Doctor has really stressed me out.. Help! ( long!)

[Ihatepeas]

So I am 31 weeks 5 days pregnant with my first. I went to see the doctor this morning for a check up. My normal (very relaxed, lovely) doctor is on holiday for 3weeks so I had to see another doctor.
As soon as I walked in he left me feeling stressed, no bedside manor, no eye contact, barking orders at me.
He then took my blood pressure.. It was very high apparently. (122/84) lots of head shaking and tutting from him!?! (3 weeks ago my Bp was 120/79 which I was told by my lovely midwife was fine.)
He then tested my wee. Said nothing at all.
He weighed me. Again said nothing.
Ordered me to lay on the bed. Roughly prodded and poked my tummy, made some comment under his breath about head being down and listened to the babies heart beat.. Said nothing.
He then measured me. Shook his head and said I am only measuring 30 cm so extremely small.. He asked if I had been told that before I said no as the only other time I have been measured (28weeks) I was 28cm.. Perfect apparently. He made some grumpy comment that I should be 32cm by now. I pointed out that the midwife had told me up to 3cm more or less than the ideal measurement is fine. He rolled his eyes.

He then said that as my Bp was so high and baby was so small I had to come back in a week. He said if things were not better next week then he would have to refer me.. Not sure where to, I was too scared to ask!

I am now in a complete tis! The baby i very active and i feel fine. I am already feeling very stressed about next weeks appointment!

Sorry for rambling on.. Any advise would be great.

Your BP is not high, it is virtually the same as last time.

Some areas do not measure the abdo as it can be unreliable when done by different people, however if done by the same person each time not necessarily a problem.

Within 2cm either way is generally considered fine.

He was rude and ignorant. Don't worry about it - see the MW next week instead of the GP.

Sounds like he needs referring back to medical school (after a thump).

My blood pressure was always around that, with my 2nd I always measured small (by a week or 2) I was told that as a rough guide the measurement should be around how many weeks you are, which would tie in with what you are measuring.

Why are you seeing the doc for these checks instead of midwife? The MWs are more practiced in these sorts of pregnancy related checks.

If I were you I wouldn't waste my time going back to see him, try and book with someone else. Don't get stressed about what some stuffy, rude Dr says, no point wasting time worrying when you should be relaxing and enjoying what is a special time.

Trust yourself, if you feel fine and the baby is still active, chances are all is fine. They like to keep an eye on blood pressure, but that's no biggy:)

Put it down to bad luck - you were unlucky enough to get him! Feel sorry for his wife, call him a few choice names under your breath and move on:) Most of us encounter a to**pot whilst in our emotionally fragile state. And if anything is going to get your blood pressure up, it's him! Don't let him:)

Enjoy your last 8 weeks or so:)

Sounds like a right tosser

Thanks for all the lovely comments. I think if I read this my op I would be saying the same as all you. In my heart I think it's all fine.

adivic where I live they do shared care with midwife and gp so you alternate between the two rather than always seeing the midwife.

hmm odd but your BP really is absolutely fine, the measurements sound very slightly small but most of the time it turns out to be nothing, but better to keep an eye on it. If they still think it's small, then they will just get a scan to check.

If you weren't comfortable then book with another doctor next week hopefully they will be more reassuring.

Sounds like he needs a slap!

I'm 31 weeks tomorrow and saw my midwife last Thursday - I was measuring 27cm and she didn't have a problem with this. I told her he's almost constantly moving/kicking me, she had a feel and was happy that everything was fine.

'Perfect' blood pressure is 120/80, mine has been around 114/65 and no-one seems to be worried that it's low, so I assume it's the same for above 120/80 - a few points over is not a lot!

What I would suggest is to see your midwife next week (if you can) to put your mind at rest, otherwise call your surgery and make another appointment but make sure you tell them you don't want this doctor (and if they ask why - tell them!)

Hope you're ok now

Idiot. He sounds like an idiot. Don't see him again. See a midwife. Put in a complaint. Sorry this happened to you

By the way, regarding measurements: these can vary depending on who measures you and their level of skill. NICE guidelines state that measurements ideally should be done by the same HCP and plotted on a growth chart in order to carry any clout. Scans are only recommended if there's a general trend towards "big" or "small".

Agree with pps, sounds like a Bad Doctor! I don't understand the BP numbers, but if you were stressed by him already it would have gone up because of that. DH had several appointments last year where they said he had very high BP, then the nurse asked how he felt about medical appointments. He hates them, hates the waiting (long delays where we are). So they just scheduled one early so he didn't have to wait and get stressed and BP was fine.

How about opting out of the shared care, OP?

Just make all your appts with the MW, they are much more interested in, and knowledgeable about, normal pregnancy than most GPs.

You could give the MW a letter to say you are opting out if you wanted, if there were any concerns the MW would refer you for a reveiw at hospital anyway

I'd ignore him personally and probably not even book an appointment for in a week. But if you do book an appointment I'd see a MW, or make sure your usual gp is available.

Thanks everyone. I have spoken to my midwife. She said that she thinks the doctor is being over cautious but has booked in for me to see her next week to make sure.
Thanks for all the comments. It has really helped and I am feeling much happier now!

What an arse. You know in your heart of hearts that he's talking tripe but it's really unsettling when you have an experience like that.

Glad you've spoken to the midwife and let's hope you dont have to see him again.

hi ihatepeas i'm also 31+5 you should make a complaint about him, as if it isn't stressful enough without an obnoxious doctor acting that way, he needs to go back to uni and learn a bit more. i'm no doctor but i can certainly tell you that 122/84 is not high at all i'm sure its about 140 before its classed as high also measuring a cm or two under is no cause for concern either and the fact that when you get your fundus measured it is meant to be by the same person each time as different people measure slightly different as long as the fundus follows the curved line on the growth chart its ok. what a horrible doctor.glad your feeling better now tho

Hello
As a doctor, I apologie for my colleagues treatment of you ( sounds like it was one of those days where he missed lunch and needed a sugar fix)
Obstetrics is not my speciality, however as others have wisely said, your BP is fine, and the symphysis fundal measurement ( tape ) is not reliable.
Be reassured that he did every thing today he was meant too ( although with the need of advanced communication skills training)I would rather see someone like that than those you do half the tasks. By the way, congratulations on your pregnancy.