frustrations

quitexcontrary · May 2010

hi, just found out this week and i'm pregnant (yay for hpt!) i called tricare to make an appoint, and i have to wait til almost the end of june just for a consult with a pcm. that just frustrates me! is it normally like this? this is my first time having to deal with tricare (just moved to be with my hubby) and first pregnancy. i guess this is just a rant of sorts. i didn't know who to talk to about this... i haven't told anyone but my husband. i do plan on telling my parents when i go back to visit my home town this weekend. hopefully someone will have to helpful words or reassurance for me!

thanks!!

shellyxo · May 2010

This is pretty normal. Most people don't have their first prenatal appointment until after 8 weeks.

My first prenatal appointment was at 10 1/2 weeks pregnant.

iluvmytxrgr · May 2010

That's pretty normal. They will just do a test. It won't be like a regular apt. They won't see you for a regular apt. until you are 8-12 weeks along. It is really frustrating, but normal.

CeeMat · May 2010

Congrats! I had a civilian PCM when I was pregnant so I'm not sure how they handle it at a MTF. It is normal to have to wait until about 8 weeks to see your OB but I think that is more the policy of the OB not tricare. My PCM put in my referral to the OB right away. HTH.

Fulbri05 · May 2010

They saw me for just the sit-in-the-office-and-talk-about-yourself appointment at 5 weeks. After they got all of the family history they sent me down to the lab to run all of the initial tests (although not an actual pregnancy one, they just take your word for it I think). Then I went in for an 11-weeker where I got a dating ultrasound and an actual exam with my NP. Every post is different though, I know someone at Hood who is a week behind me and still hasn't gotten an ultrasound. Plus, I think I got in early because I called and made an appointment about 2 minutes after my BFP at 3.5 weeks. Hope that helps and congratulations!

EDIT: I called the OBGYN floor and said I had a BFP and needed an appointment, I didn't bother with my PCM because I hate her.

CGmommaAmber · May 2010

That sounds about right, my first appt wasn't until 9 weeks. Although I did have a serious battle with Tricare (I wanted a ob/gyn and hospital near me)... we ended up having to travel an hour to the hospital (because I'm AD they selected my doctor and that's where she delivered). I feel your frustrations- vent away!

amm826 · May 2010

I was able to go in and have the blood test to prove my pregnancy at 5 weeks and then was referred to a civilian provider, who saw me at 7 weeks. I've heard most see you anywhere from 7-9 weeks for the first appointment. So yes, I would say it's normal, especially if you are doing everything through the Naval Hospital in Bremerton...Tricare seems to covers the minimum, like only one ultrasound at 20 weeks unless there is concern over the baby.

kgoetze · May 2010

Tricare seems to covers the minimum, like only one ultrasound at 20 weeks unless there is concern over the baby.

This is what I am going through right now. My first appointment was just to 'talk' and run some blood and urine tests. My next appointment is around 10 weeks with the doppler when I asked about an ultrasound I was told not until 20 weeks.

hotmomma1 · May 2010

kgoetze:
Tricare seems to covers the minimum, like only one ultrasound at 20 weeks unless there is concern over the baby.

This is what I am going through right now. My first appointment was just to 'talk' and run some blood and urine tests. My next appointment is around 10 weeks with the doppler when I asked about an ultrasound I was told not until 20 weeks.

This is common with a lot of OBs, Tricare or not.

Texas77again · May 2010

at the birth center that i work at we don't see clients until they are 12 weeks along unless there is a reason to see them before that.

MeanMommyLady · May 2010

Are you being seen at Naval Hospital Bremerton?

If so, have you gone into the lab to have a pregnancy test done?

If you haven't you need to go into the lab (I believe they are on the third floor of the hospital, but I haven't been to the lab in a while so I can't remember for sure) and have a pregnancy test done (you just pee in a cup).

After the pregnancy test is done they will put in an OB referral for you (if you opt to be seen in OB for your pregnancy, you can choose to stay in family practice for your prenatal care, but I wouldn't).

Once the OB referral is in you will call the OB department (not the Tricare appointment line) the number is 360-475-4209 and make an initial appointment with OB.

During that appointment they will just do paperwork and they will order more lab testing. They will also schedule your next appointment with a midwife.

Your paperwork appointment can be asap. At that appointment they will make your first midwife appointment for between 10-14 weeks, typically.

It's not uncommon to not be seen by an OB/midwife until about 12 weeks (even in the civilian world) and no matter what you read on the internet it is not uncommon to only have one or two sonograms (an early dating sonogram and an anatomy scan at 18-22 weeks), Tricare covers both of those sonograms if they are ordered by your doctor/midwife (and any other sonograms deemed medically necessary) they don't pay for vanity sonograms.

If you have any questions about the process at Naval Hospital Bremerton let me know. I had DS there not quite two years ago and will be delivering baby #2 there in about six weeks.

jamie.renee · May 2010

hotmomma1:
kgoetze:
Tricare seems to covers the minimum, like only one ultrasound at 20 weeks unless there is concern over the baby.

This is what I am going through right now. My first appointment was just to 'talk' and run some blood and urine tests. My next appointment is around 10 weeks with the doppler when I asked about an ultrasound I was told not until 20 weeks.

This is common with a lot of OBs, Tricare or not.

Yep. I had my first 2 kids before my husband joined the Army. I had 2 u/s with my oldest. I only had the second one since my OB was learning and used the machine in the office, I did the "official" one first though.

It is very common to not be seen until 8-12 weeks. I was really shocked when I had my third that they made me an appointment when I was 6 weeks. They did an u/s at each appt but that was in Germany with a civilian provider. I ended up having to go back 3 weeks straight since I was not as far along as my period dated so he wanted to keep doing u/s until he seen more than the sac. It was a pain having to keep going back.

quitexcontrary · May 2010

thank you so much for all of this!! it was very helpful and kind of put me to ease about things.

i have yet to go to the lab, i do however have an appointment to go towards the end of june. did i go about this the wrong way?

thank you again!!

MeanMommyLady · May 2010

quitexcontrary:
thank you so much for all of this!! it was very helpful and kind of put me to ease about things.

i have yet to go to the lab, i do however have an appointment to go towards the end of june. did i go about this the wrong way?

thank you again!!

You don't need an appointment to have a pregnancy test at the lab. Follow the instructions I gave you...you don't need to see your PCM to get an OB referral, you just need a positive pregnancy test (at the lab) and they will forward the results to your PCM who will put in an OB referral. Then call OB and make an appointment with OB for your initial intake. They may not be able to schedule you until the end of June (totally normal) but at least you will cut out the PCM appointment.

DO NOT CALL THE TRICARE APPOINTMENT LINE. They are just going to schedule you when they have an opening, there are faster ways to be seen.

quitexcontrary · May 2010

thanks! i'll definitly do that when i get back to town!!

Lithigin · May 2010

hotmomma1:
kgoetze:
Tricare seems to covers the minimum, like only one ultrasound at 20 weeks unless there is concern over the baby.

This is what I am going through right now. My first appointment was just to 'talk' and run some blood and urine tests. My next appointment is around 10 weeks with the doppler when I asked about an ultrasound I was told not until 20 weeks.

This is common with a lot of OBs, Tricare or not.

It's easy/frustrating to forget this with sooo many posters talking about having monthly ultrasounds and feeling like you're missing out. I've done some reading about fetuses not liking ultrasounds and moving away from the waves (sound waves underwater hurt their ears, if I recall), and I think I'd decline additional ultrasounds for future pregnancies, anyway. 20w is enough to tell sex and check baby's development. Save the rest for the high-risk mamas who need them!

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