Dr. Visits

erinmarie86 · November 2014

Ok so i'm a FTM and no clue what to expect with all of these doctor visits. I liked my first few visits because they usually consisted of an ultra sound and it was great to see the baby! But I haven't had an ultra sound since 19 weeks (now i'm almost 32 weeks). Appointments have been much faster and not much going on to where it almost seems like a waste of time (I sails ALMOST, i'm sure it isn't)...but all they seem to be doing is measuring my belly and taking my blood pressure and weight. I've heard appointments start happening every other week or even weekly the closer you get to your due date. What happens during these appointments? What can I expect from here on out? Any insight would be great!

TXUltraRunner · November 2014

My doctor takes my stats (weight, BP), has me pee in a cup, and listens to the heartbeat. A lot can change very quickly the further along you get so they like to keep track of your weight and blood pressure because it's an indication of serious issues it if begins to rapidly change. When you get closer to your due date they will check for dialation and effacement.

ETA pee in a cup, I forgot about that one

YaMrWhite · November 2014

I would ask your dr since they may do things differently than others.

Mine is pee in a cup, get weight, take BP, find heartbeat, measure fundal height, ask me how I'm feeling and see ya in two weeks.

ETA: forgot about finding the heartbeat.

BookitBoo · November 2014

Mine is pretty similar. Pee in a cup, be weighed, check BP, listen for baby heart beat. Ask about an swelling. I can ask any questions I'd like, and then see you later! In a month I'll have another ultrasound because of vascularity on my placenta. But otherwise pretty routine.

And while it seems very time consuming, it's very important -- pre-e and other complications can arise pretty quickly.

honeybeee3 · November 2014

I have only had two ultrasounds at my doctors office. My appointments are the same as the other ladies described...

Sign in, take weight, pee in a cup, chat with MW, blood pressure, fundal height, baby heartbeat.

Then I make an appointment for two weeks later and leave.

nah82 · November 2014

There will be a more exciting one coming up in the third trimester when they do the strep B test!

MusicFanatic · November 2014

Definitely not a waste

Something like pre-e can come on VERY suddenly. And while it can happen anytime after 20 weeks (raises hand), it's more common towards the 37-ish week mark. I think that's one of the reasons visits become a lot more frequent (BP, urine checks, etc).

nah82 · November 2014

VioletGjoni said:

My appointments go as everyone is explaining. I'm glad this thread got started, I honestly thought he was supposed to check your vag every visit but nope. Does anyone know when doctors start checking or do they just not until you get contractions and go to the hospital?

I don't remember which week they started checking at my appointments with my last 2, but it hurts, a lot, and is pretty much meaningless because some women don't dilate at all until they go into labor and some walk around dilated to 4 cm for weeks. Not all of them do cervix checks.

YaMrWhite · November 2014

namcgee said:

VioletGjoni said:

My appointments go as everyone is explaining. I'm glad this thread got started, I honestly thought he was supposed to check your vag every visit but nope. Does anyone know when doctors start checking or do they just not until you get contractions and go to the hospital?

I don't remember which week they started checking at my appointments with my last 2, but it hurts, a lot, and is pretty much meaningless because some women don't dilate at all until they go into labor and some walk around dilated to 4 cm for weeks.

Ditto this. Very painful and I'd prefer NOT getting checked.

TXUltraRunner · November 2014

YaMrWhite said:

namcgee said:

VioletGjoni said:

My appointments go as everyone is explaining. I'm glad this thread got started, I honestly thought he was supposed to check your vag every visit but nope. Does anyone know when doctors start checking or do they just not until you get contractions and go to the hospital?

I don't remember which week they started checking at my appointments with my last 2, but it hurts, a lot, and is pretty much meaningless because some women don't dilate at all until they go into labor and some walk around dilated to 4 cm for weeks.

Ditto this. Very painful and I'd prefer NOT getting checked.

My doctor says she starts checking at 37 weeks. I'm going to do my best to request that she not do this. I can not find any research in which this is necessary to do. Maybe I would agree to it if I'm past due and we're talking induction.

Also, my doctor does another ultrasound at 28-30 weeks to measure the growth and to check the amniotic fluid. She does not do fundal height measurements and says the 3rd trimester ultrasound is a more accurate idea of how the baby is growing.

MusicFanatic · November 2014

YaMrWhite said:

namcgee said:

VioletGjoni said:

My appointments go as everyone is explaining. I'm glad this thread got started, I honestly thought he was supposed to check your vag every visit but nope. Does anyone know when doctors start checking or do they just not until you get contractions and go to the hospital?

I don't remember which week they started checking at my appointments with my last 2, but it hurts, a lot, and is pretty much meaningless because some women don't dilate at all until they go into labor and some walk around dilated to 4 cm for weeks.

Ditto this. Very painful and I'd prefer NOT getting checked.

Yes- no one warned me about this and it was in NO book I read

It IS painful. I've been checked twice- but only because of my contractions/preterm labor. Otherwise, I know my particular practice does ZERO checks until labor. They don't do them at any visits or anything.

YaMrWhite · November 2014

TXUltraRunner said:

YaMrWhite said:

namcgee said:

VioletGjoni said:

My appointments go as everyone is explaining. I'm glad this thread got started, I honestly thought he was supposed to check your vag every visit but nope. Does anyone know when doctors start checking or do they just not until you get contractions and go to the hospital?

I don't remember which week they started checking at my appointments with my last 2, but it hurts, a lot, and is pretty much meaningless because some women don't dilate at all until they go into labor and some walk around dilated to 4 cm for weeks.

Ditto this. Very painful and I'd prefer NOT getting checked.

My doctor says she starts checking at 37 weeks. I'm going to do my best to request that she not do this. I can not find any research in which this is necessary to do. Maybe I would agree to it if I'm past due and we're talking induction.

Also, my doctor does another ultrasound at 28-30 weeks to measure the growth and to check the amniotic fluid. She does not do fundal height measurements and says the 3rd trimester ultrasound is a more accurate idea of how the baby is growing.

Mine did it because she decided I should be induced for my BP issues. I am hoping that means I can skip them this time around. Fingers are crossed so hard.

mali3 · November 2014

I have my 28 week appointment on Thursday, then I start going biweekly til 36 weeks then every week. At each of these visits 28 weeks to 35 weeks, we do weight, stats, chat, measurement and hb. 36 weeks on it is all of the above plus cerivical checks.

I have never peed in a cup at my 28 to 40 week visits! whats that for?

LaBellaVida · November 2014

My routine midwife appt is the same as everyone else's.
Weight first
Pee in a cup (optional)
Get blood pressure
Measure belly
Check babies heart
Chit chat about whatever. ..

My whole appt is less then 15 or 20 min if we don't talk about stuff. I am starting my 2 weeks now, and at 36 weeks I'll go weekly.

I also see my mfm starting weekly now.
I get an ultrasound, and hooked up to monitors for NST for an hour.

shannjohnston · November 2014

Peeing in the cup is a quick check for proteins/white blood cells (infection), sugars (diabetes) and keytones (dehydration).

I would add that if there's ever anything (ANYTHING!!) you want to discuss, it's you're job to bring it up. Even with amazing doctors, they'll assume if you say nothing that everything is fine. They're used to seeing dozens of pregnant ladies all day and (sadly) you are just one more. I wish I was a better advocate when I was pregnant with DS. Now I make lists.

AlfiesMOM · November 2014

emmyg65 said:

Here's how my appointments go:

Pee in a cup, test for protein and sugar
Weigh myself
Take blood pressure
Time for me to ask questions
Chit chat about birth options, breastfeeding or whatever
Measure fundal height
Hear heartbeat with Doppler

This is mine EXACTLY... mine will however at 35/36 (I can't remember which) start doing internals. I can decline them if I want and I know labor can happen whenever but I like knowing!

ETA: My checks NEVER hurt, my doctor has a magic touch! The one that killed was the internal I had by a triage nurse before being admitted!

LaBellaVida · November 2014

emmyg65 said:

VioletGjoni said:

My appointments go as everyone is explaining. I'm glad this thread got started, I honestly thought he was supposed to check your vag every visit but nope. Does anyone know when doctors start checking or do they just not until you get contractions and go to the hospital?

I mentioned this in my first response, but my midwives don't do routine cervical checks. They don't mean much and they can introduce bacteria, plus they're uncomfortable. Even during labor, they do them as little as possible. It's certainly something you can decline!

I had an OB last time and she didn't check me. I asked at my 36 week appt to check though since my pants were off anyway (getting my GBS test) because I was contracting and I was curious.
I was only a 1.

Wasn't checked again until I went into labor.

I'm sure it'll be the same this time around, even though I've got a midwife.

WormyGo · November 2014

I have all of the same stuff people are listing with the BP, weight and pee all done by a nurse. Then doctor comes in checks fundus does doplar and answers any questions. I talked with my doula about the cervical exam and did some research (I thought it would happen each appointment too). Seems like it isn't necessary unless there is preterm labor and in the third trimester being a little dilated can happen, like you'll be at 2 cm for 3 weeks, with no progression. I talked with my Dr. and I don't need to have a cervical until 40 weeks or when I go into labor.

TXUltraRunner · November 2014

I can't believe how many of you are not having your urine tested. I've had two asymptomatic uti's during this pregnancy. If it were not for peeing in the cup, they would have gone unchecked until I was miserable with symptoms.

rayna912 · November 2014

My visits are exactly the same as everyone else's, though we're doing an u/s for growth and whatnot at my 32 week appointment next week. Was scheduled for it at my 30 week, but botched that visit with a trip to l&d instead XP
With my first (diff dr) they start checking for dilation normally at 37 weeks. (24 for me with preterm labor)
I've been checked twice already due to contractions this go round... But only in l&d, so not sure if the dr starts doing it normally at a certain point.

Aillise · November 2014

With my first pregnancy I would go in pee in a cup, check weight, bp, fundal height and listen to his heart beat, and she would ask questions about swelling, his movement any bleeding, and pain in my legs. Around 30 weeks he stopped moving as much and I had a NST, and then I had an extra U/S. About 34 weeks she began checking my cervix, which was at that time 40% effaced, at 36 weeks I was 80% effaced and ( I was some station but forget... this was many years ago) and about a centimeter dilated. I had him a week later.

I just switched back to this doctor for this pregnancy, and so far its just pee, weight, BP, fundal height, and heartbeat. Q&A session. I do have a growth scan for Monday but that is because of the SUA. And because of the scare I had a week ago she will be checking out my cervix during the scan ( and possibly physically checking as well) If not I assume she will start doing cervical checks starting next month, when I am in my 34th week.

ECATX · November 2014

TXUltraRunner said:

I can't believe how many of you are not having your urine tested. I've had two asymptomatic uti's during this pregnancy. If it were not for peeing in the cup, they would have gone unchecked until I was miserable with symptoms.

I'm surprised, too! I've had group B strep in my urine twice so far.

RobynAshley · November 2014

Same as everyone else. I usually have some random questions that I've made note of with me and I have to be sure to tell her I have questions, otherwise it's just in and out and on your way. I get weekly updates from The Bump and Baby Center that usually spark some kind of question. Plus, it seems like everyone I know on FB is prego, so if I see something that is concerning I'll usually bring that up too. If you feel like you're missing out on something, just ask your doctor and I'm sure they will reassure you.

We are doing another US at 36 weeks, but it's not required, my doctor just likes to do an extra one so she makes up a reason why so insurance will cover it. No complaints on my end!

raveness · November 2014

Like PP, I have simple doc visits.

Pee in a cup (to check protein and sugar lvls), BP and weight, measure my belly, listen to the heartbeat, asks me if I have any questions, then I'm on my way.

Starting in December, I go to weekly appointments.

CanukMam · November 2014

emmyg65 said:

VioletGjoni said:

My appointments go as everyone is explaining. I'm glad this thread got started, I honestly thought he was supposed to check your vag every visit but nope. Does anyone know when doctors start checking or do they just not until you get contractions and go to the hospital?

I mentioned this in my first response, but my midwives don't do routine cervical checks. They don't mean much and they can introduce bacteria, plus they're uncomfortable. Even during labor, they do them as little as possible. It's certainly something you can decline!

-----quote fail-----

This, I see a regular OB (not midwife) and have never had them do a cervical check. Its generally not recommended for the reasons you listed. I also don't pee in a cup. I had to with DS1 when I had GD but not this time

moonfaerie · November 2014

Like several other posters, I pee in a cup, get weighed, check BP, measure fundal height, listen to baby's heartbeat, and then discuss whatever needs to be discussed. At 37/38 weeks, my OB usually starts doing internals. I usually decline to get them, because they're painful and I have scheduled c/s anyway, so it doesn't matter in my situation.

longcat07 · November 2014

i don't pee in a cup either (which surprised me because i did with DS...in fact, they sent me home with a bunch of specimen cups and told me to collect my FMU to bring in on appointment days). i asked the nurse during my second appointment and she told me they only do it if your blood pressure is elevated or if you complain of UTI symptoms. so far i haven't had any, which is awesome because i had three with DS. i've been taking a daily cranberry supplement though, so that's probably helped. maybe? lol

but yeah, OP, if you were getting regular scans early on, you're either lucky or something was up that they wanted to monitor. the only reason i got two scans was because my "LMP" was actually a m/c and they wanted to confirm the dating, otherwise i would have gotten the a/s at 20w and that would be it. most appointments are very quick and basic...weight, BP/pulse, Q&A, fundal height, FHT. and most women pee in a cup. lol

BackseatDriver · November 2014

I didn't read all the previous responses, but my visits are pretty similar. Urine sample, weight, BP, measure fundal height, and then they listen to the baby's heartbeat. They also check the position of the baby and if size is off they might order an ultrasound to see what is going on. Last pregnancy I ended up getting an ultrasound because they thought my baby's arm was above his head possibly (it wasn't). They will be doing a swab to check for GBS pretty soon and then my office eventually does internal checks. Starting at 40 weeks I was also scheduled for a NST. I'm usually happy for a quick appointment because it usually means everything is looking good.

Trek3 · November 2014

I had an OB for my first two pregnancies. The nurse took weight and BP, and usually listened to the heartbeat. When the doctor came in, it was literally 1 minute some days unless I had questions.

I have a midwife this time, appointments take about half an hour, and they have a list of things to talk about each time and are much less rushed. I also do a urine test before each appointment, but no weigh-in!

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