First Prenatal Visit

[Anonymous]

When does the first prenatal visit typically occur? I confirmed my pregnancy with my PCP @ 6 weeks and she said I am in good health. She recommended an OB/Gyn that she likes, but I was not able to schedule an appointment as a new patient until the last week of March. I will be starting my 11th week by then. Is that too late for a first appointment? Guess I should have found an OB/Gyn before I got pregnant, but I love my PCP so much and use her for everything that I was really not too motivated until now. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Most women have their first appointment at 8 weeks. I would not be comfortable waiting until week 11 because you have to make decisions pretty early on about what kind of early testing you're going to have done. For example, if you're going to do a nuchal screen the sono has to happen around 12-13 weeks. That only gives you a week or two to decide if you want to do it and then schedule an appointment, which may be with another practitioner, depending on your insurance and the OB. It can be hard to get sono appointments in some offices. I'm sure they'll squeeze you in, but why put yourself in that position? I'm sure the new OB can get you in earlier. You made a "new patient" appointment, but do they know you're pregnant? I would make sure they know that and ask them to get you in earlier. I'm sure your PCP already told you this, but start taking your prenatals now. Congratulations and good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I did tell the receptionist that I was 6 weeks along and my PCP had told me to set up an appointment in the next month. She said, "Well the first available appointment for a new patient isn't until the last week in March." I asked if that was too late, and the receptionist responded, "Its up to you." She made it sound like it wasn't a big deal to wait until then. But now I am reading everywhere that the first visit happens around 8-10 weeks and I am worrying about it since I will be Week 11. My PCP spoke so highly of this OB/Gyn that I am nervous to look around somewhere else. This is my first baby and I am feeling so clueless!

[Anonymous]

At least take pre natal vitamins in the mean time.

Congratulations!!!

[Anonymous]

I think I'd try to go somewhere else (maybe you can find another highly rated practice, either through DCUM, mothering.com, or friends) and then go to the OB you prefer for your 2nd appointment. That's what I think I'd do.

[Anonymous]

Just call and tell them to get you in earlier. You can usually ask to get called in case of last minute cancellations.

[Anonymous]

I think 11 weeks is fine. I think I went in around 8 weeks, but all he did was do an internal exam to confirm I was pregnant (no sono or listening for the heartbeat). At my next appt around 12 weeks, we heard the heartbeat. I don't think I had any tests right then either, but I guess it depends on your OB. I also only had one ultrasound - the "big one" at 20 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I think you can also do a fair amount of research on your own, regarding the first trimester screening, which would be one of the primary reasons to try & get an appt before 11 weeks. Although both my doctors (I switched to a new practice after my initial 9wk appt with my prior OBGYN) gave me basic info about the screening, I feel like I learned more online & from friends who'd been through it. (I was also lucky to have a friend who is a genetic counselor, which was a wonderful resource.) But all that helped me to make the decision more than what my doc said. Just my 2 cents, I know this wasn't exactly your question!

[Anonymous]

I don't see what all the hype is about having your first visit in the 11th week. I went in at 9 1/2 weeks and all they did was have a consultation (talking) and there was no exam. I scheduled my ultrasound and went in during week 12. I declined genetic screening because the results wouldn't change my mind either way. As many women know, if you're going to miscarry it's going to most likely be in the first 12 weeks. Since you're only 8 weeks along, it's unlikely they'll even hear a heartbeat. I would continue on and get plenty of rest, take your vitamins and keep that 11 week appointment!

[Anonymous]

Since this is your first time pregnant, I understand why you are anxious to have an appt, I was too.

However, now that I'm pregnant with #2, I'm in no rush b/c I know nothing is going to happen at the office and I'm already taking Folic acid and a few other essential vitamins. For me the testing is irrelevant because it is very innacurate and just gets people worked up, I will not be doing any tests for birth defects. Even at the end of my 1st pregnancy I started skipping appointments, I think there are too many appointments and it got really tiresome going in there all the time and waiting when I was not even examined half the time.

[Anonymous]

The PPs are right that if you're not doing any genetic testing or screening, then an 11 week appointment is probably fine. But I think you need to make that decision after seeing an OB. I don't think you should be making that decision based on internet research and talking to friends. Certain people are more susceptible based on heredity, race, etc. So I don't think this is about being a nervous first-time mom, but about wanting to be informed. good luck.

[Anonymous]

Who is your PCP by the way? I am looking for one!

[Anonymous]

congrats on your pregnancy! this is wonderful news and it makes perfect sense that you want to bee seen before your first trimester is almost over! i was seen at 8-10 wks with both pregnancies, and they did internal exam and found heartbeat, gave me a picture of the sweet little peanut, and provided tons of info on pregnancy, screenings, etc..you are experiencing the frustration of modern medicine=dont let the receptionist determine the course of your appointments, i'd call back and say i really need to be seen in the next 2 weeks, i have so many questions, if they cant accomodate you than find another practice=you will learn that you have to be a major advocate during the next 9 mos for yourself and baby...the receptionists and some of the nurses/aides in my practice are horribly rude and insensitive...so take the bull by the horns and get in to be seen, that first appt with the OB makes it all feel so real=and seeing the heartbeat is really cool and will bring tears to your eyes...you are not unreasonable at all to want to get seen, as for my, by 11 wks i was already barfing 5-10 times a day and needed lots of reassurance by my medical team that i would be ok and all was normal, good luck@

[Anonymous]

I would not be too worried about your 1st appointment at week 11.

What I would do in the meantime is:
1. Take pre-natal vitamins
2. Evaluate your current diet and adjust if you need to. There are a lot of books / online resources out there that will tell you foods / medicines / environmental factors you should focus on and things to avoid.
3. Get an understanding of the screening tests that are available for you. Depending on your age, family history, ethnicity etc, you may have higher or lower risks for various genetic issues. Educate yourself and prepare yourself for your 1st appointment with any questions you have about screening tests.
4. Relax, you will have many years to stress over things for you and your family.

Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice... I've been on prenatals since I went off the pill a few months ago. My MD told me to start as soon as I quit the pill even before we officially started trying, so that should be okay. (Phew!) I do have a dumb question about genetic testing though-- is this done by your OB, or does your OB refer you somewhere else for the test? We did some research last night about the nuchal translucency testing, and I am just wondering if that is something that she will do at my first visit if I ask for it? Or do I schedule that to occur at a later date at the hospital?

Oh- as for the person who asked about my PCP-- I go to Premier Primary Care. I LOVE Dr. Kong. She gives the most painless pap smear and pelvic exam in the world and she is so patient and gentle and informative. I think the world of her. The practice itself is BUSY and the front desk people are scattered, but the nurses are just so nice and the 5 women doctors who work there are awesome. (I usually see Dr. Kong, but have also seen Dr. Park and Dr. Gorelick-- they are all great.) They sometimes run behind on appointments if you go in the afternoon, but the flip side is that they will never rush you, so I think it is an okay tradeoff. If you schedule morning appointments, you are usually okay.