Does anyone know or remember the dr. apt. schedule?

jaybird44

When do you go in for your first apt. and then how often?  I am overseas and trying to remember the American way!  Thanks!

Pamela05

It depends, but typically first one isn't until after 10 weeks, then once a month for the 2nd trimester and then once every 2 weeks for the third.  Sometimes once a week towards the very end.

6fsn

8 weeks- nurse intake

10-12 weeks- first doc appt.  Once a month after that until 7 months.

7 and 8 month- every other week

9 months- weekly

At least that's how my doc did it last time.  I'm a little more high risk this go round so we'll see.

I'mAcrossThePond

Do you have access to American services where you are? If not, there really isn't much of a point in knowing...it might just dissappoint you. The care I get here in the UK is MUCH different than the care I got with my first pregnancy in the US. I've seen my mid-wife once (at 10 weeks), had a little blood work done, and a few ultrasounds...that's it so far. Next appointment is for blood work at 28 weeks...it's nothing at all like the care in the US.

Most standard US care is as follows:

First appointment 8-12 weeks.

Appointment ever 4 weeks thereafter until 28ish weeks. 

Then appointments every 2 weeks until 36 weeks.

Then weekly appointments until due date.

Once you hit your due date, your Dr. may see you every few days until delivery. 

jaybird44

Thanks!  No American care here but I'm going back to the US to have the baby and will also go somewhere in the middle for a visit so was trying to figure out the schedule so I can try to be as close to it as possible....this will be an interesting pregnancy as far as that goes!

I'mAcrossThePond

jaybird44:

Thanks!  No American care here but I'm going back to the US to have the baby and will also go somewhere in the middle for a visit so was trying to figure out the schedule so I can try to be as close to it as possible....this will be an interesting pregnancy as far as that goes!

I'd get in on local care too, you never know what will happen or what care you will need (bed rest, etc.). How long do you plan on staying in the US after the birth? Remember you'll need to work out his/her passport/visas if you plan on a US birth but a return to your current location.

It's going to be really complicated depending on where you currently live.

jaybird44

Good point...and I'm in Romania!!!

I'mAcrossThePond

Just have a plan, with support, in mind. I would never fly back to the US just to have the baby. It'll be 2 months or so after the birth before you are ready to fly back...that's a lot of living without the comforts of "home" -- would you be with family? In a hotel? I just don't understand why you wouldn't just have the baby in Romania.

jaybird44

Sorry for the delay I hope you'll still get this...there is a lot to it actually...I had a c-section with the first baby and it was a pretty traumatic event...in the US that is...well we are wanting to have 4 kids and I have found an amazing doctor in the US that is all about VBACS and that's something that we really want to try for...Romania doesn't offer that option and having a c-section here just makes me way too uncomfortable, I'm uncomfortable enough in the US...they also don't have a NICU here or anything in case of emergency situations with infants...it's just too risky and there is also a lot of involvement in the whole citizenship deal....there is another big advantage of being in the States is that I would be staying with my parents and they'd be a huge help with my first son...at the same time it is going to be a HUGE issue for me to be away from my husband for that long...I really don't know how that is going to work...it's just a hard situation to be in but we didn't want to put it off either because we really don't know how long we'll be here...let me know what you think.

I'mAcrossThePond

I don't know. I had a c/s with #1 too, and my Dr's here in the UK are pretty much insisting that I try for a VBAC...I was under the impression that European countries were much more pro-VBAC than the US (in general). As for not having a NICU, they have to home SOME kind of special care unit...I mean, surely not all Romanian babies are born perfectly healthy...and their infant mortality rate isn't crazy or anything.

How long have you lived in Romania? Do you have any Romanian friends that have had babies? Can you ask them more about the experience. I think I'd at least try to get a hospital tour, etc.

Is your husband Romanian? Are you on a permanent Visa? I'd encourage you to check out the International Nestie board...there are girls from all over who I'm sure would have good advice.

I just can't imagine the risk of traveling, alone, that pregnant, with a child...I mean, you'd have to go back to the US at 33 or 34 weeks...and stay for months. What does your husband think? You HAVE to have more pre-natal care than one trip to the US and then going back to have the baby. I mean, you'll need a Gestational Diabetes test, anatomy scan, blood pressure checks, iron level checks, screenings for protein in your urine...it just seems a little unrealistic to just forgo the Romanian system. Obviously babies are born there...

If you are concerned enough not to have a baby in Romania, then I certainly would not bring my infant back...I mean, he/she will need medical attention quite often (immunizations, well-baby check-ups, etc.) in his/her first year. If it's that bad, I'd have a heart of heart with DH about living there in the first place.