Oh My

[Beth1231]

I waited too long to set up an appointment with my birth center The only two days they had was Nov 21st during school time and Jan 11th after school time Because of a huge traditional thanksgiving featst taking place in my preschool, I just can't justify taking that day off. Oh my, oh my. My first appointment with a professional is going to be 15 weeks! I won't have to worry about a heartbeat; I'll feel baby moving by then! Yikes. Okay, experienced moms come on out of the woodwork. Should I be concerned?

 

[RedTulipMom]

Is this your first baby Beth? Wow..15 weeks? That is an awful long time before seeing a doctor if ya ask me. I personally would do what i could to take off on that November date...or go somewhere else maybe. I always see my doctor within 1-2 weeks after finding out i am pregnant. (at about 6-7 weeks pregnant). I am 11 weeks and have been to my OB twice already!! But its your call, if your ok about it then i guess leave it be. You are feeling nausea and tiredness and all that right?

 

[jessesgirl]

I didnt see my doctor until 9.5 weeks for the first time, they said it was pretty standard that they didn't even see people until between 9-12 weeks. If you can take off earlier, I would certainly do it though. It would probably save you some stress and unecessary worries.

 

[faithingrace]

Hey Beth,
Can you see your gp for your first appt? I get shared care between my gp and ob. The ob takes over later.

 

[Singin4Him]

I went in at 7 weeks. Personally I would not wait until week 15. I would do whatever you can to see a doctor before that. Chances are you may not feel your baby by 15 weeks, most don't and especially if this is your first pregnancy. It would be best if you could try to find a way to get someone before then.

 

[JillLars]

If you could find a time closer to 10-12 weeks that would probably be better. Also- if this is your first baby you probably will not feel it move at 15 weeks- I didn't feel flutters until closer to 18 weeks (and every book I have read says 1st time mom's won't feel it till 18-22 weeks.)

 

[Beth1231]

Well....more to consider. I called my friend who has one child and lost two and she definitely thinks I should visit a doctor before my midwife appointment at the birth center. I also called my mother who had two and lost none and she told me that her first appointment with me was at 12 weeks and with my brother was at 5 months! She seems to think I will be perfectly fine as long as there are symptoms and no major cramping or spotting. My husband also believes me and baby will be fine and to trust the Lord. It's a difficult decision. I know women tend to go much much earlier nowadays and I don't want to jeopardize baby's health. The question is am I. Thank you for your comments and concerns. I do have the queasy feelings and the tiredness just about every day. I think I need to think this over a bit more.

 

[faithingrace]

There are many things doctors check for that we aren't even aware of I think? My friend had to have an early ultrasound that revealed something requiring surgery at 5 or 6 months. I just always feel more comfortable finding care if I can. Its not usually too difficult around here though... a quick call and I'm in. Don't know what its like there! And you have to be completely comfortable. Definitely no one can make decisions for you! Hugs sis!

 

[RN4CHRIST]

Are you taking prenatal vitamins? Are you eating properly. Have you had any cramping or spotting? If you are eating properly and taking prenatal vitamins, with no complications waiting till 15 weeks is ok. If you are concerned though, try for the earlier appointment, though it may no longer be available. Also you can see your Family Doctor for initial exam. Most are comfortable with performing the initial prenatal exam. That can tide you over till your OB visit. It is always nerve wracking waiting to see that doc the first time. With my first I didn't get in to see him till I was about 13 weeks. OF course I was already 8 weeks when I found out, lol! (Can you say DENIAL!!) With my second I got in at about 9 weeks, but I got lucky with that one. If your OB is like mine, they are booked WAY ahead.

 

[InTheFlame]

Yup I agree, see your doctor for the first visit... it'll probably just be a quick check-up and sending you for blood tests. Hmmm, come to think of it, I'm Aussie, and this might not apply at all to you. The one thing you might want to think about is whether you and hubby want an early ultrasound - over here it's fairly standard to have a 'nuchal translucency' ultrasound with blood tests done at around 12 weeks - it measures the possibility of a few congenital problems including down syndrome.

We didn't bother with that, but did get initial blood tests and an ultrasound done at 10 weeks (I'd had 2 miscarriages, I wanted to know bubs was alive and kicking!). If you're worried about your diet (is it good enough, etc), you should be able to get referrals for blood tests for iron, folate etc too. The doctor should be able to flag any other areas that might be a problem, so you'll know you aren't missing anything important.

 

[PegasusOnFire]

just another point of view, I lost my first with no signs of miscarriage. I had no cramping and no bleeding.

Not wanting to scare you or anything, but I always try to er on the side of caution.

 

[purpleunicorn_Andi]

I would also recomind seeing the dr as soon as possible... especially if this is your first. most docs don't want to see you untill you are arround 12 weeks...which drives me nuts... I was really worrried about this one at first, because my last pregnacy I found out on my first dr's appoinment that the baby had died at arround 9 weeks... but so far so good this time arround, fluid normal...unlike with my son who was born early. this is just my opinion...

 

[RoseofLima]

Not to be the nay sayer-- but if you are going to lose your baby to miscarriage before your first appointment- there is very little that could be done for you anyway. I think early OB appointments are pretty pointless ( I actually think most OB appts. are pretty pointless)...just take prenatal vitamins, eat well, rest as much as you can.

Nothing that they find in your blood work will be an issue immediately..and many OB offices wait until around 20 weeks to order blood panels.

I think it can be a huge, enormous hassle to see a different caregiver than the one who will be your primary caregiver- you have to deal with transferring all the records, and give your medical history a bazillion times...and all so they can tell you to take pre natal vitamins.

Do a little research about warning signs in the first trimester....and my opinion is that waiting until 15 weeks will be no different from having seen your midwife at 8 weeks or whatever. Most midwife practices aren't going to be doing early sonograms anyway as a routine procedure...

Personally - I don't think you are endangering your baby's health, there's nothing that they could do for your baby at this point anyway. Taking care of yourself is the absolute best way to care care of your baby

Praying for your peace of mind!

 

[JulySheMustFly]

I agree with Rose of Lima.
I didn't even know I was pregnant with my first until 11 weeks and couldn't get to the OB until 13 weeks. I was healthy and my regular doc provided the prenatal vitamins. Your pre pregnancy health and how you are currently feeling would be the determining factors.

Hope you get it worked out.

 

[Athene]

Pregnancy is not an illness, you'll be fine - women have been giving birth for thousands and thousands of years.

I also agree with RoseofLima.

 

[jgonz]

Not to be the nay sayer-- but if you are going to lose your baby to miscarriage before your first appointment- there is very little that could be done for you anyway. I think early OB appointments are pretty pointless ( I actually think most OB appts. are pretty pointless)...just take prenatal vitamins, eat well, rest as much as you can.

Nothing that they find in your blood work will be an issue immediately..and many OB offices wait until around 20 weeks to order blood panels.

I think it can be a huge, enormous hassle to see a different caregiver than the one who will be your primary caregiver- you have to deal with transferring all the records, and give your medical history a bazillion times...and all so they can tell you to take pre natal vitamins.

Do a little research about warning signs in the first trimester....and my opinion is that waiting until 15 weeks will be no different from having seen your midwife at 8 weeks or whatever. Most midwife practices aren't going to be doing early sonograms anyway as a routine procedure...

Personally - I don't think you are endangering your baby's health, there's nothing that they could do for your baby at this point anyway. Taking care of yourself is the absolute best way to care care of your baby

Praying for your peace of mind!

 

[Marionette]

I was at 19 weeks when I had my first OB visit. I hadn't had an OB/GYN so I'd put off picking one until the last minute. They told me if I'd waited until 20 weeks that I'd have to be considered high risk and all that fun stuff!
But everything turned out fine and my tadpole is good and kicking~ Good luck figuring things out and try not to worry about it too much

 

[gracefaith]

If I can give a half and half opinion;

I'm a big believer in pregnancy not being an illness and obs being a little to intervention oriented. When I get my next chance at this, I will still choose a midwife as my primary caregiver. This being said, most of us spend a lot of time going to doctors over the course of our lives and place our confidence in them for a lot of things and when it comes right down to it, modern technology can tell you things that you just can't know from looking at you and listing symptoms.

I don't think it's so much about the health of the baby as it is about you own mental well-being. If you can stand not having a professional/medical confirmation for that long, I don't think you baby will suffer for it. BUT if going see an OB, having them test your HCG levels in your blood and having an ultrasound so you can see that tiny heartbeat going would be good for your piece of mind then do it.

I think the possible hassle of having records transferred (if the birthcenter even wanted them anyway) would be totally worth it, if it helps you sleep easier at nights. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to start a relationship with an OB just in case you have to transfer to a hospital during labor.

 

[jgonz]

don't think it's so much about the health of the baby as it is about you own mental well-being. If you can stand not having a professional/medical confirmation for that long, I don't think you baby will suffer for it. BUT if going see an OB, having them test your HCG levels in your blood and having an ultrasound so you can see that tiny heartbeat going would be good for your piece of mind then do it.

That's a very good point.

 

[faithingrace]

I may step on toes, but its only my opinion... I still think doctors check for more than just viability. They check so many things like blood pressure, for gestational diabetes, amniotic band, toxemia, protein and other things in urine, weight, etc... things that can help you to make the right decisions in pregnancy to ensure good health. There are things that can be caught in time and helped if not corrected, or things you need to be aware of. I always think if you have medical accessibility, why not use it? You aren't sick, but they monitor you to ensure that illness does not occur or become harmful. You have to do whats comfortable for you, no matter what even dh or mom or friends (or me or anyone) think... its your baby!
God bless you truly in your decision.