First Prenatal Visit

[Anonymous]

Okay I am going to be the wet blanket. 11 weeks is late for a first appointment esp. for your first pregnancy since doc has no frame of reference. You need to call back the office and ask the doc to call you--I had a situation with a recptionist for the same thing--talked to the doc and worked everything out. Remember that the receptionist..or at least some..do not care, they don't have to worry about their practice and could leave at any time..Why is 11 weeks late? You may have a range of things to check out and have no idea if it's a busy time for some of the testing procedures and this is not a time in your life where you should bank on an early appointment. You also may need to have some hormone levels checked out and may also want some comfort time in results before further testing. Therefore, I really advise you to be proactive on your treatment-you deserve this. Also on the slim chance..and I mean slim..that the doctor won't work things out-you want to know now if they are so rigid. FYI-anytime I have any kind of issue, I can get right in.

[Anonymous]

I would call the OB office back and ask to have a nurse or doctor call you to discuss it. The receptionists don't have medical training; they have training in office rules.

[Anonymous]

I would also go before 11 weeks. The first trimester is the riskiest one in terms of miscarriage etc, so personally, I would want to do my sono before week 10. I think all the PPs that said no problem to wait must have had healthy pregnancies. Of course hopefully everything will be fine, but I'd rather have the piece of mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay I am going to be the wet blanket. 11 weeks is late for a first appointment esp. for your first pregnancy since doc has no frame of reference. You need to call back the office and ask the doc to call you--I had a situation with a recptionist for the same thing--talked to the doc and worked everything out. Remember that the receptionist..or at least some..do not care, they don't have to worry about their practice and could leave at any time..Why is 11 weeks late? You may have a range of things to check out and have no idea if it's a busy time for some of the testing procedures and this is not a time in your life where you should bank on an early appointment. You also may need to have some hormone levels checked out and may also want some comfort time in results before further testing. Therefore, I really advise you to be proactive on your treatment-you deserve this. Also on the slim chance..and I mean slim..that the doctor won't work things out-you want to know now if they are so rigid. FYI-anytime I have any kind of issue, I can get right in.

I agree with this. Esp about the hormone levels, but also bloodwork, e.g., the CBC and thyriod. A low thyroid, which many people have but do not know, can cause one to miscarry. Do you think your PCP could run interference for you if needed?

[Anonymous]

I think Nuchal is done between 9-11 weeks, CVS is right after that time for a short window. Nuchal is so much better than the later AFP screen. The AFP yields a much higher false report of risk increase than the nuchal. Receptionists can be notorius at trying to get patients to go away. Call again, have your PCP call on your behalf, or go to another practice to get started. You can also switch during pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

I agree with 12:18 -- I would want to be seen before 11 weeks. I would either call the receptionist to push for an earlier appointment or ask you PCP for another recommendation. Your PCP may praise this OB to the moon, but if you can't get in and reception is giving you a hard time, that should weigh in your analysis of this care provider as well.

The spirit in some of the posts appears to be that if you miscarry, it will be in the first trimester and there is nothing the OB can do. I disagree. There are certain hormone levels (e.g., low progesterone) that are easily treatable provided the issue is addressed quickly. Also, an early ultrasound will show that you are actually pregnant and can rule out an ectopic pregnancy (or potential health issues for you).

This is something entirely different than a genetic screen such as the NT. I had an NT last time. As for the NT, my OB referred me to a specialist. Without the referral, my insurance would not have paid the ~$400. Next time, I personally may skip the test. Whether you wish to have a genetic screen (and are willing to pay for it out-of-pocket) is your choice, OP. That choice should not be made for you by the receptionist's scheduling calendar.

[Anonymous]

The NT screen can be done up to 14 weeks (13w6d is the cutoff). The ultrasound technician has to be specially trained for this test, and I believe it requires a higher-level u/s machine as well, so you usually have to be referred to a specialist to have it done. When I had mine done, it was at a radiology practice, but I believe maternal-fetal specialists do them as well.

OP, congratulations and best wishes.