Prenatal appointments?

jqfs · June 2014

Just curious what your doctor/nurse is advising since your bfp...mine is telling me to do blood work to monitor my hcg levels every 2 days until I get to 1000!! (And no I was not identified as "high risk".) The first prenatal appt will be at 6 weeks (but I've read that most people see their OB at 8-10 weeks). So I feel they they're overdoing it and taking me a run for my money. What have you experienced?

copperrose · June 2014

I always wondered if everyone who was reporting betas and bloodwork this early were high risk. Interesting.
We have an intake appt at 8 weeks and due to consecutive vacations between me and my doctor, I am getting in that week for my first exam/hopefully heartbeat. Otherwise that would be 10 weeks.

2Swanns · June 2014

Really? Mine said, congrats on your positive home pregnancy test! We'll see you in 8-10 weeks for your first appointment. :-) In fairness they gave me some advice, asked me some questions and told me to call at any time with questions....

jap618 · June 2014

With my first pregnancy I had a "Congratulations", then blood work & my intake with the nurse at 8 weeks and was scheduled to have my OB intake around 10-11 weeks. The level of care you are receiving is similar to those with losses but typically people are pretty ecstatic to have the early care. If you don't want it I'm sure you could tell them and they could just schedule an appointment at 8 or 10 weeks.

jqfs · June 2014

That's interesting....I will probably just skip the blood tests...thanks ladies!!

ker180 · June 2014

Wow...when I called they said we see you between 8-10 weeks ( Aug 5th) and asked if I was already on a prenatal vitamin. They don't even give a script for prenatals anymore, just recommend over the counter. They didn't even tell me does or don't...if it was for my girlfriends I wouldn't know anything

uromys · June 2014

I was high risk with DD and yet my OB still recommended coming in between 8-10 weeks. However I have a friend recently pregnant and her OB brought her in right away at 5 weeks as had an ultrasound at 6weeks. I'm assuming it all depends on your practice. If your insurance won't cover all the lab work and ultrasounds ten see if you can opt out of the testings. With no previous conditions to warrant you need additional monitoring I wouldn't worry about it. You'll have plenty of poking and prodding in the up coming months.

jkremp · June 2014

I have had 3 betas and will go in at 6 weeks and 3 days for my first ultrasound. We are still working with an RE because we were battling IF. Last time I was dismissed to the OB after 2 ultrasounds. Not sure of the plan this time.

FrecklesInside · June 2014

That sounds like a schedule for high risk, or someone who has had a loss before. Typically, most practices wait until 8-10 weeks. Some practices have an appointment to confirm, but even that seems superfluous to me.

lifeisnot2fear · June 2014

I agree, I thought having betas drawn was for high risk pregnancies or for those pregnant after a loss. My practice had me come in for a "confirm visit" which I thought was pretty wasteful (urine test & pevlic exam). They did give me a "congratulatory" packet of info with dos & don'ts, but nothing crazy helpful. I have an appt with the OB Coordinator and my first "real" prenatal exam at 10 weeks. I can't wait to go in for the real deal!

shlittertoots · June 2014

That's odd to me if you aren't high risk or were seeing a specialist for IUI or I vitro. I had a MC 6 months ago and my first appt isn't until mid July. If I wanted betas done it wasn't going to be covered by insurance (the OB doesn't think it's necessary).

Momarazzi007 · June 2014

Also people with IUIs or IVF tend to get betas and repeat betas to make sure progressing well. We "lucky" ppl also usually get u/s around week six and if all is still good then- we are released to regular OB. Last time w DD after betas and u/s I finally saw OB and they checked my pee to verify pregnancy- I still find that hilarious.

4RingCircus · June 2014

I checked with my Dr. to see if she wanted me in sooner because of my loss last cycle. Nope, she said to come in at 6-8 weeks. I can't wait until my appt 7/22!

jqfs · June 2014

The way I see it is, even if they monitor me and my hcg levels do drop, there's nothing they can do about it anyway, right?? I don't see the point....

antsangel1118 · June 2014

My Dr is also typically 8-10 weeks, but my appt is on July 9 at 6 weeks but only because they are going by my last period instead of when I am almost positive I O'd. (And I had gotten - tests just a few days before I got my BFP, so I know I am not far off on that O date). My periods have been off since I started getting them back in October after having DD, so my last one was on May 3. But I am pretty positive I O'd on June 9. But whatever, I'll go at 6w.

PHNJenna · June 2014

My doc said after 8 weeks, she is my family practice doc that does OB care, so I set up the first appt in the beginning of Aug at 10 weeks. Although, I am just meeting a mid wife next week just to get a feel for her.

MrsLaurenandDan · June 2014

I'm considered high risk for multiple reasons, but I just has 2 betas. I do have an appointment with MFM next week to discuss the plan for my HG management. Waiting until 8-10w just doesn't work for me. I was in the hospital 3 times by then with DS2.

janda426 · June 2014

I have what I'm assuming is the "confirm" appt on what I estimate to be 5w2d. I'm assuming from there I'll schedule my first ultrasound but have no idea when that will be. Hopefully around 7 weeks because this anxiety is not cool.

BostonAlison · June 2014

I called my OB yesterday originally, saying I got a positive pregnancy test. She asked when my last period was, when I said 6/2, she got a bit snappy and said it was entirely too early. (I have a feeling she thought I was interpreting the test wrong). I asked when should I come in, to ask questions, the answer was 10 weeks. She ordered a "pregnancy blood test" for yesterday afternoon, but was warned since it was "SO incredibly early" that it would probably say negative.

This morning I just got a call back with a much friendlier person. Blood test was "positive" (whatever that means, I don't know if they did the beta number thing or not, and My online chart isn't updated yet) ... but it's positive! Great news. So, now they tell me to come in for an "info session" either with a group or alone with a nurse. So that appointment is July 3rd.. And my first prenatal can't be until 10 weeks they said, and go figure, I'll be on vacation that week... so It's 11 weeks

August 11..

FrecklesInside · June 2014

janda426 said:

I have what I'm assuming is the "confirm" appt on what I estimate to be 5w2d. I'm assuming from there I'll schedule my first ultrasound but have no idea when that will be. Hopefully around 7 weeks because this anxiety is not cool.

If you wait another week or two, you will see much more on the ultrasound and it is more likely the ultrasound might even pick up the HB.

ETA: That is why most offices schedule between 8-10 weeks.

MotherofWaggins · June 2014

If your instincts are telling you this Dr is going overboard, maybe you should find one who is less aggressive with the interventions. If that's their philosophy this early on, they will probably want you to do every test in the book as things progress.

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