First OB Appointment

[twf]

How soon should you see your OB after you get a positive on your home test? My appointment isn't until January 18 and I took the test on December 9. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

congratulations on your pregnancy!!!! i was always amazed that the OB's typically dont see us right away after a positive test, for me with my first pregnancy, they saw me at 7 weeks, with this pregnancy 9 weeks..the only good thing in waiting that long is you will get an ultrasound at your first appt and a little picture of your baby, and you can see the heartbeat! hope you're feeling well!

[Anonymous]

Congratulations!

Usually, OBs say 8 weeks before the first appointment to confirm the pregnancy because by then the heartbeat comes through clearly. It sounds like you're ok with the first appointment timing, then.

My OB saw me a little earlier than expected (I was due for my annual anyway), so she was able to confirm the pregnancy with the urinalysis; but the sonogram at the time showed nothing more than a speck that she pointed out as the "yolk sac". Eeew! Plus, it was too early for a heartbeat, so I was a little bummed.

I am not sure what I was expecting to see, but the yolk sac didn't do much in the way of inducing excitement. However, it did confirm that I was pregnant! (I'm at 32.5 weeks now).

In any event, if you count from the first day of your last period, you'll probably be far enough along for the first sonogram to be more than a little speck and for the heartbeat to come through clearly.

Oh, and another thing, before your appointment, you should probably call your doc's office to check whether they need you to come in with a full bladder. Sometimes, a full bladder is needed for the tiny baby to show up clearly on the trans abdominal ultrasound (the one where they put goop on your tummy and glide the instrument over it).

Chances are, at the early stage they might do a vaginal ultrasound instead. That's what I had, twice! It's not the most comfy thing, but you'll be too preoccupied with looking at the monitor that you won't care. Basically, it feels like a slightly prolonged annual exam.

But check with your doc's office if they're actually going to do an ultrasound. I understand a full bladder is not needed if you're having a vaginal ultrasound. Also make sure that they're actually going to DO an ultrasound. It can be disappointing when you think you're going to see the baby and it turns out that it was just a routine appointment that had nothing to do with sonograms.

Oh, and finally, bring your partner along to this appointment. It really is something else to see the little creature and to HEAR the heart beating.

Congratulations, again! This is a "delicate" time for you. Take it easy in terms of exercise and be sure to take that folic acid and as much good nutrition as you can!

[Anonymous]

Congrats! While you want to see a doctor right away I can tell you that sometimes the waiting is not such a bad thing. I had to be seen early as I previously had an ectopic pregnancy. I was thrilled to know that the risk for ectopic was not present, but the first u/s looked as if I would miscarry. (this was at 5.5 weeks) The second a week later showed a heartbeat but a baby still only measuring 5.5 weeks, not 6.5. It wasn't until I was 8 weeks that all showed up ok. This as a result left me anxious and unable to embrace the pregnancy for several weeks.

My point in telling you this is that I have come to realize sometimes all this early technology is not the best thing in the world. I am surprised though that a doctor's office wouldn't want to at least do a HCG blood draw to have a baseline number. I stayed with gyn initially- saw OB first time around 11 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on your dr. whether or not you will get an ultrasound. I only had one ultrasound my entire pregnancy and that was the "big ultrasound" at 20 weeks. For my first appointment, my OB just did an internal exam and did not try to find the heartbeat since I was only about 8 weeks along. At the next appointment when I was about 12 weeks, he did listen for the heartbeat. So, the timing sounds right to me, but it depends on your dr. as to what they will actually do at that appt.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate the responses. Very helpful.