Dr Visits, Deconstructed?

[Anonymous]

Hello ladies. I'm 18 weeks and have another 3.5 weeks before my next doctor's appointment. I have a question about doctor visits and don't want to bother my doctor with it because it's probably something that other people can tell me. I'm curious about how the next couple of doctor visits will go. I've now had 3 visits with my OB in addition to a first visit with another OB. My first OB visit involved pelvic exams, ultrasounds, peeing in a cup and blood taken. I've decined any genetic testing (will do a 20 week ultrasound to screen for problems that might present birthing difficulty). The next two involved listening or looking at the heartbeat and a weigh in and that's it.

I like to know, going into a doctor's office, what to expect. Curious when I'll have to drop my pants again and when I might need to "donate" my blood to the medical cause again (I have to psych myself up for this -- still after all this time cannot get over the needle thing...). So in order to help a Type A mom know what to expect, anyone whose BTDT care to outline how their visits went from 20 weeks on?

I'd really appreciate any comments.

[Anonymous]

Your next appt. should involve a sonogram - between the 18-22 mark is typical. At this point, you can find out the sex of the baby, but more importantly, the doc. can assess the amniotic fluid, umbilical cord, fetal measurements/development, etc.

After that, most of the monthly pre natal visits will just be belly checks (just lift your shirt) - measuring your belly and listening to the heart beat. Literally a 5 min. appt.

Between 28-30 weeks you'll have to drink the glucola for GD.

After 34 weeks (although it varies by doc. offices) will want to see you weekly. The 38 week was a pelvic exam to check for dilation, etc.

At my doc office, there is always a urine sample taken to check for glucose, protein, and hydration. Blood pressure and weight are also recorded.

All this assuming a textbook/normal pregnancy.

Obviously, if you or the baby are at risk/need bedrest/medical complications/extra sonograms than the doc. visits may be a little different.

[Anonymous]

My 20 w was a sono and a weigh-in, pee in a cup, listen to HR and "how are you?". Thats it.

24 w - gestational diabetes test instead of sono, but otherwise the same as 20 w.

I dont think there are many pelvic exams, if any, until much closer to the end. And after the glucose test at 24 w, I dont remember many blood draws.

[Anonymous]

I'm at 38 weeks now. From what I remember, most visits have only involved checking my weight and blood pressure and listening to the baby's heartbeat. At some point, I think around 30 weeks (?) the doctor also started measuring my fundal height, which is basically measuring from the bottom to the top of the uterus with a measuring tape. I still have to pee in a cup at every visit. At around 36 weeks you will be checked for Group B Strep, which you will need to drop your pants for (and you'll probably be getting internal exams at your weekly visits after that, too). I also had blood drawn at 36 weeks. I could be forgetting something, but I think that's it. As long as you're having a healthy pregnancy every appointment will be pretty quick and uneventful.

[Anonymous]

15:43 poster here--yes, I forgot about the glucola. I did it at 24 weeks, I think.

[Anonymous]

Did your doctor tell you in advance that you would be doing the glucola test on the next appointment? I understand this is a lengthy test and I will need to arrange more time off from work than I ordinarily get for appointments. I'm also terrified of doing it. I hate blood draws and I hate drinking or eating disgusting things... I hope this is 28 weeks and not 24 weeks for me!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did your doctor tell you in advance that you would be doing the glucola test on the next appointment? I understand this is a lengthy test and I will need to arrange more time off from work than I ordinarily get for appointments. I'm also terrified of doing it. I hate blood draws and I hate drinking or eating disgusting things... I hope this is 28 weeks and not 24 weeks for me!!!

At my doc. office they give it to you at the end of the visit prior to the GD test.

The nurse gave me the bottle at my 24 week visit to hang on to so I could drink it 1 hour before my 28 week visit.

It really doesn't taste that bad - like a very sugary Gatorade (I had the option of choosing orange or fruit punch flavor too).

[Anonymous]

oh, ok. that makes more sense. Glad to hear it wasn't that bad, though I've heard some women say it was really vile and they had a hard time keeping it down. (Shudder)

[Anonymous]

I had my GD test at 28 weeks with both pregnancies (2 different docs). I think it tastes like a flat orange soda. Not bad. Also, as long as everything is normal, this should be the last time you have blood drawn.

Some doctors start internal exams at 36 weeks. If you don't want one, tell your doc that. They're not necessary and don't predict when labor will begin.

[Anonymous]

I'd echo what PPs have said, but I have one more random blood draw -- for some reason my HIV status wasn't in my chart, and the doc said the L&D nurses would want to know that for risk management purposes when I got to the hospital, so better to get it out of the way now. If that had been caught earlier it could have been done at the same time as another blood draw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had my GD test at 28 weeks with both pregnancies (2 different docs). I think it tastes like a flat orange soda. Not bad. Also, as long as everything is normal, this should be the last time you have blood drawn.

Some doctors start internal exams at 36 weeks. If you don't want one, tell your doc that. They're not necessary and don't predict when labor will begin.

Isn't there a strep B culture taken sometimes around 34 weeks? And if so, do they really swab your rectum also? I don't want to do this!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a strep B culture taken sometimes around 34 weeks? And if so, do they really swab your rectum also? I don't want to do this!!!

I had the group B strep culture taken at my 36 week visit. Yes, they swab your rectum. It takes about 2 seconds, it's really not that bad. And considering what you need to go through to deliver your baby, it is NOTHING. Start letting go of your hangups about your body now.

[Anonymous]

Another thing to consider during the next couple of months, since the appts are rather routine, is to use them to get to know any other drs in your practice that might be on-call when you deliver. That way you can put a face to the name and they have a chance to meet you.

[Anonymous]

I ask at each appointment, when setting up the next appointment, what to expect from the next one. So far (21 weeks) it's mostly been peeing in a cup and listening to the heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

The group B strep swab is NO big deal and takes two seconds. Don't stress about it. PP is right, labor really puts these tests into perspective.

The glucola tasted like sugary, flat orange soda. I don't drink soda so it was gross, but it was quick and not traumatic!

My doctor also did pelvic exams the last few weeks, and while not exactly pleasant, they were very brief and did not involve a speculum or the kind of thoroughness you experience at your yearly exam.