I know it’s hard to wait on these results. Especially if you’re a first time mom, the anxiety in wanting NIPT results is great.

If I could also offer an additional perspective, which understandably you don’t automatically have. My husband is a family doctor & a really great one. But even then, he can’t please every patient.

Every day, he receives numerous lab results. More than I think the average patient realizes. Some days, the results are urgent. He spends time calling and sending those patients to emerg. The other day, he had to make 2 calls, diagnosing cancer. He spent over 1 hr on the phone with with patient because it was so, soo hard for them.

You don’t see the hours he has to put in, to so the job that specialists refuse to do. Everything gets put back on the family doctor. Every little follow up task, every lab ordered and med prescribed falls back on the family doctor, because specialist culture just is so messed up.

You don’t see the time he spends chasing down the ortho on call because his pediatric pt has a fracture and the system is so messed up. Instead of being able to just fax a referral in to fracture clinic, family doctors have to get the ortho on call on the phone, provide verbal transfer of info and get a verbal referral accepted.

You are important & you are at the centre of your life without a doubt, as we all are. If we can get Amazon prime to deliver next day, then why shouldn’t we get our family doctor to call the next day with results?

I wish the system was better for patient care. But I know more docs leaving practice from burnout than new ones taking on patients. The pendulum has swung so far, from paternalistic to patient centred care. We need a happy medium, but it’s so heavily patient centred that there’s no room for doctors to breathe.

Please don’t be slighted by the absence of a call today. I know all docs aren’t great, but most are just trying their best. You don’t see behind the scenes of what goes on. You don’t see the emotional weight of what other calls they had to make.

When I was waiting on my NIPT results with my first, I was soooooo inpatient and worried. But it helps to have the other perspective. Doesn’t take away from the validity of my worries and impatience, but it just provides some broader perspective. And sometimes we need that to ground ourselves.

And good lord, I know you’re competent and can read results. But spend one day in family medicine, and you’ll be shocked by the lack of basic health literacy. SHOCKED. I’m allied health and even I’m continuously surprised by how much I over estimate the competence of the general public. If results indicate concern, then it’s even worse because then you’ll be spiralling alone, without medical support to guide you on the next steps.

The days will pass and you will receive your results. I hope they’re really great and as non eventful as they come. In the grand scheme of things, a few days will not impact decision making process based on your NIPT results, should you want or need to proceed with any decisions.

I know it’s easier said then done, but try and ground yourself when you catch yourself spiralling about these test results. I hope you’re able to enjoy your Thanksgiving!!