My OB doesn't do ultrasounds??

sltitzer · January 2013

So I have my first appt. with the OB this Friday and will be approx. 9 weeks at this point. I just called to see if they would be doing the u/s at this appt and was told the doctor's office doesn't do them!! I have to make a separate appt at the hospital to get one, and it wouldn't be for a few more weeks!! This seems really strange to me--that an OB doesn't do ultrasounds???

Anyone else have this experience? Is this common? I'm debating about switching drs now if this is a strange thing, but not sure if it is fairly normal or not.

Thoughts?

chicsahm · January 2013

sltitzer:
So I have my first appt. with the OB this Friday and will be approx. 9 weeks at this point. I just called to see if they would be doing the u/s at this appt and was told the doctor's office doesn't do them!! I have to make a separate appt at the hospital to get one, and it wouldn't be for a few more weeks!! This seems really strange to me--that an OB doesn't do ultrasounds???
Anyone else have this experience? Is this common? I'm debating about switching drs now if this is a strange thing, but not sure if it is fairly normal or not.
Thoughts?

Weird, never heard of that, I would switch

atcwag · January 2013

sltitzer:
So I have my first appt. with the OB this Friday and will be approx. 9 weeks at this point. I just called to see if they would be doing the u/s at this appt and was told the doctor's office doesn't do them!! I have to make a separate appt at the hospital to get one, and it wouldn't be for a few more weeks!! This seems really strange to me--that an OB doesn't do ultrasounds???
Anyone else have this experience? Is this common? I'm debating about switching drs now if this is a strange thing, but not sure if it is fairly normal or not.
Thoughts?

Same @ my OB, but I knew that going in. I knew that some OBs did in-office USs, but I was under the impression that most were done in the radiology department of the hospital.

1026pumpkin · January 2013

My OB does them, but is part of a large practice. I don't think it's uncommon for smaller practices to send patients to a radiology office or the hospital- it's expensive to keep an ultrasound tech in the office if they aren't being fully utilized and it's time consuming for the docs to do them themselves.

Tally879 · January 2013

My OB has the radiology department right next door so I go over there, but as far as I know the actual office doesn't do them

ASmallWonder · January 2013

It doesn't happen every place but it's not bizarre. My OB out sources the ultrasounds to a firm but they happen to operate in the same medical suite. It's not worth switching doctors over, IMO. Even doctors who offer in house u/s don't necessarily do one as early as you're hoping for anyway.

magdalina.h · January 2013

I heard of them not doing them in their office. I would want to be in a practice that could do an u/s if needed. Not necessarily an early date scan, but in the case of an emergency I'd want that option there.

sltitzer · January 2013

Thanks all,

I wasn't expecting an u/s at every appointment, but my insurance covers 2, so I was expecting the early dating one, and the anatomy scan at 20-ish weeks. Just moved to a new city and all my friends back home that have had babies had ultrasounds in-office, so this is a new concept to me.

Just made me a little concerned as well, since the doctor originally scheduled my first appt. for around 13 weeks, and when I questioned why it was so late, they moved up to the 9 week mark. Had I kept that appt, I wouldn't have had a dating u/s till after 13 weeks, and don't they recommend before 12?? Also, if we were to do the genetic testing, isn't that supposed to be done before 12? Just making me question the doctor a little....

I guess everything is fine.....I'll just have to wait longer to confirm the heartbeat!

lindsayanne14 · January 2013

While many Drs do have it, it's totally normal for OBs to not have u/s equipment in the office. When I had an issue in my first PG, they had me scheduled for an u/s later the same day at the hospital. If you like your Dr, I wouldn't change just because they don't have an u/s machine in the office.

ASmallWonder · January 2013

sltitzer:
Thanks all,
I wasn't expecting an u/s at every appointment, but my insurance covers 2, so I was expecting the early dating one, and the anatomy scan at 20-ish weeks. Just moved to a new city and all my friends back home that have had babies had ultrasounds in-office, so this is a new concept to me.
Just made me a little concerned as well, since the doctor originally scheduled my first appt. for around 13 weeks, and when I questioned why it was so late, they moved up to the 9 week mark. Had I kept that appt, I wouldn't have had a dating u/s till after 13 weeks, and don't they recommend before 12?? Also, if we were to do the genetic testing, isn't that supposed to be done before 12? Just making me question the doctor a little....
I guess everything is fine.....I'll just have to wait longer to confirm the heartbeat!

You've got to remember that what your insurance covers doesn't dictate what your doctor feels is medically necessary. Some doctors don't do dating ultrasounds and some don't offer the NT scan unless you have certain risk factors.

kirbabe · January 2013

The only u/s I got at my OB's office with my first was when I was bleeding bright red blood. It was just a tiny little machine. Otherwise, they sent me somewhere else, same hospital, different department.

KdgTeacher · January 2013

My office (3 OB/GYNs and 2-3 Nps) doesn't typically do them in house. You go 2 floors down and have it done. I've always had both done same day. U/S first and then bring the results upstairs with me.

526SadieSadie · January 2013

1026pumpkin:
My OB does them, but is part of a large practice. I don't think it's uncommon for smaller practices to send patients to a radiology office or the hospital- it's expensive to keep an ultrasound tech in the office if they aren't being fully utilized and it's time consuming for the docs to do them themselves.

Agreed.

If you want to switch OBGYNs for a larger practice with U/S amenities onsite that's your perogative, but I don't think it's unusual for a small practice not to do them.

sltitzer · January 2013

Thanks everyone! Like I said, of all my pregnant and mom friends I polled, no one had ever heard of ultrasounds outside the office, so it made me curious (and a little stressed!) Now that I know it's not outside the norm, I'll just go with it.

matthew24 · January 2013

Yup, none of the practices in this area have their own machines instead there is a completely separate wing in the hospital for pre-natal ultrasounds. I will have an appointment with my OB, they will check the heartbeat, but all of my ultrasounds are scheduled separately. You could switch, but more than likely the other practices will have the same practice and use the pre-natal center at the hospital.

PS: These are very large practices.

ilovetolaugh · January 2013

My OB has an u/s machine in the office (she's the only OB in an office of many kinds of doctors), but it is only used for emergencies.

When she sends us for U/S, we go to the hospital. I don't think it's weird at all, especially for a small office. If you like your OB, I think it would be really silly to switch.

BelhurstBride · January 2013

My OB doesn't do them in office, either. Appointments are made with the radiology at the hospital across the street. She also won't prescribe one unless medically necessary... so 20 weeks is it. (Unless you opt in for the NT scan, which is done at a specialist an hour away.)

ETA: My doctor is a part of a large practice; she's just really, really anti excessive use of u/s. She once told me she wouldn't work at a practice with the equipment in office because she feels that leads doctors to over use it.

jillianjigs7 · January 2013

Mine doesn't do them at the office either. I go to the hospital MFM (maternal fetal medicine) to get them done.

matthew24 · January 2013

sltitzer:

Thanks all,

I wasn't expecting an u/s at every appointment, but my insurance covers 2, so I was expecting the early dating one, and the anatomy scan at 20-ish weeks. Just moved to a new city and all my friends back home that have had babies had ultrasounds in-office, so this is a new concept to me.

Just made me a little concerned as well, since the doctor originally scheduled my first appt. for around 13 weeks, and when I questioned why it was so late, they moved up to the 9 week mark. Had I kept that appt, I wouldn't have had a dating u/s till after 13 weeks, and don't they recommend before 12?? Also, if we were to do the genetic testing, isn't that supposed to be done before 12? Just making me question the doctor a little....

I guess everything is fine.....I'll just have to wait longer to confirm the heartbeat!

Dating ultrasounds are not common and are only done if there appears to be a problem or question as to your date of your last known period. Typically, the only ultrasound is at 20 weeks and if you opt for the genetic screen that is done after 12 weeks, typically, closer to 13 weeks. Not really sure what you are questioning but this is normal practice.

EmilyRNbaby · January 2013

Its not uncommon for OB's to outsource for their u/s.

If you are concerned about your dates I would call and ask to have your u/s done before your first apt so the OB has all the right info.

If you wanted to also have the NT scan you want this done between 11-13w so you can also ask about that as well.

I have an u/s at each apt but that is because of twins and my OB is very nice about my history.

PrimRoseMama · January 2013

Joy2611:
My sister's OB doesn't do ultrasounds.nbsp; She goes to a radiology unit that is separate from her OB's office.She also only got one ultrasound her entire first pregnancy.nbsp; This time she will have two because she opted for the NT.Believe it or not, it's not standard care to have an ultrasound at every. single. visit.

This.

rae6883 · January 2013

Im in the same situation. I have to go to a different building to get ultrasounds. I also have to go elsewhere to get blood drawn....kind of a pain, but I really like my doctor, so ill just deal.

homebird · January 2013

My last OB (when I lived in VA) did do ultrasounds in the office, but this one (in MD) doesn't. You have to make an appointment with the hospital or imaging center (seperate buildings/companies) and they send the results to your doctor.

I certainly wouldn't switch doctors because of that, lol. It's not like you're NOT going to get an ultrasound.

Melanieian · January 2013

Yes that is very normal. Not all OB's have the equipment in their office so they send you to the hospital. My OB does have one but he has a large practice but most of the OB's around here send you to the hospital for them.

VitaLuna · January 2013

My CNM office has an u/s machine that they can use if needed, but they prefer to send pts to the hosptial (across the street), because they equipment is better, and the techs do that all day long (vs. the CNMs doing it just occasionally).

When I went to a very large OB/GYN practice previously, they also sent pts for u/s a few floors down in the same building.

mmdd20 · January 2013

My OB doesn't either. They have full capabilities and will give US if needed (like if they can't hear anything on the doppler, they will get you in for an US that day), but all other US are done at an imaging center through the local hospital. The double appointments can be cumbersome, but the way my OB explained it was that they have the BEST ultrasound techs with BEST equipment at their disposal, they would rather sned us there.

kellyrn9956 · January 2013

My OB sends me to the Maternal Fetal Medicine department at the hospital to be done. And I am sooooo glad she does. The hospital has the latest equipment, and my u/s was amazing. You could see everything so clearly, and the tech really took the time to explain everything to us at our A/S. Compared to my friend's u/s pics, which were done in the office, mine were gorgeous and amazingly clear!

On top of that, my OB was able to order the u/s along with a consult with the physician at the MFM center so that I could have my results right away. I felt extremely confident in the process.

As far as only getting one u/s, that is the standard really. 20 week A/S. Dating u/s's are typically done for high-risk patients only, and for IF patients (and for IF patients, they're really done for statistical purposes - once there's a heart beat, the RE can count that as a successful cycle; certain IF treatments also put a woman at higher risk for ectopic). Later in the 3rd tri, growth scans might be done if something warrants it. I am having a growth scan b/c my blood sugars have been borderline and I am measuring ahead. Most people do not have a growth scan either.

MJHershey · January 2013

My doc does them but the tech is only in on Tuesdays, I would not be surprised if someone had to go to another place in the hospital. Medical center has a Imaging Center that does the NT tests, etc.

Liz4444 · January 2013

My OB does them, but not on Aetna patients. I go to the perinatal unit at the hospital, not a big deal.

sltitzer · January 2013

Ha-ha-ha, thanks for all the advice folks! I didn't expect this many replies. Apparently all of my friends' prenatal experiences are an aberration, as it appears having to go somewhere else for an u/s is pretty normal. Just had never heard of this before!!

Like I said before, just looking for some other experiences to compare to make sure this wasn't a weird experience. Best of luck to all of you!

stever · January 2013

My OB doesn't do them. There's an u/s machine in the office, but a tech does it. For the 1st half of my pregnancy with DS1 I had to go to a hospital for u/s's.

mawarren · January 2013

I wouldn't worry about it. I personally would rather get it done somewhere that has a radiologist reading it that is trained to read ultrasounds. I do ultrasounds and the ob dr's send the ones to us that they aren't sure about and want a "real" radiologist to read it. Don't switch bc of that bc you will be more likely to have a person performing the ultrasound that is trained to do it and a actual radiologist reading the test.

pkaren · January 2013

Here in Ontario, you don't even see an OB until you're 28 weeks if you're having a "normal" pregnancy. Up until then I see me regular GP, who gives me a requisition to go to a lab to get one done. It's not the end of the world.

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