OB-GYN-L Messages for October, 2000: Re: abortion/placenta previa

Re: abortion/placenta previa

From: Griffiths Malcolm

Malcolm.Griffiths@ldh-tr.anglox.nhs.uk

Thu Oct 12 12:25:32 2000

I'm not sure I agree with some of the very judgemental comments directed towards this young woman, I preferred to simply ignore her post.

What did prompt my response? Well where I work we diagnose pregnancy by missed periods and positive pregnancy test. We don't wait for them to "show". I am more concerned about why this lady presents so late with a request for termination and wonder what the hidden agenda is. Is the request just due to fears of placenta praevia, have her circumstances changed, is she in an abusive relationship.

Unless or until I am in a position to address those issues (i.e. as her personal physician/obgyn) I can't begin to criticise or advise. Thus I can't criticise or advise - can anyone else???

-----Original Message----- From: Kathi Wilson [mailto:wilsonk@gtn.on.ca] Sent: 12 October 2000 14:26 To: Multiple recipients of list OB-GYN-L Subject: Re: abortion/placenta previa

> << > I am 22.5 weeks and just had an ultrasound. The ultrasound tech
> > determined that I had placenta previa.I am going back in five days to
> > see if the placenta has shifted away from the os. Is this possible and
> > could they have missed diagnosed me to this condition? I want to
> > terminate the pregnancy because I am young and in college and cannot
> > support a family right now. >>
>
> Let's just step back and think this one through...
>
> 1. 22.5 weeks and only NOW is worried about termination? Must have been
> 'showing' for about 6-8 weeks now. Certainly has felt quickening for about
> 4-6 weeks. Is this where you put up the sign "Slow Children at Play"???

Wait just a doggone minute, there, Joe. If she's a primigravida (and she probably is...), she's unlikely to be showing much at 22 weeks, not much more than a little pot, if that. Certainly *not* for 6 - 8 weeks, unless pregnancy is different in Louisiana than in Ontario. Showing at 14 weeks?? As for movement, most primigravidas don't report fetal movement until 18-20 weeks, at best. I find that anteriorly located placentae can delay that even a bit longer. And, it's amazing what denial can do to contribute to ignoring these subtle movements (must be gas....).

> 2. In college and can't support a family... but hasn't availed of
> contraception? Don't they give that out like water in colleges? Where the
> heck is Planned Parenthood on your campus??

Haven't you *ever* gotten the phone call early in the am that "the condom got lost" in the heat of the moment? I'm not talking not used, but as in "he came out and the condom didn't". The damned things break, fall off, leak, etc. Women get the 'flu, take antibiotics, or (*gasp*) forget to take the damned pill

-- poor things, they're human, unfortunately, and have to bear all the responsibility for sexual activity (as the responses to these posts clearly indicate -- after all nobody's vilifying the male half of this equation, or suggesting that *he* not have sex). And, hey, maybe she's at Bible college....bet they don't hand out contraception there :-)

> 3. The ultrasound tech/radiologist wants to rescan in FIVE DAYS to see if the > placenta previa migrated? Who certified these people? Do they have diplomas > on the wall, or do they work out of a station wagon???

Probably the latter. Money scam. It never astounds me the kind of unmitigated nonsense that you can get from poorly run labs. We once had one tell us to be sure to rescan for fetal position because (holy Moses) the fetus was *breech* at 20 weeks. Give me *strength* oh Lord.....

-- Kathi Wilson, RM Ilderton, Ontario, Canada mailto:wilsonk@gtn.on.ca ********************** Thames Valley Midwives 346 Platts Lane,

London, Ontario, Canada

http://tvm.on.ca mailto:info@tvm.on.ca

********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager.

This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.

**********************************************************************

Next message: Jeffrey W. Clemens: "Re: MISOPROSTOL"
Previous message: Efrain Ramirez: "Re: MISOPROSTOL"
Maybe in reply to: howard anne: "abortion/placenta previa"
Next in thread: Braun, R. Daniel: "Re: abortion/placenta previa"

use when must restrict search to only the ob-gyn-l forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: