Here's what I don't understand about waiting so long for the first appointment.

AppleRidge · September 2009

Those of us here are obviously reasonably educated about pregnancy, what to do, what to avoid, etc. But I really worry about those girls/women who don't know and don't have the initiative to learn. Rather than bringing people right in to confirm pregnancy, distribute literature, let them know what to watch out for, etc., doctors are basically letting people fend for themselves during the riskiest weeks of pregnancy. Seems kinda strange to me. Anyone else?

EAng · September 2009

I don't know why, but my doctor saw us for our 1st appt. at 5 wks. It may have been b/c we have been trying for so long that she wanted to ease my mind, don't know. But I completely agree with you.

JustMarried2005 · September 2009

I totally agree! The medical profession counts on people knowing what to do, without ever having told them. And what about the people who have drug/alcohol/nicotine problems - how are they supposed to get help without having a medical professional walk them through it??

alicianrj · September 2009

I agree with you 100%. When I first called they said to schedule my appointment between 6 and 8 weeks.

AppleRidge · September 2009

My practice doesn't schedule until 10 weeks (I'll actually be 9w1d when I see them, but they don't know that). So much can happen in that time!

NCBridetoBe2007 · September 2009

I completely agree. I'll be 8 1/2 weeks when we go for our first appointment. This is our first, and I've done so much research on what to eat and not eat, etc. I think when you call to make the first appointment, they should mail you a packet of info so you're doing things correctly before the first appointment.

jorden&kristin · September 2009

yeah it seems kind of strange to me too. It almost seems like it's a way of being able to save money for them because then they dont have to do as many ultrasounds...i dont know though. I work in an ER so when someone is pregnant they just use our own ultrasound machine and doppler. I can't wait until i go back into work so i can check myself!

sophie206 · September 2009

Mine wanted me to come in to confirm pregnancy just days after my BFP at 4 weeks. (With no history of m/c) At the appointment she went over meds, foods, etc that were not OK and gave me an opportunity to ask questions. She even gave me a quick exam to feel for my uterus to confim how far along I am. I won't have a real prenatal appt until 8 weeks, but I really liked that they had me come in and talk things over.

WildcatPrincess · September 2009

I've had this same rant a few times. I read somewhere that 8 weeks is average to cut back on the number of chemical pregnancies and miscarriages they see, but it is nerve wracking not knowing if you're doing everything right.

cajungirl0717 · September 2009

I had an ultrsound at 6 weeks because our pregnancy was unplanned. I needed to know if it was viable. My doctor was willing to let me come in that early just to see what was going on. I got great information from her, pamphlets of what no to do/use/eat, and book titles. I love my OB.

Mike's Wife · September 2009

I completely agree. I like that my doctor does a 'confirm pregnancy' appt. At that time they hand you all sorts of literature and tons of pnv samples.

Eviebee · September 2009

I think it's just b/c there's nothing the Dr can do or tell you to do differently this early to change the outcome (ie m/c or or not).

cutie420311 · September 2009

I, personally don't see the issue with waiting to schedule the first appointment until you at least weeks, be it your first baby or not. If something is going to go wrong inthis first few weeks, then it's going to go wrong, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.

As far as expectant mothers who have drug/alcohol issues, that's a completely different subject.

AppleRidge · September 2009

Eviebee:
I think it's just b/c there's nothing the Dr can do or tell you to do differently this early to change the outcome (ie m/c or or not).

Of course it couldn't affect whether there's a m/c or not, but since 80% go on to have a full-term pregnancy, it most certainly could affect the baby's health.

cutie420311 · September 2009

***until at least 8 weeks

candylies · September 2009

I agree, the first few weeks seemed to be the most important in baby development and it would be helpful to go in and get good information before the seventh/eighth week. My first appt is at 7 weeks with a nurse, I see the dr at week 9.

kmgourley · September 2009

Most people are not stupid. The vast majority of women-- whether they planned their pregnancy or not-- know not to drink or smoke during pregnancy. Also, in the US, it is not common to be eating or drinking unpasteurized things. Even sushi is okay while pregnant, the vast majority of the time. People on the Bump tend to go crazy about what's okay and what's not okay to eat and do while pregnant.

The only thing that I can think of that a woman could potentially not be educated on is what medicines she can/can't take. But even then, if she's on something known to cause birth defects (like a prescription or something), she's probably been told that she shouldn't get pregnant on it. Most over the counter things are not harmful, even if they're not recommended. Most things just don't have research in relation to pregnancy and that's why they're not recommended. Contrary to popular belief, even ibuprofen is perfectly okay in pregnancy up to 34ish weeks.

Now, I like to see the doctor early and I will not go to a doctor or midwife who refuses to let me have an early ultrasound (I have a history of loss), so I'm not saying that doctors shouldn't see women until 12 weeks ever... but these are just my thoughts on the can/can't thing.

That said, I wish more women would go in early for nutritional consultation. The problem is that most OBs and even midwifes don't even bring up great things for women to be eating during pregnancy (especially the first trimester), so that doesn't even matter I guess.

taagent · September 2009

I had a prenatal apt that was scheduled shortly after I found out about being pg. The prenatal nurse talked about do's don'ts and gave me a bag with a bunch of stuff in it including samples. I am lucky I guess because I agree with you, I don't know how anyone without that would know what to do if you have never been pregnant before!

SteelCityBride · September 2009

NCBridetoBe2007:
I think when you call to make the first appointment, they should mail you a packet of info so you're doing things correctly before the first appointment.

I completely agree with OP & with the above statement. This is my first pregnancy & I've bought & read all the books, I do research online, but but there's no substitute for your doctor's professional advice.

lovinfall · September 2009

I understand the frustration with waiting to confirm pregnancy but most of the things covered in the first appointment are either commonsense things like don't smoke crack, drink a case of wine or raw fish/meat. Iwould take it as a good sign not going in too early, that means you aren't highrisk. My Dr. access the patient based on medical history and decides thebest time to schedule the first appointment.

LauraLovesJon · September 2009

I don't see my OB until my second trimester, and I'm totally fine with that. I just went through this, so I know how it goes.

gypsywitch · September 2009

My docs are good, we go take teh test, they give us a pamphlet of info on what to/not to do what to look out for...then a few weeks later we go to some other meeting where they get a bunch of us preggo's together and educate us on more what to do's not do do's....then our 1st appt is at 10wks. I don't know why more docs don't do this. Probably because there is nothing they can do about M/C anyways, sooo they may have a "why bother" mentality.

For the rest of us, there is google. Use it.

heather_09_15_07 · September 2009

The doctors shouldn't have to assume that all their patients are stupid, and thus get them in asap.

bnljane1988 · September 2009

What's strange to me, is that I just called my Dr's office to make my first appointment and they didn't even ask how far along I think I am, they just said, get in here on Wednesday. I said, "That soon? I'm not very far along.....as far as I can tell..." She said, doesn't matter, Dr. R. wants you in for bloodwork and to get you started. Um, ok!!

Jessys_Girl · September 2009

I was lucky, I got seen by my doctor at 5 1/2 weeks, then got seen by the nurse practitioner the very next week and had an ultrasound the week after that. Normally they try to wait until 8 weeks, but just because of when I called, my schedule, their schedul, whatever, I was able to get right in.

JustDoIt62009 · September 2009

I won't go in for my "educational/confirmation" appt until 10w2d and my doctor will see me the week after that. I don't understand the educational meeting when I will soon be entering the 2nd tri. I'm just a worrier so I keep thinking what if something is wrong, and I won't know about it until 11 weeks...

IrishBrideND · September 2009

My first one wasn't until 9w. but they told me the big things on the phone and then immediately mailed me all the literature.

If they do that, there is no reason to go in early (unless you've been having problems).

BelleIsa · September 2009

I don't see my doc until Oct 15, and by then I'll be about 9 weeks. But, that's only because he's on vacation so I don't really have a choice.

magdalina.h · September 2009

when I called to make my first appointment she asked me if I needed the list of things to avoid. I told her nope, but I was glad that she asked.

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