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1st Trimester
Upset: First ultrasound not until 20-24 weeks!
Question: When was your first ultrasound?
My husband cannot be here for most of the appointments. I have an appointment at 11 weeks, and then he leaves for several months. (He is in the military.) Anyway --- I was so upset when they told me I wasn't going to get an ultrasound until 20, or maybe 24, weeks!!!
I rented a doppler and heard the heartbeat at 8 weeks and 4 days, but I still want to be able to share the moment of seeing our baby for the first time with my husband! I'm so upset.
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Re: Upset: First ultrasound not until 20-24 weeks!
I'm sorry but I think that means you are a very low risk so thats something to be happy about, right?
Mine is at 8 weeks.
I got my first ultrasound at 9 weeks. Then I will get the anatomy scan between 19-20 weeks.
I am also doing a research study on pregnancy health that the only req is to get an early ultrasound so I am going Monday for that.
I guess I will just go to military base then. At least it is free. They didn't even tell me my EDD at my first appointment, which took less than 15 minutes total!! All he did was a pap, and then say, "have any questions?" and then sent me to get my blood work. I am so disappointed. I have NO IDEA what is going on. Ugh.
We didn't get an U/S for DS until 20 weeks. And I agree it is frustrating not being able to see LO sooner. Try to consider it as a good thing. Alot of doctors will not take an U/S earlier than that unless they think something is wrong. So if you don't have one before that you know your baby is doing OK. It is very unfortunate DH will not be able to go with you though.
You could do what the above poster said and pay for one if you can afford it.
GL!
MH will also be missing all of this pg, and he missed the 20-24 wk U/S because of training with the last one. If you want him to at least see the baby before he leaves go for the out of pocket U/S, they are about $100 here, and you get an hour some pics and sometimes a video, and most places will have a mil discount. When I went to my 2nd appt, they couldnt get the HB with the doppler so they did a quick U/S and thats when DH got to see him. so maybe that will happen for you as well, but 20-24 weeks is pretty standard.
That's life married to the military, sorry to say. My DH is Marine, so dealing with life's ups and downs by yourself is just something you have to get used to.
A lot of 3D u/s places offer military discounts. You could always look into that. (And if his orders are unaccompanied for more than 30 days, he should be getting FSA which is an extra $250 a month.)
As long as he's home for the delivery, that's a lot more than some get. Congrats!
With my last OB, I didn't have an ultrasound until 20 weeks. It was just standard practice in that office for women who did not have previous miscarriage or bleeding.
With my current OB, I had an ultrasound at 7w1d and I'm opting to do the NT scan, so we'll have another u/s at 11.5w. I won't likely have another one until 20w.
We got a DVD of our first ultrasound with my last pregnancy, so maybe you can do that and send it to your husband. I know it's not the same, but at least he won't miss out.
Tricare covers NT scans in certain circumstances. My sister has Down Syndrome, so with family history I'm getting the extra screening near 12 weeks.
Also, if you want to switch to a civilian provider (I'm guessing you're being seen through a military hospital), you can switch from Tricare Prime to Tricare Standard. You'll have to pay co-pays and other out of pocket expenses, so be prepared. But you'll have more control over OB practices and where you'll be delivering.
Yep. I know. We have been married for 3.5 years. We have only been able to see each other less than 150 days in 4 years. Becuase of his job.. He leaves and I don't know where he is or how long he will be gone. No letters, phone calls, nothing. I actually know the very difficult side of being a military wife.... When he "deploys" and "comes home" he just deploys again within 2-3 weeks... And training, after training school... All over the US. I can't wait until we can be done with the military.
Yep. I know. We have been married for 3.5 years. We have only been able to see each other less than 150 days in 4 years. Becuase of his job.. He leaves and I don't know where he is or how long he will be gone. No letters, phone calls, nothing. I actually know the very difficult side of being a military wife.... When he "deploys" and "comes home" he just deploys again within 2-3 weeks... And training, after training school... All over the US. I can't wait until we can be done with the military.
I'm sorry.
Yes of course I would be upset if my DH could not be there - I was trying to look on the bright side but I like the above ideas of either weaseling your way into one or maybe doing one out of pocket... at the very least, make sure to take video and send it to him on your 20-24 week u/s.
Also, what if you stressed that your DH would not be around due to the military life - would they be willing to say you need one earlier to help you out? I'm sorry but I don't know anything about this because my husband is not military...
Regardless, I'm so sorry for your stress and sadness about this news from the doctor. I hope something works out for you and DH.
I wouldn't consider that low risk, I'm even more surprised now that you're not having an u/s sooner. I had 1 m/c prior to DS and I had like 4 u/s before 20 weeks. That would make me really uneasy. Do you have the same doctor now as with the previous m/c? They know right? Probably a stupid question.
The first time I was pregnant it was 8 weeks 5 days. That pg ended in miscarriage.
They let me come in at 7 wks 2 days with my second pregnancy.
This one I have my appt and first u/s scheduled for 7 weeks 3 days.
Many docs wait until 20 weeks for an u/s. Personally, I would never wait that long but that's just me. I'm not waiting till about 10-13 to hear baby on doppler.
I had one at 6 weeks but i really pushed for them to do it, and since my dr. wasn't avail. they found another doc willing to do it for me. Then another at 8 and then 10. I did push for 8 week ultrasound. In my case I think my insurance covers it, but I needed to know everything was ok so if I end up having to pay it, it'll be worth it knowing I didn't have to wait. I do however have some medical history issues that really pushed me to raise the concern.
Good luck to you, I hope they can find you a time sooner than 20 weeks.
You can request an NT scan on Tricare. My DH is Navy and have NT scans with both of my pregnancies that got to that point.
Also, if you have had two losses and feel like an ultrasound should be done you need to advocate for yourself. If I have learned anything from being on Tricare for over 7 years it is that you NEED to speak up if you feel like something isn't being done correctly. And then if you aren't happy - switch to Tricare Standard and choose your own OB away from the MTF.
Holy siggy, batman.
I had only 1 ultrasound during my normal term pregnancy (I had another one at 1 week past my due date). It was at 18 weeks or so. It's totally normal to have just that ultrasound. The super early ones seem to be just for higher risk pregnancies OR because OBs know people want them but they serve no medical purpose.
The doctor I have been seeing also treats me like I don't need to know what is going on. I am looking for a new doctor!