For real?!?!

shootingstar0724 · October 2010

I got my BFP on 10/8 at 11DPO. I went to the base women's health clinic on 10/12 (15DPO) and they REFUSED to let me take a pregnancy test! They told me I have to be 5 days late until they will let me take one and get the referral process started (despite me telling them I have + hpt's)! Were they just yanking my chain or is this really how military medical is? We are Air Force, and have Tricare Prime. UGH i am so aggrivated, 5 days late is like an eternity this day in age!

fmoore723 · October 2010

Yep--I was told over the phone that I had to be "30 days passed your missed period"...I got upset and went up to the hospital and was told there that its "30 days passed your LMP" which I was. Took the UPT at the lab, came back + of course, and had the referral in later that day. There really isnt a reason to go to an OB prior to 6-8 weeks anyways because you cant confirm a viable pregnancy until the heart beat starts (we learned this the hard way--thought we were 7 wks but ended up being 5 and freaked since all we saw was a "black blob" and thought we miscarried). Stay patient...from my understanding its like that everywhere...

leslie13510 · October 2010

Why did you go to women's health without a referral anyway? Go to your PCM, take a pregnancy test there, have them put in a referral, and THEN after that goes through, call the women's health clinic and get appointments set up. Also, if you decide to go back to the women's clinic for your test and referral, 5 days late isn't that long. I mean, it's not even a full week, I think you'll be ok.

iluvmytxrgr · October 2010

leslie13510:
Why did you go to women's health without a referral anyway? Go to your PCM, take a pregnancy test there, have them put in a referral, and THEN after that goes through, call the women's health clinic and get appointments set up. Also, if you decide to go back to the women's clinic for your test and referral, 5 days late isn't that long. I mean, it's not even a full week, I think you'll be ok.

This! Word for word

shootingstar0724 · October 2010

Thanks for the responses.

I went to women's health because that is what my PCM told me to do with pregnancy related stuff. Our base does not have OB services, so you go to women's health, take the test, and then they refer you to an OB once you get a + hpt. (this is the only base I have been to so I dont know anything else other than what they tell me here).

I know you don't get first appts until 8weeks ish, i just thought it was strange they dont do testing sooner, specially if you get a + hpt. I guess I'm just jealous of people who already have betas and such at like 18DPO Embarrassed

leslie13510 · October 2010

Well if it makes you feel better, most people that get early betas have either had problems getting pregnant, or (in my case) staying pregnant. I'd trade early betas for a good pregnancy track record any day.

I know it seems like time is dragging by, but the next 8 months will probably go by a lot faster than you think. And then the next 18 years will go by even faster. ::looks at almost 20 month olds that I swear were born yesterday:: Yep. Time will fly by, I promise.

SaraK1 · October 2010

DH and I PCSed across the country and got to our new base when I was 12 weeks pregnant with twins. (We had 4 u/s prior to this point because we used civilian fertility treatments). The MTF made me take a pregnancy test to confirm my pregnancy before they could refer me to anyone here, I showed them the u/s and had a visible bump. Military medical care is interesting...

NoleMom579 · October 2010

I called the TriCare office at my base after 2 + HPTs and they told me to go to the lab and either have blood drawn or a urine test. I didn't have to see my PCM or Women's Health first. I have Tricare Prime too.

meltoine · October 2010

ShootingStar0724:
Thanks for the responses.
I went to women's health because that is what my PCM told me to do with pregnancy related stuff. Our base does not have OB services, so you go to women's health, take the test, and then they refer you to an OB once you get a + hpt. (this is the only base I have been to so I dont know anything else other than what they tell me here).
I know you don't get first appts until 8weeks ish, i just thought it was strange they dont do testing sooner, specially if you get a + hpt. I guess I'm just jealous of people who already have betas and such at like 18DPO

Like PP said, they won't test your betas unless you've had serious issues getting or staying pregnant, and even then testing like that is at the doctor's discretion - not standard procedure. I think you'll find that military pre-natal is a little more hands-off than a typical civilian OB. Rest assured that you will get perfectly good care and will receive all of the tests and treatments necessary. Just be prepared for the fact that the military system is a little more selective in determining whats really necessary than a civilian OB who deals with billing civilian insurance or being paid up front.

What is it, exactly, that you would like the doctor to do at this point that can't wait until you are 5 days past your missed period?

Mereou12 · October 2010

leslie13510:
Why did you go to women's health without a referral anyway? Go to your PCM, take a pregnancy test there, have them put in a referral, and THEN after that goes through, call the women's health clinic and get appointments set up. Also, if you decide to go back to the women's clinic for your test and referral, 5 days late isn't that long. I mean, it's not even a full week, I think you'll be ok.

When I tried to make an appointment with my PCM, they told me to go straight to Women's Health....I didn't need a referral or even an appointment. I just showed up, they did the blood draw (well, they sent me to the lab to do the blood draw), and I called for the results a few hours later. Hell, I don't think they even asked when my LMP was.

Green*Flamingo · October 2010

Healthy, normal pregnancies do not need HCGs drawn. Patients with a history of miscarriage, or an active pregnancy with bleeding or other complication need HCGs. It is not a normal practice to have a blood lab pregnancy test done unless there is an indication of an issue.

Regardless of when you pee in the cup to confirm your pregnancy, you will not be seen by a provider until you are 8 weeks, possibly 10 or 12 weeks (depending on MTF).

Military healthcare isn't bad, and it isn't substandard practice- but they don't give you all the bells and whistles just because you ask.

bootsie08 · October 2010

Clearly, it's different depending where you are stationed.

At Fort Knox, I went straight to Women's Health for a urine test, bypassing my PCM. When that came back positive, they sent me to the lab for HCG's. A referral was put in the system after the blood work came back.

At Camp Pendleton, you go to your primary care clinic for a urine test and if that is positive you are referred to an OB without ever seeing your PCM.

Neither place required me to be five days late or even asked.

jlewis121186 · October 2010

as soon as i got my BFP, i went to the OB clinic...didnt bother with the lab, didnt bother with my PCM...i went in, told them i got BFP, they did an US and i got started...i was 6 weeks along...it might have to do with where you are stationed...we are here at ft sam, the medical training capital, lol

TanyaKM · October 2010

Welcome to the Air Force life! I'm currently TTC and I called women's health to get an appointment just to come in and do blood work, pap smear, etc. All the baby books I've read said that you should do all that stuff BEFORE you get pregnant, but they said they wouldn't see me for TTC stuff until we'd been trying unsuccessfully FOR A YEAR.

So, I'm not surprised that they have crazy rules about PG tests. Hope you get in there soon and get confirmation of that BFP!

ksnyder06 · October 2010

ShootingStar0724:
I got my BFP on 10/8 at 11DPO. I went to the base women's health clinic on 10/12 (15DPO) and they REFUSED to let me take a pregnancy test! They told me I have to be 5 days late until they will let me take one and get the referral process started (despite me telling them I have + hpt's)! Were they just yanking my chain or is this really how military medical is? We are Air Force, and have Tricare Prime. UGH i am so aggrivated, 5 days late is like an eternity this day in age!

I'm also AF and I wasn't told I had to be a certain amount of days late. I walked up to my base clinics LAB and told them about my positive home pregnancy test. The tech said for me to go to the front desk and fill out a form. Once the form was filled out they spent me back to the LAB to get the test done. By the end of the work day they called to confirm I was pregnant.

The next day I called my OB at the Army Hospitals Womens health clinic to get things started. I was seen a week later.

This could be different since I had an IUI done but my clinic didn't do anything for my care except that 1 pregnancy test to confirm. They didn't read my records before testing me they just gave me the test since I had a positive HPT.

I do know you aren't supposed to go to the womens health clinic for a pregnancy until a lab has confirmed a pregnancy. Your PCM should have ordered a pregnancy test if you called asking what to do.. it would have saved you trouble. That or you should have gone to your base clinics lab and asked. Chances are they would have told you the same thing they did for me.. fill out paper work and then test.

ARMYmarriedNAVY · October 2010

Yes, it is true. I just tell them I can't remember the last time I had my period. :-)

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