Christina says: I have been a bit frustrated with the care that I'm receiving. Let me preface this with saying that in Germany we don't have ultrasound technicians, doctors are trained in performing ultrasounds.

In the beginning of the pregnancy I felt very well cared for by my obstetricians' practice: I was always welcome to come by directly the two times I bled and was afraid of another miscarriage. I was always reassured with a quick ultrasound; also there were always pictures of her: one as a little dot at five weeks, one as blob at seven weeks, one as little gummy bear with waving arms at nine weeks, and finally the last one as a real person at thirteen weeks. Given that I'm 26 weeks now that last picture was half the pregnancy ago. I just thought it would continue like that during pregnancy, but I guess I was wrong.

In Germany, doctors offer so called ultrasound flatrates, often referred to as "baby tv" by pregnant ladies, which I smugly thought was not necessary in my case since the doctors had been forthcoming with the ultrasounds and resulting pictures in the beginning. My frustration really reached its high point with the 3D pic at the organ screening. While we are more than happy that everything is looking good with her, we were really disappointed that we did not get that cute picture of her face. When I called back a couple days later and asked if it was meant for us and the doctor just forgot to hand it over, I was told, no, this is just for documentation, and if we want pictures like that we should book their 3D/4D boutique ultrasound. Just out of stubbornness I declined, even though it is extremely tempting.

The problem certainly isn't that we can't afford it - I invested in maternity clothes, a pregnancy pillow and new shoes, since the old ones are difficult to get into at this point in pregnancy, which all in all was probably more money than this ultrasound would cost. I just can't help feeling that doctors see parents-to-be as a money making machine. Also, at two urgent hospital visits in between doctor's appointments there were multiple pictures printed, all of which for, again, documentation. So the advice I got from my recently pregnant friend and cousin, did not match my experience: "just go to the hospital, they will give you free 3D pics". Not this one apparently. (In case you wonder, German ladies are encouraged to go to the hospital if they think there is something wrong, even if it turns out to be a false alarm. Maybe that comes across as overdoing it in the US.)

At the most recent OB appointment there was an ultrasound again to find out fetal position, but I didn't even see the screen, and of course, no picture. I'm hoping for the so-called 3rd screening (comparable to a growth ultrasound in the US) in four weeks, but I already know that I shouldn't get excited.

The other thing I have been frustrated with my practice is the lack of time they suddenly seem to have for me: I couldn't ask all my questions, I was given short answers, my hemoglobin was not measured even though I pointed out that I'm having all the familiar symptoms of anemia. The reason the doctor declined was because four weeks ago, my levels were "bombastical". From my experience with anemia I know that taking iron supplements just in case is not a good idea since I don't want to get the side effects of having too much iron.

All in all, I'm a bit frustrated, even though I can definitely understand an outsider viewing this as first world problems. What comes to my mind is "suck it up, buttercup". So I'm going to do that I guess, and rely more on my midwife in the future who seems to have an open ear for all my problems, even though the chances of an ultrasound with a resulting pic are: nil, nada, nope. They use other approaches, like feeling for the baby's position with their hands. And given that at an appointment with my midwife we have a lot more time to talk than with the doctor, who usually rushes us out after ten minutes, that seems like a nicer experience.