CTG at 36 weeks pregnancy

[ColinR]

My wife's friend went in for her 36 week checkup and the gynae asked her to have an ctg to check if the baby was in distress... turns out he was, and an emergency caesar was performed.

Now my wife was jsut told (same gynae) that her next scan at 36 weeks he'd like to do an ctg to check if the baby is in distress.

Why does this sound like a "I prefer caesers" checkup? No one we have spoken to has heard of an ctg check being done at a normal gynae checkup.

Edit: corrected ecg to ctg. Thanks eaglebeaver.

 

[eaglebeaver]

You mean ctg?

 

[ColinR]

That's more than likely it!! Thanks.

 

[eaglebeaver]

A ctg measures foetal heart rate and contractions.
the heart rate variation can show if the baby is in distress - ie poor variation not reactive , too high. Common tool . most women in labour have them attached.

 

[ColinR]

Common tool . most women in labour have them attached.

Yup, agreed. We've not heard of them at a normal checkup. Our previous gynae that delivered our first born never used a ctg scan during the final stages of pregnancy. During labour, yeah, of course.

 

[bwana]

Sounds more like a "I want more money from you or your medical aid" than an affinity for c-section. I'm pretty sure my missus had this, and a myriad of other tests, during both pregnancies.

 

[eaglebeaver]

Its a quick easy thing to do - shoudn't cost much. Will be done if foetal heart is difficult to hear manually (position ect) or if small contractions present , or baby moving a bit less.

 

[cerebus]

A friend of ours was recommended by their gynae to have (forget what they call it just now - they put a needle into the womb to test the baby) at an early stage in the pregnancy. To this day they regret having had it done. It was traumatic for them and unnecessarily expensive and there obviously was nothing wrong with the baby. I think you need to be clued up because they will recommend expensive and unnecessary things. Especially if you're a first time parent. But if you have any reason to be worried - like your wife is a bit older than normal, or has a history of problems, or they detected something wrong at early stages of the pregnancy, then you had better be safe than sorry.

 

[eaglebeaver]

A friend of ours was recommended by their gynae to have (forget what they call it just now - they put a needle into the womb to test the baby) at an early stage in the pregnancy. To this day they regret having had it done. It was traumatic for them and unnecessarily expensive and there obviously was nothing wrong with the baby. I think you need to be clued up because they will recommend expensive and unnecessary things. Especially if you're a first time parent. But if you have any reason to be worried - like your wife is a bit older than normal, or has a history of problems, or they detected something wrong at early stages of the pregnancy, then you had better be safe than sorry.

Thats an amniocentesis that looks for chromosomal abnormalities if you considering an abortion if its positive. Its invasive with risks. A ctg is as simple as holding a plastic thing against your belly to see if the baby is ok by seeing how fst the heart is beating. absolutely no risk and usually free-

 

[cerebus]

yeah amniocentesis that's the one. Thanks for the input

 

[ColinR]

Hmmm, still not sure what to make of it... ho hum. Our daughter may be here next week if my suspicions are correct

 

[cerebus]

Well not necessarily. They won't do anything without your consent. They are pretty trigger happy with the csecs though, it makes their life so much easier plus it costs more

 

[Chris_H]

ALWAYS ask for a second opinion!

 

[QX6700RULZ]

My missus had a couple of the ctg's during pregnancy and the last was an hour before she had a c-section, don't see anything wrong with it

 

[blue-eye-boy]

Gynaes love a caesar over a normal birth. Then they fit you in their "hospital day" line, do all the caesars and go home. With a normal birth, well that can happen at 1 am. Not so nice for him. And of course the money is a plus.

When my wife got hers, she was one of 10 mommies who all got Caesars. Each pay R3500 for the gynae alone, and he shares with no one. Pretty easy money if you ask me...