Question about first appointment

ceillyang · December 2015

Hi moms, I'm meeting my OB for the first time on Monday. I'll be 9w2d. I'm reading in this forum that you don't always get an ultrasound on the first appointment. Does that mean I won't even get to hear the heartbeat? I wanted to bring my husband along but if they're not going to do anything but run tests then I don't want him to take time off of work to join me. However, the nurses informed me that the appointment will be a long one--- an hour minimum. What else would we do that would take an hour? Did you bring your spouse to your first appointment? I'm a first time mom so any advice will help. Thanks.

LaceyH13 · December 2015

I would be really surprised if they didn't at least try to find the heartbeat with the Doppler, though be prepared that it might take them a bit to find it - that isn't unusual. They may also take labs (draw blood, urine), discuss how pregnancy will affect your routine (foods to stay away from, etc) and maybe do a pelvic exam. I was glad my husband was there even though he wasn't involved in most of it.

ecwk · December 2015

Um...did you ask the office what the visit would entail?

ceillyang · December 2015

I just assumed that the first appointment would involve looking at baby in some way shape or form. They did say that if I tested a BFP then they won't need to do a blood test. My first appointment was at 5 weeks but I called and asked if that was too early and they said yes and rescheduled me to 9 weeks. I was curious to see what other mom's experienced. Does the OB give an ultra sound during the first appointment or does he order one for a separate time? I know every clinic is different. I think I might just email them just to be sure.

ecwk · December 2015

You said it yourself, every clinic is different. I had an u/s at a little over five weeks and at seven weeks but many women on here have none until 12 weeks. It's likely too early to hear HB with a Doppler. Again, no one here can tell you what the protocol is at your doctor's office. You need to ask them, not us.

ceillyang · December 2015

Thanks. I know I will contact them but I was still curious of other moms' experiences.

kyraaD · December 2015

every office does things differently. i personally didnt get my first prenatal appointment until 12 weeks. they told me my appointment would take about 45mins. they did a complete physical, checking weight, blood pressure, etc. they also did a pap test as well as an STI test. at the end the doctor said she would try to get the heart beat on the doppler, which she succeed in doing. my SO didn't come with me to this appointment. i had my dating/FTS US 3 days later at a radiology clinic.

being only 9 weeks along, i dont know if they'll try to get the heartbeat for you or not. if they try & don't get anything, dont panic. it's common for them to not be able to find the heartbeat so early on a doppler. you may or may not receive an US. some places do it, some don't.

jonesl12 · December 2015

We don't use the Doppler on anybody under 12 weeks where I work.

dennyandlee · December 2015

I think your best bet is to call your OB office and ask them what you can expect. I wouldn't hesitate to explain that you'd like your husband to come if they will be using the doppler or doing an u/s.

My first appt was at 5w5d. They just did bloodwork, general doc office workup (weight, blood pressure), and asked me a lot of questions. When I met with my OB there happened to be an in room u/s machine and she said she'd just take a look and saw the sac but that was it. She said it was what she had expected because I wasn't yet 6 weeks and she did a "quickie" abdominal scan. It didn't really count as an ultrasound. They scheduled me for my next appointment at 8w5d for my first "real" u/s.

Edited to add that they did not try anything with the doppler at the first appoitment but did use it and found the heartbeat at my 8w5d appointment.

ceillyang · December 2015

Thanks! I just got a message back from the nurse saying no ultrasound but depending on the size of my uterus they might try a doppler. @jonesl12 she did say 9 weeks might be too early, too. I'm just dieing to hear a heartbeat, it has already been 2 months!

I'll make an update here after my appointment.

jessicarose0602 · December 2015

Hope you managed to hear the heartbeat with the doppler. I went in for my obgyn appointment on monday and they tried. I was 9 weeks. She couldn't find the heartbeat. Did an u/s today and hb was 167 but only saw the flicker. Didn't get to hear it yet. She said normally it's still too early to hear a hb with a doppler when only 9 weeks along.

splsmama2016 · December 2015

My first appointment was at 8w 5d, with the NP and not my OB (I won't meet him until January when I go for the anatomy scan). We did pap, internal ultrasound and were able to date the baby (which measured a day ahead). We didn't HEAR the hb, but saw the flicker. I just heard the hb via Doppler yesterday for the first time at 13w3d.

But as everyone has said, every office is different.

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