Doctor visit discussions

adiaz132003 · October 2015

I figured I'd start a thread for us to post any questions we have after going in for things like beta draws and check ins with our doctors. There have been a lot of questions lately so I think I'd be easier to have everyone's questions seen and answered if it's all in one place.

aloha5736 · October 2015

My doctor didn't even want to do an HCG blood test today... I asked her too as my first OB appointment isn't for 8 weeks haha. I'm honestly fine with it, but for piece of mind to know the FRER were not lying.

benicode · October 2015

Now, if only people would actually post on this thread instead of starting multiple individual ones!

adiaz132003 · October 2015

Bump to put it back on the front page

amangels2 · October 2015

I had my second beta test yesterday. I get the results sometime this morning. I'm going to have to hide my phone so I'm not tempted to check the message during class.

peaceinnature · October 2015

Just curious: what is a beta test? Sorry if that's a silly question! I'm pretty sure I never had that with my son. The first blood test was at 12 weeks and I think it just tested my iron levels and whether I was rh positive etc.

Mr0616 · October 2015

So I don't see the doc until the 21st. Seems a bit far off since I see other people posting they go in almost immediately to get blood work, etc. This would be my first so I'm not really sure what to expect. After the visit in the 21st they told me they would schedule my first ob appointment after that. Is this normal?

mkemommy · October 2015

I won't be going in until week 8 @KOR1219 and this is my first too. The doctor actually wanted to see me later than that but I have an international trip planned at the start of week 10 and asked the nurse if I could please see the doc early because I need some travel advice and likely some shots.

PamHalpert45 · October 2015

My first appointment will be Oct. 26th. I think I will be around 8 weeks. According to my LMP, I will be around 9 weeks. I had an appointment about a week earlier, but I gave it up to switch to a different OB in my practice.

jerseybroadwaybaby · October 2015

My appointment is the 1st week of November. I think it just depends on your doc. I use a midwife so I *think* I have fewer appointments than normal docs. I know I have fewer ultrasounds (my SIL just had a baby and she had 5-6) I only had 3 maybe 4 with my LOs.

adiaz132003 · October 2015

veggiebabylove said:
Just curious: what is a beta test? Sorry if that's a silly question! I'm pretty sure I never had that with my son. The first blood test was at 12 weeks and I think it just tested my iron levels and whether I was rh positive etc.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but they will draw your blood a couple times to make sure that your hcg levels are rising at the proper rate. It's normally only done if you are high risk or have suffered losses.

adiaz132003 · October 2015

KOR1219 said:
So I don't see the doc until the 21st. Seems a bit far off since I see other people posting they go in almost immediately to get blood work, etc. This would be my first so I'm not really sure what to expect. After the visit in the 21st they told me they would schedule my first ob appointment after that. Is this normal?

As long as your are not high risk they normally wait to do the first visit at 8 weeks which I believe is a lot of chit chat about family history and stuff like that. At 12 weeks they may do blood work and search for a heartbeat, first ultrasound at 20 weeks is the standard. My first appt is also the 21st which is just shy of 8 weeks for me.

kattyleigh · October 2015

@KOR1219 definitely normal. They only have you come in early for blood work if you've ever had a loss or you are high risk. This is my third baby and I'm not going until the 21st too. The wait is torture!

GinnyJ2012 · October 2015

@PamHalpert45 my first appointment is on the 26 too! My Dr office schedules you based off of LMP to come in between 8 and 10 weeks. I know I ovulated later in my cycle so I'll be around 7 weeks at the appointment. This is my second pregnancy at this office so first visit is an u/s for dating and to check for HB and growth, along with blood work and a visit with the nurse practitioner. I wont see my OB until 12 weeks unless there is a problem.

Also I like the idea of having one thread for major discussions like this. The August 14 board I was on did this as well. It helped keep things organized!

soralette · October 2015

I also like having one big thread. I'm big on organization, though, ha.

adiaz132003 said:

Just curious: what is a beta test? Sorry if that's a silly question! I'm pretty sure I never had that with my son. The first blood test was at 12 weeks and I think it just tested my iron levels and whether I was rh positive etc.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but they will draw your blood a couple times to make sure that your hcg levels are rising at the proper rate. It's normally only done if you are high risk or have suffered losses.

This is absolutely right. If you're not having betas drawn, try to be happy about it -- it means the doctors feel pretty sure you're doin' great on your own.

Same with all the other stuff those of us who've had losses, are high-risk, and/or have gone thru an RE to get here end up getting -- we only get it because there's a stronger possibility of stuff going wrong.

That said -- appt today to talk to my RE about our most recent retrieval (right before the transfer), and I also plan to ask what the transition-to-regular-care plan is.

I'm also going to ask for my fourth-and-last beta draw to tide me over to my 7w ultrasound next week.

matthewsdm · October 2015

I'm in a new city and new doctor for #3, so I was surprised when I called yesterday that they are having me come in today! Sounds like it's just a confirmation and "get to know you" appointment. Hoping for no blood draw because I hate those!

Mr0616 · October 2015

Ok thanks @PamHalpert45 and @mkemommy!

cattuccino · October 2015

Many of us don't see a doctor until 8ish weeks. here, in Canada (Or Ontario at least) I won't see my OB until about 16 weeks (pending her patient load even).

My first appointment will be the 21st - and it won't be much. Weight, urine, blood tests, blood pressure, history etc.

For first time moms (or S/TMS etc that may have forgotten) this first appointment is a good time to discuss and plan if you want to do prescreening NTS/IPS testing. in Canada our healthcare covers it, so they offer it to every pregnant mom, but it is optional - and I know especially with insurances and stuff it might not be as openly offered in the US - but read up on it. It's really non-invasive, and just informative.

peaceinnature · October 2015

@cattuccino I'm in Ontario too!

@adiaz132003 and @soralette Thanks for answering my question!

aloha5736 · October 2015

I won't see mine either till 8 weeks although I called and asked questions about MS and the flu shot. My PCP did my HCG yesterday at 4 weeks, it was 196 whatever that means. I'm not high risk so she was just confirming pregnancy, more so because I wanted her too!

R0824H · October 2015

@cattuccino & @veggiebabylove *high five* to the Ontario moms!

VikingGirl12 · October 2015

Yall don't have to get Paps and boobs felt up on your first visit? I'm kinda hoping I can skip it this time since I just had a pap a few months ago.... [-X

jerseybroadwaybaby · October 2015

I always did @VikingMama13

VikingGirl12 · October 2015

jerseybroadwaybaby said:
I always did @VikingMama13

Loving my new nickname

sorarose · October 2015

I don't have my appt until 8 weeks after LMP (although I know it'll be more like 7weeks 4 days based on temping), but I remember freaking out last pregnancy and they took my betas because of it. This time around, I'm much more relaxed about it. I think the nurse whom I made the appointment with was more outwardly enthusiastic than me. I'm trying to be really zen with everything, as I'm not even 4 weeks yet!

soralette · October 2015

aloha5736 said:

I won't see mine either till 8 weeks although I called and asked questions about MS and the flu shot. My PCP did my HCG yesterday at 4 weeks, it was 196 whatever that means. I'm not high risk so she was just confirming pregnancy, more so because I wanted her too!

196 at 4wks/14DPO is fantastic, generally. If they do a second test, you can see how they're doubling, but if they're just confirming pregnancy, then it's a good number to be happy with.

aloha5736 · October 2015

@soralette thanks for the words of wisdom! Just confirming LOL, I didn't believe the 3 FRERs I took haha. Needed the bloodwork to convince me, but truly my MS should have been a good enough indicator LOL. I told the office I didn't want to come in, but for some reason they said "oh yea lets do blood work". I called because I just had no idea what was next. Then when I got there my PCP was like "no bloodwork". I was like I didn't come all the way to talk about prenatals, so I told her to confirm it by blood LOL.

PamHalpert45 · October 2015

VikingGirl12 said:

Yall don't have to get Paps and boobs felt up on your first visit? I'm kinda hoping I can skip it this time since I just had a pap a few months ago.... [-X

I am hoping this too. I just had one in August, so I would rather not have one again.

GinnyJ2012 · October 2015

VikingGirl12 said:
Yall don't have to get Paps and boobs felt up on your first visit? I'm kinda hoping I can skip it this time since I just had a pap a few months ago.... [-X

I only had a pap and exam during my pregnancy with DS1 because I was due for one. If you just had one a few months ago I wouldn't think you'd need one. I also had a transvaginal ultra sound at that appointment.

candicek15 · October 2015

@cattuccino, @veggiebabylove and @R082H - Me too! Go team Ontario!

ETA: Tag fail

amangels2 · October 2015

I just got the call back from my doctor. My levels went from 1500 last Thursday to over 6,300 yesterday. Doctor says everything looks great so far. Yay!

noslen0519 · October 2015

I had my yearly well visit incl. PAP in July, so I shouldn't need that right now. I'm going in on 10/21 for an ultrasound to confirm and date the pregnancy, and make sure everything is implanted in a good place. Hoping to see a heartbeat! I'll also get my vitamins and a flu shot.

Not sure if I need any blood work, as I was checked for being a carrier of CF and a few other things at the start of my last pregnancy. I did betas at 4 weeks last time because I was spotting, but I'm more relaxed about the whole thing this time around (spotting stopped last week) so I'm not worried.

The main thing I want to ask is if I am more prone to an SCH this time around since I had one at 6 weeks last time. The bleeding scared the crap out of me, and being out of the country at the time didn't help matters. Just want to know what to expect this time around so I don't panic.

sthomas1222 · October 2015

I'll be getting a pap at my first appt on 12/1. She said if I hadn't had one in the past year or 2 she does them as that is now the recommendation. It's been like 3 years for me and the MW I saw for my well woman care declined doing one this last visit when I had my IUD out.

NicknShan · October 2015

At what point do you call the doctor if your nausea is so bad? When do you know if you need a prescription?

MS is new for me :-(

sthomas1222 · October 2015

NicknShan said:

At what point do you call the doctor if your nausea is so bad? When do you know if you need a prescription? MS is new for me :-(

Oh no! If you're vomiting multiple times per day, can't keep fluids down or not even crackers.

Gwyneddlesliegrace · October 2015

You can always decline paps until after baby is here (or all together).

matthewsdm · October 2015

I just went today and since I just had mine in June, didn't have to get another!

cattuccino · October 2015

sthomas1222 said:

NicknShan said:

At what point do you call the doctor if your nausea is so bad? When do you know if you need a prescription?

MS is new for me :-(

Oh no! If you're vomiting multiple times per day, can't keep fluids down or not even crackers.

This - dehydration is a big concern.
I'm so sorry you're sick

I really hope it's regular morning sickness and not HG!

sorarose · October 2015

NicknShan said:

At what point do you call the doctor if your nausea is so bad? When do you know if you need a prescription? MS is new for me :-(

Please let us know how bad it is. Are you vomiting or just nauseous? I highly recommend Preggie Pops to take the edge off. I also had DH buy me some gingerale tonight. Hope you feel better soon!

VikingGirl12 · October 2015

Gwyneddlesliegrace said:
You can always decline paps until after baby is here (or all together).

Too many women in my family have had problems with their ovaries and lady parts so it's prob good I get it if it's recommended. Aaaaaand I'm too much of a hypochondriac to skip it

(

DoodleLAK1 · October 2015

cattuccino said:

sthomas1222 said:

NicknShan said:

At what point do you call the doctor if your nausea is so bad? When do you know if you need a prescription?

MS is new for me :-(

Oh no! If you're vomiting multiple times per day, can't keep fluids down or not even crackers.

This - dehydration is a big concern.
I'm so sorry you're sick

I really hope it's regular morning sickness and not HG!

What's hg?

Oh no!! I'm on my phone and I accidently hit the report button instead of quote! How do I u unreport something? Stupid fat fingers!

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