Hi I'm new here and had a quick question...

*Married&Happy*

Hi ladies I'm 6 weeks 4 days. I went to my first dr's appt last Friday. They now want me to go back tomorrow to meet with the nurse for a prenatal history something then go back again to get my blood taken, THEN go back in two weeks to have my first u/s. Just sounds excessive bc every time I go I have to pay my $55 copay. I just don't understand why last Friday they couldn't draw the blood and do the prenatal history questionnaire <:(

Is this normal? I'm not too happy with them (I went to Insitute for Women's Health). How are/were your first appointments set up? TIA

nattn

I see Dr. Largoza and I love her. My first appointment is at 8 weeks and they will do everything they need to do at that appointment, including the first u/s. I would switch to somewhere else if I were you.

salbert79

That does seem excessive to me. My first appointment was just over 7 weeks and they did the history, LOTS of blood-drawing and an u/s. I would call and ask them about this - and express your concern about paying your deductible so many times. They may work with you on that. GL and congrats!

kami1977

I see Dr. Jacobs at Lonestar Ob/gyn and had been seeing her a while before my first pregnancy and I'm currently on my second one.   She doesn't see patients until 8 or 9 weeks, at that appointment they do an ultrasound for dating and to see the heartbeat and then they do blood work.   She also will do your well woman exam at that time if you're due for one.

I haven't had my second appointment yet with this pregnancy but they scheduled it about 4 or 5 weeks after the first.   With my last pregnancy the nurse asked a few questions at the appointment such as what my prepregancy weight was and such but they didn't take a full history, I'm assuming because I was a current patient and they already had all that information.

One thing I like about Lonestar is they have everything in the office so when they schedule my A/S ultrasound it will be scheduled with my doctor's visit so I will get my ultrasound and then see the doctor the same day.   Same thing for blood work, they have a guy in the office that draws my blood so that just happens after my appointment.   Does the OB your seeing have this kind of set up or do you have to go to other places for these things?   That might account for the numerous appointments they're setting up for you.

rcanales

I would think you could do the blood draw and u/s the same day...  My Dr does.  I use Dr. Holshouser in the Medical center.  He's pretty 'old school' but I NEVER feel rushed and he takes time to talk to me. 

I also don't have to pay a co-pay every time I go see him.  That'd be VERY excessive! I'd be flat broke because I'm going twice a month now.  He doesn't charge until the end unless you have a high deductible and even then he has you meet with his billing lady and she works with you on a payment plan.  

alliwalton

 I see Dr Williams in the Med Center, I LOVE HER.  She took her time and answers any and all questions. She never brushed me off with all of my worries, in fact she started seeing me more often just so I could hear the heart beat and she said I could have as many U/S's as I wanted, I just had to ask her.  It is just her in practice for herself, she shares call with 7 other OBs, Dr Holshouser being one of them.  She knew I wanted HER to deliver my first baby, so she induced me when she was on call for 24 hours, I was post term.  She was just very personal to me. You get your blood drawn at the lab on site and the Ultrasounds are outsourced to an Imaging facility, I am blanking at the name, but they are everywhere.  I paid a lump sum for all of my visits pregnancy and post part. visits, there should not be a co pay with each visit.  I did get billed from the lab and ultrasounds, but they billed my insurance first. 

corrie1013

Like rcanales said...you shouldn't have to pay each time you go.  Depending on your insurance (mine is BC/BS) you will pay your co-pay for the first visit you just had, then when you go back for the history/blood draw/ u/s, you won't pay anything.  I just went through the same thing (at the same group- Institute for Women's Health) and that's what happened with me.  I go back next week for my NT scan...can't wait to see my little bean again!!

 Congratulations on your pregnancy!  Good luck.

kstiggy

I agree with the other ladies - that's excessive for sure. I had my first appointment at 10 weeks (would have been 9, but I was out of town) and my next one will be at 17 weeks. They don't do blood tests so I have to go somewhere and get that done. My insurance doesn't cover prenatal appts, but she charges one fee for all prenatal, delivery, and post, so I'm just making periodic payments - totally unrelated to how often I see her.

maelynn2012

Dr Do is an amazing docter!!! you should try him

dawnzer

Like other ladies have said, all the insurance I have had you only pay the copay the first visit.  On the second visit my OB office had ran the insurance and had a list of estimated charges that would be the patient's responsibility.  They will usually see how you want to pay it (payment plan, etc.) and will have you sign something agreeing to what you set up. GL!

vnstacie

I see Dr. Peche, he's fantastic and DH said the nurses treated him like a god when he was there for my delivery. Also his NP Ann is amazing, love her. 

mina_mina1

im new here and this is so not related but how do you put those images by your signature like how long youve been married and how old your kids are? thanks!

 

btw i have gone to the institute for womens health and have nothing but great things to say about them, i would talk to them about the financial part to your visits and then you pay a set amount (based on your insurance) and then there's no more surprises every visit