33wks pregnant and my OB doesn't have time to see me for 6 weeks, is that OK?!

sterlinros · December 2014

I'm currently 33weeks pregnant, due Jan 29th. I love my OB but hate his office staff they are so rude always. My last appointment was the week of thanksgiving, and he wants to see me every 2 weeks. His assistant made me an appointment for Xmas eve, even though that was a month out because she said that they were swamped with the holidays and that's all they had, so it took it, even though it means I was missing an entire appointment.

So I get a call today from one of the office staff saying they have to cancel my appointment and can't get me in until January. I just don't understand how that's OK with them being I will be 9.5 months pregnant and hadn't seen them in 6 weeks at that point. He wanted blood work and a sonogram on my next visit, which should be tomorrow, not another month from now.

lmlee15 · December 2014

you should be being seen as your MD requests it... I'd say no that isn't okay. Ask for the office manager? Swamped or not OB care is important for your safety and your baby.

jennypolkadots · December 2014

No, that's not acceptable. Call the office and ask to speak to an office manager, your doctor's nurse, or the doctor himself. Did you explain when they called that you are so far along? They may have just had a list of appointments to reschedule and weren't thinking about your specific circumstances.

If you are needing additional bloodwork and an ultrasound this late in pregnancy than there must be some reason for it and of course it's not okay to wait 6 weeks. You should be seen every 2 weeks at a minimum. The biggest thing is to check the baby's position, fetal growth, and your blood pressure. If anything is off, you need early intervention to be safe.

schnitz9 · December 2014

That is not OK. They should have a partnering doctor that you can see. What if the doc is on vaca when you got into labor, who takes his cases? This is who you should be seeing in the meantime. I go to a practice with about 10 docs and I see a different one everytime. I have my OBGYN that I saw before and I try to see him as often as can but sometimes I can't. The check-ups may be only 15 mins or so but they are important and you need to be monitored at this point. I would have never left the office when you had to schedule for Christmas and never hung up when they wanted to re-schedule you.

kellyfo14 · December 2014

Definitely not ok. People get pregnant all times of the year not just when it is convenient for the office. You shouldn't have to wait to be seen because of the holidays. I also have multiple providers at the office I go to and I don't mind seeing many different doctors. As this is my third pregnancy I am familiar and comfortable with all the docs in the office.

NicoleWI · December 2014

not OK. My OB wants to see me twice/week until baby is born, and they were able to squeeze me in different times. When she is out, they have me seeing other docs.

MrsT0514 · December 2014

Most definitely not ok. Whether your pregnancy is routine or you are having complications, your OB (or one of his/her partners if its a group practice) should be seeing you every 2 weeks at this point, until about 36 weeks, when they should be seeing you weekly until you deliver.

If I were you, I'd be calling the office and speaking to mgmt. They are obligated to find a spot for you as an established Ob patient there.

jess9802 · December 2014

Oh HELL no. You need to be seen every two weeks and then weekly after 36 weeks. It doesn't take that long to get a urine sample and take your blood pressure, and it's vitally important that it be done regularly enough to catch developing problems.

My OB/GYN is part of a group practice, but the doctors deliver their own patients, so I never saw someone else in the practice. They very carefully balance new patient loads based on due dates to avoid situations like yours, and I've heard that in the event of a vacation, another physician in the clinic will handle these 3rd tri appointments.

Call back and move up the chain until you get your appointments scheduled as the doctor requested and standard of care requires, or I'd start looking for a new practice.

SSCmomma · December 2014

I feel your frustration. I am due 1/17 and I have an appt on 12/19 and then nothing until 1/5. Not quite as long but still frustrating when the MW said she would be seeing me weekly at that point. They actually do a holiday shut down at the office. The MW will be on call in an emergency but that's it. Very nerve wracking as a FTM. It's that few weeks before my due date that I feel like I'm going to really want to be getting monitored so I'll know how things are progressing. I wish I had a good answer for you other than that I agree with the PP's that you should talk to the office manager/doctor and express your concerns. My office is shut down so I don't have much choice but yours just being busy is no excuse. Good luck.

lana22 · December 2014

that is insane. i'd ask to speak to a nurse and then a dr. my ob wants to see me every week from 36 weeks on (although i'm older).

Alygohome · December 2014

Yeah that's pretty crazy, I am 32 weeks and seeing my doc every 2 weeks until I am 36 weeks and then every week.

[Deleted User] · December 2014

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Beevol · December 2014

Adding my voice to the choir - your doctor should be seeing you once every 2 weeks until ~36 weeks and then weekly thereafter. When I was a hospital social worker (in the US), anyone who did not follow that standard of care got an automatic social work consult as missing appointments are a huge red flag.

I would call and be that person who calls until I hear it from the doctor. Sorry to hear that your OB's practice sucks, after this baby is born (if not before), I'd find a new doctor.

baloneydisc · December 2014

It's definitely not ok. So many things (like pre-e) can happen quickly and you won't necessarily have any symptoms. Call back and talk to someone at our doctor's office and don't let them push you off. These appointments are important!

jennypolkadots · December 2014

@kkleigh10 - I think you are confused about what I posted. I never asked or assumed something was "wrong". I just thought there must be a reason for the late ultrasound, whatever that may be. With a normal pregnancy, an ultrasound at 36 weeks is not in the ACOG guidelines. It's clearly indicated that ultrasound should only be used for medical purposes and that it's best to limit exposure. The 20 week scan is needed to detect abnormalities, placenta location, and a million other things. I am puzzled about what medical indication a doctor would have to perform a 36 week scan in a normal, low risk pregnancy. Just because your insurance will cover it doesn't make it a wise medical choice.

I don't see how my choice of a midwife is at all relevant. Practically all of my friends and family have delivered with OBGYNs and I have never known someone to get a late ultrasound without a true medical indication. I wonder if the same OB would order a 36 week ultrasound for his/her patients whose insurance won't cover it without a medical indication (standard of care set by ACOG), or what indication they are filing with the insurance without telling the mother.

https://www.acog.org/-/media/For-Patients/faq025.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20141211T1211545042

cafecreme · December 2014

Not OK. Call and complain, and if they aren't willing to fit you in, in such a crucial time in your pregnancy, then you'll find another OB. 7 weeks is crazy.

It might be very hard to find an OB to take you, but I would at least try.

kotkoda · December 2014

No, as far as I know, you should be seeing your OB every week in the last month!

cinderella4282 · December 2014

uh no.......i see my midwife every two weeks until 35-36 weeks when I go every week. I had pre-eclampsia show up at 34 weeks with my first, was put on bed rest and ended up delivering at 36 weeks. Not to say something like that would happen to you - but at this point in pregnancy you need to be monitored way more often than a six week gap!!

wittyacronym · December 2014

I have a standard, low risk pregnancy - U/s at 6 weeks for dating and another at 22 weeks for anatomy scan. I am scheduled to have another at 36 weeks for position/size. That is fairly average for US health care. As for appointments, @sterlinros‌ we are monthly until 36 weeks, then every two weeks until term. I'm actually happy that the appointments are not super frequent because to me that means everything is going well. Of course if there are any additional issues, I can always get an earlier appt, email my doc, or go to L&D. So no, not everyone goes in every two weeks throughout the 3rd trimester. That being said, if you feel more comfortable with the more freq appointments (and it is what your doc suggests!) then by all means call the office and insist on being seen.

janda426 · December 2014

Has OP even been back to read the comments?

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33wks pregnant and my OB doesn't have time to see me for 6 weeks, is that OK?!

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