first appointments?

[CorasMama]

So, when are your first midwife or doctor's appointments?

I'm seeing my midwife on Tuesday, so I'll be 4w5d. I'm hoping she'll order an early u/s, but she's pretty crunchy (she's actually been mentioned in Mothering magazine), so I don't know if she'll order one just because I'm nervous. I don't think she usually sees women this early, but with my history of miscarriages (and I just found out that my mother miscarried multiple times, as well), I think she might be willing to take a bit more of a hands-on approach in the first trimester than she normally does.

[jeannineb]

I have an appointment for Fri, Nov 6., at 6 weeks. I will be meeting one of the new midwives in the practice. My dear, sweet, smart midwife with DD has moved and I am really hoping I like at least one of the others. I am a little nervous about it. I will probably be getting an U/S due to a previous ectopic. Hopefully everything will be where it belongs.

[lawschoolmama]

My first MW appointment will be on November 5, when I'll be about 6.5 weeks along. Looking forward to it--she said she'd probably do a U/S along with some bloodwork, which I hope will give me peace of mind.

[mamakaikai]

I have a visit on nov 2 at the birth center for a tour and info session.

I don't know who my midwife is yet, or when my initial appointment will be. Other than an initial history taking to screen me into care (they won't take high risk, which I am not), which they can gather from my antenatal forms, the only reason I want to meet with the midwife is to see what she is like. I didn't have ultrasound for my last pregnancy, until I had some complications at 30 weeks. I am not planning any early ultrasounds, or genetic screening this time either.

I had a fabulous pair of midwives for my last pregnancy/birth. I knew them personally and they allowed for a very hands off pregnancy/birth management. They fully supported me waiting 5 days after my membranes ruptured to go into labour. I am pretty sure I won't ever top those two midwives, for me personally, so the next one will have big shoes to fill!

I would be happy to do an unassisted pregnancy and birth though, except for the fact that I know sometimes we do need help, and I would like to have someone there who would instill a sense of peace. I hemorrhaged, after sticky shoulders for my first baby and needed suturing, so I do want someone there for help with those kinds of things if they happen.

I hope everyone here is lining up for excellent prenatal care!

[mamakaikai]

Originally Posted by CorasMama

I don't think she usually sees women this early, but with my history of miscarriages (and I just found out that my mother miscarried multiple times, as well), I think she might be willing to take a bit more of a hands-on approach in the first trimester than she normally does.

CorasMama, with your history and fears, if you talk to your midwife about them, I am sure that she could order an early ultrasound for you. Just to set everyone at ease you know? Best of luck for a sticky pregnancy!

[momongeon]

I have not made an appointment yet but when I do it will likely be around 8-12 wks. That is typical for low risk women.

[bjorker]

I just got approved for pregnancy medical today and I'm sooooo relieved. Though it was expected, and I would have never TTC otherwise (with no insurance), it's just one less thing to think about.

I feel incredibly blessed to live in a state where medicaid covers homebirth! Makes perfect financial sense, however.

Anyway, for now I just have a consultation on Nov 4th and will go from there with the appointments.

[*KaiMom*]

Just found out today but I'm going to start making phone calls next week. We are fairly new to the area so I don't even have a family doctor or anything.

[canadianmummy]

No appointments yet. I called my midwife the minute I got my BFP. We have been playing phone/email tag but hopefully I will get in with her!! The midwives here are pretty busy, especially since midwifery care was just covered 6 months ago!! We had to pay for our last birth and we're so happy it will be free this time around We're not used to paying for healthcare up here, lol

[canadianmummy]

BTW my last comment was tounge-in-cheek!! I'm not looking to offend anyone...

[bjorker]

Originally Posted by canadianmummy

BTW my last comment was tounge-in-cheek!! I'm not looking to offend anyone...

Don't worry, you're preaching to the choir on that one. I *wish* I could say the same. Actually, it's kind of the opposite for me. I'm used to getting little care because I have no insurance and can't afford it, but since I'm pregnant I get free pregnancy medical because I don't make any money and I'm not married to dp. So they don't really look at his finances, and I believe everything is covered. I've already been joking to friends that if anything comes up and I need medical care that I can't afford, I'll just get pregnant again. Twisted, huh?

[livelovelaugh]

I found out last Wednesday, called my midwife on Thursday morning and have not heard back from her! I am very excited for my first appointment, so the waiting is hard. She is usually very good at getting right back with a phone call, so hopefully I will hear from her early this week! It will just be nice to have something to look forward to. : )

[megviolet]

I phoned both of the midwifery clinics in my area the day i got my BFP, and STILL had to say my due date is a week later than i actually think it might be, in order to get accepted. They book up so crazy fast. I am so blessed that i am able to meet with 2 differnt midwives at 2 different practices and actually choose myself! last time i had no choice, just the local Obstetrics group. So i tried to have an unassisted birth but that didn't work lol.

I'll have my first appointment Nov 24 So about 9.5 weeks.

I think i'll probably have an ultrasound at around 18-20 weeks... whatever the standard is. Other than that i want very hands-off care.

I'm really looking forward to this pregnancy and birth and meeting the new little person that God has chosen for my family

[veesmimi]

Midwife? Hmmm, thats something I hadnt thought about. I always went the doctor route due to my history. I wonder if there are any within my insurance coverage. Yay, more research! I have been on the computer non-stop... I love it.

[CorasMama]

I just talked to my friend who's the u/s tech. She said that she can always see a hb by 7 weeks, and if we have to do a transvaginal one, she'll cover me with a sheet, and let me insert, which makes me a lot more comfortable! And she told me how to talk to my midwife to get her to order the u/s in a way that the insurance will pay for it, without risking me out of mw care.

[Juise]

Hmm I hadn't much thought about a first appointment yet. I wasn't even going to bother calling my midwife until 8 or 10 weeks, but you guys are making me kind of nervous with your booking up talk! I think I'll call her a little sooner now, even if it is to set an appointment for second trimester.

I didn't have any U/S or tests for my first pregancy, and I don't plan on for this one unless there's a good reason. Although I wish I could be totally comfortable with them because that would be so cool! I don't know if I could resist finding out the gender if I had one, though

I wish medicaid covered homebirths in michigan! I'm so jealous That's one of the reasons, well, maybe *the* reason I wasn't going to call my MW until later, you pay the 2 1/2 grand regardless of the outcome. I don't feel like I really need much help in these early weeks, so I was going to wait until I was more sure of having a sticky baby before setting anything up.

I'm really excited to meet up with my midwife again, though I think I kind of fell in love with her during my first pregnancy, she was just exactly the kind of person I needed to balance me, just so wonderful. And flippin awesome during my birth

[expat-mama]

I just had my first appointment. As an expat, things like medical care can be both nerve-wracking and great. Great because I set up an appointment on Friday and had it today (that is next to impossible in Canada) and nerve-wracking because it can be difficult to go through this stuff far away from home and familiar things and people.

But the appointment went well, my doctor is American, kind of a tool (him: "oh- you're baby is due right around Independence Day!" me: "Yeah, actually its Canada day in Canada!" him: "You call Independence day Canada day?" me: "Noooo....July 1st is Canada day..." him: "Oh I didn't know you guys celebrate Independence day" me: "We don't..." ) but he seems like a good doctor. He did all the preliminary blood tests and put me on progesterone. So all in all, things went well and DH and I are cautiously very optimistic and excited!

I'm kind of in a weird situation- we just moved here to the UAE and we might be moving to another city here in a couple of months...I've never really had to decide on a caregiver for the whole pregnancy because I had two very early losses and just went in to the ob/gyn after the losses. As far as I know, there are no midwives here. And I know that home births are illegal here . So DH and I are at a loss right now...but I guess we have some time to figure it all out.

Maybe I'll try to find some other similar-minded expat mamas living in the UAE who can point me in a good direction.

[momongeon]

Just made my first appt for Dec 1.

[Juise]

expat - boy, he does sound like a tool, what a goon! I hope you're able to find some mamas tat can help you get the birth you want.

I just got off the phone with my midwife, she was so excited! She got me all worked up, too, hehe. She only wanted to make sure I was taking a prenatal and recommended a cup of Red Raspberry Leaf tea a day, which I was already having.

She also talked me out of my pumping plan, which I am feeling enormously guiltily relieved about Just because pumped milk (which DD has never really had) is not going to make my milk going away any more okay with DD. Our nursing relationship is just going to change and it is the natural way of things and I am feeling more okay with that. She'll eat more and we'll comfort nurse, and we'll get through it and be back to more normal nursing I am sure when baby 2 joins us out here. She also pointed out that I'm already nursing a toddler, and making a new baby, already feeling very sick and exhausted, do I really want to put even more demand on my body? The week long attempt at starting to pump last time I thought I was pregnant kind of finished killing it off for me, I got next to nothing out of it, and after talking to some other mums here on MDC found out it is really what I should be expecting from a pump at this point.

[Terrilein]

I've got an appointment with my Ob/Gyn tomorrow. And DP just happens to be on sick-leave (?) this week so he gets to come to the appointment tomorrow. I hope we get to see something. With my last pg and Ob/Gyn, he didn't bother doing a blood test, but went straight to the transvag u/s to confirm the pregnancy.