thread: Antenatal appointment - palm checking??

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    Country Victoria
    5,945

    Antenatal appointment - palm checking??

    My last appointment the OB asked to check my palms... I was too wrapped up in other things happening and didnt think to ask him why. This was in my check where he checked my heart, lungs..so on so forth. So does anyone know what he was looking for in regards to my palms?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jul 2006
    Melbourne
    4,895

    No idea - mine never did that. Perhaps for swelling?

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Feb 2010
    Newcastle
    1,151

    yep i agree with rhichichi as when pregnant with DS2 my midwife checked my hands/palms and it was to check for swelling as i got told some women dont actually inform them that they are swelling

    so in my case they checked that i wore rings and stuff to keep an eyee on me for if i stopped wearing them then they knew i was swelling

    sorry if im not much help!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Rural NSW
    6,975

    The only other thing I could think of as well as the above (swelling) is for redness. During my last pregnancy I had a condition called Cholestasis during which i had VERY itchy palms and feet. This condition is due to a built up of salts in the body and can be fatal for the baby. Maybe if they look at or mention your palms it might jog your memory to mention an itch.

  5. #5
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jun 2008
    In snuggle land
    4,499

    Maybe he was trying to predict your future

    I know they sometimes check babies' palms for signs of Downs. I assume he checked yours for swelling/redness, as mentioned above.

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Add UntoldAngel on Facebook

    Nov 2009
    Between concrete walls
    1,885

    yep i agree with rhichichi as when pregnant with DS2 my midwife checked my hands/palms and it was to check for swelling as i got told some women dont actually inform them that they are swelling

    so in my case they checked that i wore rings and stuff to keep an eyee on me for if i stopped wearing them then they knew i was swelling

    sorry if im not much help!
    I would be in trouble then! My rings don't fit me at the moment because of the weight I've lost, so if I started wearing them again (which would be normal) it would mean I'm swelling... Hmmm will have to keep an eye on that one

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Feb 2010
    Newcastle
    1,151

    UA- thats obviously a different story loosing weight, but they told me its too see if i swell obviously when pregnant u shouldnt loose weight

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Sep 2005
    In the middle of nowhere
    9,362

    red blotchy palms can be a sign of pre-ecplamsia.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Mar 2008
    North Northcote
    8,065

    Maybe he was trying to predict your future
    yeah i thought maybe he had just done a palm reading course and was practising lol!

    but the swelling thing sounds plausible

  10. #10

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    Yellow colour. I get excess bilirubin sometimes and when that happens my palms get quite yellow. In my case it's harmless but it can indicate liver problems.
    That or he's checking the gender and due date using traditional methods.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    Country Victoria
    5,945

    thanks for your replies.

    He sort of stretched out the skin on my palms when he was looking so it does look like he was looking for some kind of discolouration. Next appointment i will ask him and let you all know!