24 Weeks down, 16 (or less!) to go!

It's hard to believe it's already been 24 weeks! But there it is! (No, that isn't MY baby in the picture, but a VERY beautiful one that I got off of the pregnancy.org web site...) Anyway, I went to have my ultra sound Friday last, in MUCH anticipation of getting some more definitive answers as to the health of my baby. Instead I was side-lined by another nurse/patient services/assistant manager of some sort... She took me to her office, that she shared with the "Manager" of this department and asked me if I had been informed of the results of my first trimester ultra sound...? I told her "yes". She asked if I had been told about the offered genetic counseling..? and I told her "yes, but I declined..." She then asked if she could inquire as to why....? I told her "#1 because it wasn't going to matter in the long run, one way or the other, as to whether or not I would carry to term. #2 - according to what I understood about my insurance, it was not considered regular 'prenatal' care and therefore would not fall under the 100% coverage, but would go under the 80%/20%. Now 20% may not be alot to a lot of people, but in our situation, it was, and I couldn't justify spending the money on something that wasn't going to change anything..." So THEN she said that she respected my decision, but because of my "positive" Downs result from the last testing it was "HIGHLY" recommended that I have the "level 3" ultra sound with the specialist, that included the genetic counseling. What I was scheduled for that day was just the basic "level 1" ultra sound, with a tech. I already knew and was prepared to pay $60 for this. She continued that since I had a "positive" result from the first trimester result, that the insurance may pay 100%. She was going to have another girl check on it. By this time I'm just in tears, because, well, I'm pregnant, and all this was just starting to take over my emotions...

I went back to the waiting room to try and explain this all to my husband when the "manager" lady from this same office came out and got me. She explained that she had overheard our conversation and did some checking. BECAUSE I had a "positive" result, I automatically fall under the "State Program" and that would pay for a "level 3" ultra sound with the specialist and any additional assistance I might need. It did not matter whether or not my insurance would cover. So, bottom line, I could have gone ahead and paid my 20% for my basic "level 1" u/s on Friday with a tech, as I was prepared to do, or they would re-schedule me to meet with the specialist (He comes up from UCLA once a week, on Thursdays to meet with patients) this coming Thursday, and all would be covered and paid for. I would get the level 3 u/s, that my doctor would rather me have, with the specialist, who would give me a more thorough exam, and hopefully give me some more definitive answers than a tech would. As frustrated and emotionally wrecked that I was feeling at that point, I decided that we would wait...

I still met with my regular OB, we heard the heartbeat (VERY strong) and my BP was terrific (120/77), amazingly!! I just wish that I had been informed of all this in the first place and I would have gone this route initially. But I guess God had His reasons... perhaps giving me yet another opportunity to just TRUST in Him...

My husband asked me today what would happen IF the results come back even stronger for the possibility of having a Downs baby... Well, if it does, it does... So I will know... It's not like I will love the baby any less... Just one thing more to worry about and maybe emotionally prepare... But if it comes back that the baby, as far as he (the specialist) can tell, looks, normal and healthy, then I'm hoping that it will set my fears at rest and be one less thing to worry about.. I don't know... Again, if I had just not gotten the first test, in the first place, this would all be a moot point... This will all be fine in the end and come out according to God's perfect plan, I know... thank you for the prayers... I'll keep you posted...