What should have I expected from the OB?

I was referred to an obstetrician after my 12 week scan and blood results came back with a high risk of baby having a chromosomal abnormality. Had the amnio (not done by the obstetrician in question - she had to refer me to Tauranga hospital as they apparently son't do amnio's at Whakatane hospital) and thankfully, after a very long wait, the results have come back clear.

While I am so so glad the results came back clear, I am still feeling very angry with the obstetrician. She still has not called me to tell me the results of the amnio that my midwife gave to me a week ago!

The only reason I know my results are even available, is because my wonderful midwife had been regularly ringing the lab to enquire about my results and they faxed them through to her. She had no obligation to do so - she had referred me on to the obstetrician and was no longer my main carer. To my mind, even if the obstetrician knew my midwife had the results, she should STILL be ringing me to tell me the results and to properly ensure I understand them.

I feel I have had to chase her every step of the way and she is not a very easy woman to get a hold of. I've had to chase her up regarding my amnio appointment and I've had to chase her up regarding results of the amnio. She has only actually rung me back once - to tell me to stop trying to ring her regarding the results, as they wouldn't be ready for a month (even though the pamphlet and obstetrician and everyone else I talked to said that they would take around 2 weeks). Just to be clear - I wasn't harassing her, that was in reply to the second time I had called her, just wanting to know if there was any progress. The results came through in 3 weeks and 1 day. It has now been over a month since I had the amnio and over 6 weeks since I first saw the obstetrician.

Am I wrong in thinking she should have followed up with me? Both with my appointment and with after the amnio? And shouldn't she have been wanting to see me every four weeks or so anyway as my main carer? Or do obstetricians not do any of that?

Just trying to figure out whether I am being rational or not. My thinking may be clouded due to the stressful situation - First the radiology place did not send through my scan to the lab, despite multiple requests from my midwife who after two weeks, obtained her own copy and sent them through herself. Then it took a week to get an appointment with the obstetrician, where we thought we were going to do the amnio, turns out she only wanted to ask us if we wanted an amnio and that if we wanted one we would have to be referred on. It took another two weeks to get that appointment. Then it took three weeks to get the results of the amnio.

I will be ringing her tomorrow, to relay my concerns and then depending on whether it is actually warranted or not, I will be laying a complaint about the standard of care I received from her.

I've already complained to the radiology place and they assured me that they were putting measures in place to make sure it doesn't happen again. I don't want other people to have to wait as long as I have had to for all of this. Although, I am very selfish in that that is only part of why I complained - it was mostly for me and getting closure and having felt that I had *done* something, so that I could move on and stop stewing over the stuff up. I am hoping that I'll get the same result from the obstetrician?

Sorry for the novel!

That sounds terrible and doesn't sound good enough to me all the delays when in that situation timming is very important with what steps you take. I would lay a complaint if I was you.

So glad you results came back clear all the best for the rest of the pg.

Is it a private Ob or through the public system- no idea what its like in private, but I wouldnt expect an Ob in the public system to ring u, ever. The hospital specialists have Dr's under them who may ring, but I wouldnt expect a specialist or Ob to ring u with results like that- it would be up to the midwife normally Im sure. It sucks, but they way to busy and have way to may patients to be ringing everyone about appt times and results.

Thanks Kellz - after a little more research, I had come to the same conclusion and didn't end up ringing the OB today. It is hard to actually find out what proper procedures are in situations like this. Guess I will just have to suck it up and get on with my pregnancy!

ETA - Though I might talk to my midwife next appointment and see what she thinks. Last appointment she was thinking the complaint path as well (the obstetricians manner of care was also not so great). But I would like to get things straight first - like what is actually supposed to happen in these situations before I write the letter.

Edited by Delli

Hey Delli, I've just seen this.
It must be a hospital OB as there are no private OBs in Whakatane. While I take the point of Kellz in saying that the OB themselves may be too busy to contact you re. the results, this is what the midwives and nurses in the unit are for. If the OB or anyone else in the department didn't know that your midwife already had the results and had passed them on to you, then I think that's shocking.
Suffice to say that you are far from the first person I know that has been less than happy with the OBs at Whakatane hospital.
Is your midwife independent? If a hospital-based midwife, or one of the ones that does independent care and also shifts at the hospital, then it may be that the OB unit did know you were getting the results informally. But like I said... if they didn't know... that's really bad.

I'm glad it was all clear though.

Thanks lisame. I think the OB was new from the USA. Or maybe it was just the procedures that were new, as she seemed to take her lead from the two midwives/nurses monitoring the appointment. Yes, my midwife is independent. I will have a chat to her (my midwife) and see what she thinks and then decide whether or not to write a letter regarding my concerns. I do wonder whether someone would have gotten back to me by now if my midwife hadn't already known? Or whether someone would have called my midwife rather than me to relay my results? That might make sense. I'll ask her if she has had any contact next time I see her.

Sorry to hear you have had such bad experience. I currently have 2 private OB's in Wellington (you get 2 for the price of 1)One female and one male. They are both fantastic and very understanding of any small or big anxieties women have and are available 24/7 to answer questions and get back to you ASAP. They never ever make me feel like my request or anxiety is unreasonable even if I feel silly asking for something...

Definitely make a complaint as OB's have such a responsibility to women and should have high bedside manner - otherwise she will treat other women the same way and will give other OB's a bad name.

Good luck and hope the rest of your experiences are positive :)