PGAL newbie question

mpiemont

What did your first few weeks look like when you got your BFP after a loss as far as medical care. Did you get betas? (2 blood draws, more). Did you have an early US? See your dr/midwife sooner? etc... I'm calling my OB in the morning and just wondering what I should expect/ask for. With my other 3 pregnancies, I didn't even see the OB until 9+ weeks. I can't imagine waiting that long this time around. Especially since last pregnancy, I was going along thinking everything was fine that whole time until my OB visit.

kefttsc

I was asked to come in the same afternoon for an ultrasound and beta draw. I went again for another beta in two days. He gave me the option of coming for a third draw but didn't feel it was necessary. I had ultrasounds every week the first few weeks and then backed off to two weeks and now I'm at 4 weeks apart. I have gotten ultrasounds at every visit (but I also have twins).
I think it will vary greatly depending on your doctor.

luciddreamer106

I was seeing a RE, but I had betas done right away even though I was on a treatment break. My first u/s with them was at 7 weeks and then I had another one when I saw my OB at 8 weeks.

Lalalady54

Hi love! I was told they would want to do early testing (not sure labs, u/s), when I got pregnant again after my D&C. I'm going to call tomorrow am and will let you know what the verdict is. (That being said I'm also high risk..)

Samuelismomma

Was seeing an re for 3 losses. So had 3 betas done two u/s , then released to OB. He sees me every 3 weeks but more so for preterm labor I had with ds...good luck. Explain you want to be seen, you are worried because of loss. They should do something then! Good luck and welcome!

mommy0411

I had 3 betas drawn, the first as soon as I turned a pregnancy test positive. I had the option of an early ultrasound but I decided to wait until things would be clear around 7-8 weeks. Other then watching my progesterone and HCG closely in the beginning things haven't been different so far from my previous pregnancies. 

KMW08

I was seeing a RE, he immediately did two betas at 48hrs apart. He likes to do the first US at 7wks by lmp. However, I ovulated really really late so my first US was actually at 5w3d. I then had an appointment every two weeks until I was at 9wks. At 9wks I was released to an OB. My ob started with monthly appointments. I skipped the 12wk NT scan, so my next US--the anatomy/morphology wasn't until 19/20wks. I will go to two appointments a month at 29wks.

Yaz14

I went to my regular doctor the day after my BFP and he sent me for a beta HCG blood draw that day and a follow up 2 days later. He also wrote me out a form for a scan which I could use whenever I wanted. I decided to use it when I was 6.5 weeks. I would have used it earlier but didn't want to be disappointed or freaked out if I didn't see a heartbeat. The wait between my blood draws and that scan was over 2 weeks and was really hard but so worth it in the end when the scan went perfectly.

As for seeing my OB I only had my first appointment with them this past Friday at 8w6d but I hadn't even called them until somewhere in week 7. They recommend your first appointment be between 8 and 10 weeks. I think it's pretty standard for a first OB appointment to be no earlier than 8 weeks but there is no harm in asking for one earlier. I can't imagine they'd say no.

Danielle0311

I'm not sure what ur history is because I'm mobile but as for me, being I had an ectopic in march my RE was super cautious. I had betas until the sac was confirmed in a very early ultrasound. Then he did weekly sonos until he released me at 9 weeks to the ob. It all depends on your doctor and your history but if betas would make you feel better I would ask for them! Good luck and congrats!

doglover31

I was seeing an RE when I got my BFP. But they had me come in the day of my positive test to have betas drawn, then I had a repeat draw like 3 days later. Then 2 weeks later I had an US at 5w6d and then another US 2 weeks after that at 7w6d. At that appointment I was released to my regular OB. I saw him at 9 weeks and he also did an US. So I had 3 by the time I reached 9 weeks. If you are wanting an earlier scan, definitely ask for it!

mpiemont

Thank you for all of your input. So it sounds like what my OB recommended is about par for the course so to speak.

Going in for betas tomorrow & Friday.

Then they do an early "confirmation of pregnancy visit" between 6-8 weeks since I have a previous loss. I made it for 7w4d, I know I could have gone sooner but I'd like to be able to hopefully see a heartbeat and was afraid if I went too soon I'd be left disappointed.

Then I have my regular 1st prenatal visit at 9w. So It will be less than 2 weeks between US's, but I won't be having my first one until 9/24. So I have 3 weeks and 1 day to try not to go too crazy.

After my 9w US, I will have a NT scan and noninvasive genetic blood work I think between 11-13 weeks so that stretch won't be too long between scans. A friend has lent me her home doppler and I will consider using that in between visits.

Sounds about right.

MoreThanSparrows08

With my loss pregnancy, I was seen at 6 weeks and a few days - my doc does a viability scan at that point for all his patients.  It was then we found that our twins likely wouldn't make it, and two days later, they were gone.

With this pregnancy, we did the same thing - he saw us at around 6 weeks and did the viability scan and everything looked good - even had a little tiny heartbeat.

We opted to not do betas this time around.  My doc only started monitoring them after my loss because I was still getting a + on a HPT after nearly 6 weeks (and pretty much 0 chance of it being a new pregnancy).  I knew if I did them this time around they would just stress me out - I'd worry if the number wasn't high enough or if it was too high, and if it wasn't doubling properly I knew there wasn't anything anyone could do about it anyway...  

E&B0811

I took an hpt in the evening at 14dpo and called the REs office the next morning. They had me come in right away for a beta and progesterone draw. That was a Thursday. Because they wanted me to wait at least 48 hours between betas and because I was going to be out of town for work, I didn't have another beta until 21/22dpo. At that point the re scheduled an initial US for 6w6d. At the initial US we were able to see Vigorous Baby and her hb. The RE released me to my OB. I had my first appointment with the OB at 8w3d and she did another US. I also had a third US at about 11w just for peace of mind.

ETA: between my ob and the MFM I have continued to be seen about every two weeks during this pregnancy.

[Deleted User]

I got my BFP on a Friday and went in the following Monday for blood draws and the first round of betas. Repeated betas two days later. I was in my 4th week then. I believe I was 6w3d for my first ultrasound, and we did get to see a heartbeat.

Congrats on your BFP and welcome!

goldengirl84

I've had 3 losses and they were all pretty early so we are doing betas (today was 202 and I'll have another Thursday to make sure they're doubling). Unless you have recurrent chemical pregnancies like I did, I don't think there's really a need for it. It's just another bill in the mail. But if it makes you feel better then definitely ask your doctor! You don't even have to be seen, you should just be able to go into the lab and they draw blood. It takes 5 minutes. I'll be having an ultrasound at 6 1/2 weeks. I haven't had any ultrasounds yet because my losses were so early, so if we see a heartbeat at that time it will ease my mind. I hope your doctor will agree to see you before 9 weeks! Seems like a long time to wait. 

BackstreetPixie

After I got my BFP on Friday I saw the doc on the next Monday. She did a portable U/S but it was too early to see anything. She then took blood 3 times. That day, 2 days later, and 3 days after that. (To watch the HCG Levels and see if they were rising.) A week after that She had me do an U/S and then we learned we were at 6w5d and saw and heard the hb. Because she knows of my previous loss and how nervous I am I have been in to see her once a week since then, going back in today. I'm not sure when I'll go back after today, she wanted to seem me every week till we got to 9 (we unknowingly lost the first at 8w) so I'm not sure how we will move forward after today. 

I do think you should ask for HCG draws to see if the numbers are doubling like they should but depending on ovulation it may be to early to see anything else.