Anonymous wrote:You have gotten some good advice...the only thing I have to add is if you want genetic testing done for cystic fibrosis or any other specific disease, DONT just draw blood for cystic fibrosis by itself. Counsyl is MUCH cheaper and tests for 100 other genetically inherited diseases as well. This was an expensive mistake for me. Cystic fibrosis test alone cost me $400 AFTER arguing with the company while counsyl ended up being a $25 lab copay.

Thanks - I will look into Counsyl. Is this kind of testing pretty typical? I've seen it recommended for older or high-risk moms, but I wasn't sure if younger first-time moms were having it done as well. Do you think it's recommended for a 31-32 year old first time mother, or could it just do more harm than good by making us worry unnecessarily?

OP here. While I appreciate all the replies, I don't really need to be shamed by posters or told I'm not ready to consider having kids! I know I need to go to the gyno, and said so in my original post. I'm obviously trying to get prepared to TTC and was hoping to get any and all info from posters who have gone through it in DC/VA/MD. I think that fact that I'm posting here shows that I am trying to get educated on the topic. I actually recently took a couple months off work to make time to go to the doctor, dentist, get into better shape, decompress, and develop a better daily routine, and am reading a couple of books on preconception health, so it's discouraging to be berated for not knowing "basic things," as if I don't even have the right to think about pregnancy.

Someone mentioned looking into a new gyno, and I'm definitely interested in that. I'm based in NOVA, so I was looking at INOVA Fairfax in Falls Church. I've also heard good things about Virginia Hospital Center. Anyone have thoughts on either? If you have a specific OBGYN who is affiliated with one of these practices, I'd love to hear about that, too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. Had no idea about the vaccine issues - will be sure to double check during the next appointment.

Yes, I know I should be going into the gyno on a yearly basis, but I hate to and have been putting it off for years. It's partly a cultural thing - my mother never goes, either.

That's not a good excuse. You need to take better care of yourself. I also don't think you're ready to Ttc if you don't know about basic things like vaccines etc. so schedule a prenatal consult with an OB GYN before you do anything else.

NP: Adults needing to re-up on vaccines is a fairly recent development, hardly "basic." Of course all woman should have annual well-woman check ups, but this whole "you're not ready to TTC" is a bit much. Pregnancy is long, and many perfectly great parents don't feel ready for everything when they begin TTC. Ease up.

My gynecologist said as a low risk woman in my 30's I can go 3-5 years between Pap smears.

Do you like your gyno and where they deliver babies? You might look to switch before you go in for another appointment if you either don't love the practice or don't love the hospital(s) they are allifilated with.

You have gotten some good advice...the only thing I have to add is if you want genetic testing done for cystic fibrosis or any other specific disease, DONT just draw blood for cystic fibrosis by itself. Counsyl is MUCH cheaper and tests for 100 other genetically inherited diseases as well. This was an expensive mistake for me. Cystic fibrosis test alone cost me $400 AFTER arguing with the company while counsyl ended up being a $25 lab copay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. Had no idea about the vaccine issues - will be sure to double check during the next appointment.

Yes, I know I should be going into the gyno on a yearly basis, but I hate to and have been putting it off for years. It's partly a cultural thing - my mother never goes, either.

That's not a good excuse. You need to take better care of yourself. I also don't think you're ready to Ttc if you don't know about basic things like vaccines etc. so schedule a prenatal consult with an OB GYN before you do anything else.

NP: Adults needing to re-up on vaccines is a fairly recent development, hardly "basic." Of course all woman should have annual well-woman check ups, but this whole "you're not ready to TTC" is a bit much. Pregnancy is long, and many perfectly great parents don't feel ready for everything when they begin TTC. Ease up.

Ok but OP is asking what she needs to do. The first step isn't bbt etc, it's checking that you're healthy enough for pregnancy. OP doesn't know that, since she had had a well woman visit in she doesn't know how long. She could save herself a lot of heart ache by taking a month off and attending to that. I know plenty of clueless people go on to have healthy babies/pregnancies but again, OP isn't in a rush and asked for basic advice.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. Had no idea about the vaccine issues - will be sure to double check during the next appointment.

Yes, I know I should be going into the gyno on a yearly basis, but I hate to and have been putting it off for years. It's partly a cultural thing - my mother never goes, either.

Start taking prenatal vitamins and definitely book a preconception visit. They can check for common genetic issues with just a blood draw and as others have mentioned making sure your vaccines are up to date is important too. Apparently I was not immune to chicken pox despite having had a mild case of it when I was a child. You don't want chicken pox when you're pregnant.

Trust me, I understand hating going to the gyno. It causes me great anxiety (I have sexual trauma in my past and the examines feel very invasive to me). With that said though, no matter the reason, your health is important and you need to go regularly for exams. Not to mention when you do get pregnant, you have to go in for appointments a lot. As much as it sucks, you might as well get used to it now!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. Had no idea about the vaccine issues - will be sure to double check during the next appointment.

Yes, I know I should be going into the gyno on a yearly basis, but I hate to and have been putting it off for years. It's partly a cultural thing - my mother never goes, either.

That's not a good excuse. You need to take better care of yourself. I also don't think you're ready to Ttc if you don't know about basic things like vaccines etc. so schedule a prenatal consult with an OB GYN before you do anything else.

NP: Adults needing to re-up on vaccines is a fairly recent development, hardly "basic." Of course all woman should have annual well-woman check ups, but this whole "you're not ready to TTC" is a bit much. Pregnancy is long, and many perfectly great parents don't feel ready for everything when they begin TTC. Ease up.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. Had no idea about the vaccine issues - will be sure to double check during the next appointment.

Yes, I know I should be going into the gyno on a yearly basis, but I hate to and have been putting it off for years. It's partly a cultural thing - my mother never goes, either.

That's not a good excuse. You need to take better care of yourself. I also don't think you're ready to Ttc if you don't know about basic things like vaccines etc. so schedule a prenatal consult with an OB GYN before you do anything else.

Thanks, all. Had no idea about the vaccine issues - will be sure to double check during the next appointment.

Yes, I know I should be going into the gyno on a yearly basis, but I hate to and have been putting it off for years. It's partly a cultural thing - my mother never goes, either.

Yep check your vaccines. I had a couple for travel and I just needed to wait one cycle not a few.

Start taking a prenatal now.

See your ob/gyn for an annual. And maybe be on top of that on an annual basis now.

You should also mention that you are TTC to your regular doctor and get a physical with blood work. If your thyroid is off for example it makes getting pregnant a lot harder.

Get a copy of Taking Chaege of Your Fertility and start doing the OPK thing. Wondfos on Amazon are the cheapest. Though I like the Clearblue smilies the best.

Good luck!

Your OB should take some bloodwork to see if your vaccines are still effective. MMR can be less effective in adulthood and you might need a booster--and you shouldn't TTC for a couple months after the booster.

All my obgyn did was prescribe me prenatal vitamins and did a papsmear.

When I started TTC I booked a preconception visit w my OB, to get everything checked out. It's recommended. In my case I got pregnant before that visit.

You should also start prenatal vitamins now, and stop any medications that aren't recommended for pregnancy (including topical Retinols).

I'm 31, just getting started with temping/charting and went in for a check up with my primary care doctor last year. I am planning to see the gyno sometime over the next couple of months, as it's been a few years since I've been.... Do I need to make a special appt or request certain tests with my gyno or a potential OBGYN, given that I'm planning to get pregnant? Or just get the normal PAP smear and then get down to it with DH?

Is there anything else I should be doing or get tested before I try to get pregnant for the first time? It feels insane to me that the next step is just going for it trying to get pregnant! If you're a fellow OCD/planner type, please share what you did or would have done in hindsight!