Answer 5

Ok, I'm not being rude when I say this, but..OPEN YOUR MOUTH! Tell them you are concerned that she is big and that giving birth naturally (im assuming you are) may cause problems. You've had other children, so I think they may think she isn't too big for you. If they don't heed your concerns, then, yes, you COULD find a second opinon on this, it woudn't hurt. Your legs are swollen cause you are so late in your preg, my legs are swollen too, but there are many more factors to consider with problems of swollen legs, is your blood pressure high, or do you have headaches? Then that could be a sign of preeclampsia. I'm 40 weeks, and I want this baby OUT! :) But they now a days they like you to go term, even if you've had other children. Good luck!

Answer 6

You are right. it sounds like a crappy dr.'s office but it is too late now. How big is the baby already according to them? If it is over 8 lbs. at 39 weeks I'd either insist being induced or if you'd like to wait it out a week you may be setting yourself up for a C-section. I'd make a nuisance of yourself at the dr.'s office. As soon as you feel a cramp, go back to them and get a stress test done. Maybe they'll get serious then. Oh...and look bad. That should get things going. Good luck.

Answer 7

Buy some epsom salts and take a bath with them. About 1/2 cup, that should bring down the swelling.

As for the induction, they are dangerous and a doctor has the right to refuse to do one. Also ultrasound weight estimates are notoriously inaccurate. I am glad your baby born at 35 weeks was healthy, but they aren't all. However without knowing your history, I have no idea. However you will find it difficult to find another doctor this late.

Answer 8

I know what you mean about swelling. My son was 11 lbs 5 oz and my legs were GINORMOUS. My ankles we gone and my calves were huge and they didn't schedule my c-section until 3 days prior to his due date. Swelling is normal. Unless you have diabetes or high blood pressure then there is nothing to do about it. Just try and keep your feet elvated when you rest. Is the doctor you don't like going to be the one delivering your baby? If the doctor you like is going to be back from vacation, ask to have him do your delivery. As far as the 39 weeks thing, that is standard. 38 weeks is considered full term, but doctors won't go until 39 weeks because due dates are not exact. When my daughter was born they wouldn't take her until 1 week prior, and they knew she was going to be huge too. If you don't like this doctor because he is not telling you want to hear, realize that the doc you like might not tell you anything different. But again, if you are more comfortable with him, then ask him to be in the delivery room. But as you already know, you'll see the nurses & midwives way more than you see your doc anyway. You are very fortunate that you baby turned out healthy at 35 wks. Not everyone is so lucky. Good luck.

Answer 9

Just because you had ONE healthy preemie doesn't mean you would have a second healthy preemie. No two pregnancies are alike no two births are alike and deffinately no two children are alike (not even identical twins...there ARE subtle differences). I suggest you listen to the doctor. Elevate your feet, when you are sitting try to keep them slightly above your heart. In bed pile pillows on top of each other and try to sleep with them elevated, and don't use a pillow for your head.

Answer 10

Sorry for you. But bear with it a bit more. Nothing like a full time baby.
Put feet in bowl of warm water with a handful of salt. Will help swelling. keep it dipped.
Swelling ids for high salt content in body usually.
All the best.