Every Other Week Appts?

OrangeBird

Is it normal to have an appointment every other week beginning in 3rd trimester?  Or is this something that happens on a case by case basis?  I'm 35, so wondering if it's age-related.

My baby's father and I split a few months ago and we are on opposite sides of the country right now.  He wants me to go out there for six weeks to work on our relationship and come back here for the birth.  I'm 28 weeks.  Not sure this works from a medical perspective, especially with every other week appointments.  I don't know if there are any OB's that would be willing to see me just for six weeks while I'm there or if I would just be without prenatal care during that period.

PineappleCrush1221

Normal.

mjheffne

In your third trimester you should be seeing your OB every other week regardless of age or other factors. And you absolutely should not go 6 weeks without prenatal care that would be very irresponsible. You could probably find a doc wherever you're going but If your baby's father wants to work on your relationship so bad, he should probably come to you and respect the fact that you have already established medical care wherever you currently live. Your health and baby's health come first. GL

mrs+harlow

Most OB's start bi-weeklies at 32 or 34 weeks. At 36 weeks you go every week.

amber323

mjheffne:

In your third trimester you should be seeing your OB every other week regardless of age or other factors. And you absolutely should not go 6 weeks without prenatal care that would be very irresponsible. You could probably find a doc wherever you're going but If your baby's father wants to work on your relationship so bad, he should probably come to you and respect the fact that you have already established medical care wherever you currently live. Your health and baby's health come first. GL

Agreed. 

Sherbet Lemon

My ob starts every other week at 28 weeks for FTMs and at 32 weeks for women who have previously had a baby.  I'm sure this is different if there were complications the first time around

SposaBellarina

My bi-weeklies will be at 29 and 31 weeks. At 33 weeks (at the very latest) I will start weekly appts.  My OB has only approved very specific travel plans.  We did our baby moon at 26-27 weeks and we only went 2 hrs away, to a beach town with a great hospital where my OB knows their head of OB.  I will also travel to my baby shower when I am 31 weeks.  It is 5 hrs away, and again, my OB only approved it b/c it's in another major city and she knows their OB dept there, too.   Good luck.

georgiagurl13

ive just started my bi monthly appts (33 weeks along) and my weekly visits will start at 36 weeks. its normal for this but idk about traveling that far, i mean if your dr approves go for it but me personally i dont want to go that far in case something does happen then i have my dr and not some stranger looking down there!

sstrom22

Yup, my "every-other-week" ones started around 28 weeks....

trojas

mjheffne:

In your third trimester you should be seeing your OB every other week regardless of age or other factors. And you absolutely should not go 6 weeks without prenatal care that would be very irresponsible. You could probably find a doc wherever you're going but If your baby's father wants to work on your relationship so bad, he should probably come to you and respect the fact that you have already established medical care wherever you currently live. Your health and baby's health come first. GL

My thoughts exactly. 

selockar

Depends on the OB. Some start at the beginning of 3rd tri. I started at 34. Talk with your OB, maybe you can start later.

Pdxmom73

You may want to also consider the fact that most airlines won't let you fly past a certain # of weeks. If you go to the other side of the country and stay too long, you may not be aloud to fly back. 

Davesgrl2011

Mine started at 28 weeks.  My dr. appointments are as follows (appointments already made)- 28, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40.  So if I was going to miss six weeks I would be missing about 4 appointments. 

If the babies father wants to work things out he can show it by coming to you.  He shouldnt be asking you to come to him this close to your due date.  Just my opinion. 

Also- if you blatantly go against the advice of your OB/GYN (and I am sure he/she will advice you that missing 6 weeks of visits in the 3rd trimester is a really bad idea) than your OB/GYN may be bound by insurance to tell you that they can no longer treat you.  That happened to a friend of mine who went totally against the doctors advice/orders. 

hollyg1920

I started seeing the OB every other week at week 30 and start weekly appt's week 36 until birth. 

I would not miss these appointments and if he wants to work on the relationship he can buy a ticket and fly to you.  IMO he is selfish to ask you to fly out there in the 3rd tri.  

cwm11985

Totally normal.  Also, baby daddy should be coming to YOU.  You're the pregnant one...he can make the effort to travel, you shouldn't have to.

JennyJensing

mrs+harlow:

Most OB's start bi-weeklies at 32 or 34 weeks. At 36 weeks you go every week.

This. 

mkflower3000

Perfectly normal. I'm 25 and just started the bi-weeklys 2 weeks ago. In the last month of my pregnancy it'll be every week.

melrrr

I know you want to try to reconcile, but please don't skip that many OB appointments. A lot can change toward the end. He should come out when he has time after the baby comes, if not before. 

Smootchy

mrs+harlow:

Most OB's start bi-weeklies at 32 or 34 weeks. At 36 weeks you go every week.

Yep. Give or take depending on doctor but yes, you should be going bi-weekly now.  

BarefootRI

My appointments have been monthly up until tomorrow. Tomorrow will be my 36 weeks appointment, then they see me 2 weeks later at 38 weeks, and then weekly from that point on. I guess it's different with all OBs/midwives, because I was surprised to read how early some PPs have started bi-weekly appointments. Mine seems really late in comparison.

I agree with PPs that your baby's father should travel to you at this point. That's nice he wants to work on your relationship, but it's not fair for you to deal with the hassle of finding another doctor and doing all that traveling so late in pregnancy. Definitely don't skip any prenatal care for anyone.

bellc1980

Normal, started bi-weekly at 32 weeks and I am a FTM, no complications.  Could be sooner if there is something they want to monitor closer.