first appointments? - Page 4

[welsh]

Originally Posted by Surfacing

Hello Mamas, my first appt isn't set yet, waiting to hear back from the secretary at the midwives' office because of summer vacation scheduling. I've requested the midwives I had at my last birth -- they were outstanding.

I hope everyone finds the kind of care provider they are looking for and that they are a good fit!

I'm jealous of you all having relationships with your midwives
!
I'll be seeing an ob here for check-ups but will be delivering back home in the UK with midwives at the local hospital. DS and I'll be spending 3 months with my Dad and my in-laws (flitting between 2 houses). We are considering renting an apartment though to have some privacy. DH will come home shortly before my EDD and hopefully have 3 weeks off work.

I would love a home birth but we don't have a home!
Well we live in a house in Moscow but DH does not want me to deliver here as we are just too far away from reliable care...just in case. Plus I would have the language barrier to deal with in labor.
This'll probably be my last baby and I feel a little but sad that I'll never have my ideal birthing scenario. Maybe I should consider an *oops* UC!!! Labor with DS was only 4 hrs so maybe I won't get to the hospital?!

[Theoretica]

Two weeks from today! I'm going with the same midwife I had last time, she's happily low/no intervention and I'm pretty comfortable with all three of them.

[rightkindofme]

I won't be seeing anyone in the first trimester due to insurance issues and the fact that midwife had a baby last week.

[bjorker]

I made my first 'real' appointment with my midwife team -- next Wednesday the 18th!

[EMandM]

I have an appointment with my OB on December 8. I'm waiting until after that appointment to contact my midwife. I've had two losses already, and just don't want to go through all of the extra work with two care providers until I at least have a reassuring sign. I'm going to get an ultrasound this time around. I want to tell DH's family when we go to Canada for Christmas, but it would be great to see a heartbeat first.

[sheriwx]

Our first obgyn appointment is set for Jan 6, (I will be 12 weeks 4 days along). They wanted to see me between 8-10 weeks along, but my insurance is a front end deductible, so I asked them to schedule me after the year turned (If possible, I only want to pay that huge deductible ONCE).

[CorasMama]

my u/s is tomorrow. I'll be 7 weeks exactly.

[slgt]

Seems like a lot of folks do fairly early appointments. How common is that? My practice likes to see us around 9 weeks, and even that surprised me - I figured they'd wait until 10-12 weeks.

This is just a curiosity question - what's the rationale for appointments before 8 weeks - or is that just for high-risk scenarios?

[PugMom4Now]

I met with a midwife yesterday and liked her a lot. I didn't go in well-armed with questions, but she told me all of the important information and I'm sure as we move along I'll have questions come up. She melds well with the care I want to receive, so I'm relieved. I'm not going to see her for the first appointment until the first week in January when my new insurance kicks in. I'll be 14 weeks then. It sounds like so long, but I'm sure all of the holidays will make it go by quick. I then will plan on a 20 week ultrasound.

[Terrilein]

Originally Posted by slgt

Seems like a lot of folks do fairly early appointments. How common is that? My practice likes to see us around 9 weeks, and even that surprised me - I figured they'd wait until 10-12 weeks.

This is just a curiosity question - what's the rationale for appointments before 8 weeks - or is that just for high-risk scenarios?

In Germany you only get 3 official u/s appointments for a normal singleton pregnancy. Other than that, as soon as your OB/Gyn confirms your pg, you go in every four weeks until the 30th week, from the 30-36 week you have an appointment every two weeks, and thereafter every week. And since all the visits, standard tests and the 3 u/s are covered by state insurance (privately insured I'm not sure about), there's really no reason NOT to take advantage of your OB/Gyn's time.
As for me, I've been in multiple times already for bloodwork, exams and 3 u/s - 2 to confirm the pg and one to rule out any problems due to my cramping. My actual first official u/s should be at 9-11 weeks.

[EKSmith]

I'll see my doctor, who's a rural family physician, on Dec. 3...I'll be roughly 9 weeks. She delivered my boys, and I was pleased with her care both times before.

Up where I am, it's standard to have one ultrasound, around 20 weeks - unless there are concerns. I had two with ds1 - a dating one (I had a "period" while pregnant with him) and then the standard at 20 weeks.

I'll see my doctor once a month until 30 weeks, every two weeks from 30 weeks - 36 weeks, and weekly from 36 weeks +. Just like u/s though, this will increase if there are concerns.

I'm pretty happy with the frequency of care that I can receive here - I get kind of panicky with numbers and tests...just my personality, I guess. I know that for some women, seeing the doctor eases anxiety - for me, it increases it. A midwife isn't an option where I'm at - the closest is 5 hours away - and that isn't going to happen! I'll still visit with the naturopath that comes once a month to the city closest to us (about 2 hours away) if I can time things right.

[tcooper]

My first appointment is with my midwife Nov. 23, I will be about 8 1/2 weeks. I just lost a baby, so we are meeting a little earlier just for ease of mind.

[shoefairy3]

I need to get prenatal care fairly soon b/c of my high chance of having GD again

[christinep1976]

well, slgt, i just got back from my first midwife appointment. this is my first pregnancy, and i am relatively new to the town in which i live, so it was nice to meet her, but really other than chatting about my medical history, checking my bp, and answering my questions. on one hand, it was good to meet her so early, but on the other, there's not that much to do. they didn't even do a blood or urine pregnancy test follow up! i mean, i haven't had my period since oct 5, and tested positive 3 times at home, but it sure would be nice to have HER say it. guess i'll survive. heading back for appointment two in 4 weeks, when i will be 9 1/2 weeks.

[funkymum]

Originally Posted by bjorker

I feel incredibly blessed to live in a state where medicaid covers homebirth!

Word! Sadly, DH and I are on his insurance (some branch of UHC) and they won't cover naturopathic care at all for him or me. Fortunately, they will cover midwifery so I can stick with the same midwife. I am more than willing to rant about how unjust it is that every mama (and family for that matter) who wants access to midwifery and naturopathic can't get it.

[shoefairy3]

homebirths with a midwife aren't even legal here. Unassisted homebirths are the only HBs that are technically legal.

[mamakaryn08]

I just had a "consultation appt" with my midwife on Tuesday the 10th. I called her on the 9th as soon as I got my BFP. I haven't yet scheduled an "official" appt. It probably won't be for a few more weeks since I am only 4w3d right now.

[APGoddess83]

My first appt is Dec. 22nd. I'll be about 10 weeks. I've had no issues with any of my pgs so I usually go between 9-12 weeks for my 1st appt. I'm seeing my ob who that I've been with for my youngest two kids. I love her and she listens to what I want as far as a natural birth and no interventions. I do wish I could see a midwife this time but we really don't have any that are close so I'm sticking with my doc. If I remember correctly she has done a quick u/s at the first appt so we'll see...I sure hope so!! I hope you all have great appts...especially you first timers!!