When is your first appt with your Dr/Mw? - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[newbie_mary]

I don't know about risks for pap smears, but my MW said she won't do one to a pregnant person because it makes you bleed a lot (cervix is more full of blood).

[tinyblackdot]

Hm....its so confusing. Everything i read online says that there are NO risks, but i know somewhere i read that there are risks, And i know that my MW didnt do one either.

[broodymama]

I typically decline the pap during pregnancy.  I've had one done before and had a lot of spotting and cramping afterward.  That was during my 1st pregnancy, and after that I just stopped taking my pants off during prenatal visits.  That's just my personal preference though.

[autumngrey]

Some people say paps during pregnancy are no big deal, and others insist they are a big deal. I'm not aware of any solid evidence that it's dangerous but in my non-medically-educated logic, if that baby implanted low, I can't see how shoving a brush up in your bits could be anything but dangerous. If it's low.

My personal feel on it is that there's too much crazy business going on down there for an "abnormal" result to mean much to me anyway, so what's the point. And for me paps often cause spotting so I would be freaking out possibly over "normal" post-pap spotting. So far I've been lucky to not be due for my annual during any part of pregnancy so it hasn't been an issue (lucky timing). I would definitely decline a pap during pregnancy, though. I've read other ladies say their OBs do it as a matter of standard practice for intake of pregnant patients ... wtf??

[Mammajamma]

I have an appt on Tues. with my midwife. Hopefully she will put in for my dating ultrasound then...I am super excited to find out how far along I should be!
 

[gelato]

My first appointment is on the 6th of June. I'm trying to be calm and cool in the meantime.

I went through this at the very end of December 2010 and my doc found no heartbeat. That was sad, but I believe it was meant to be. Since then, I found the love of my life and we're both super excited about the prospect of parenthood. (Even though we're on the older end of things...)

[kel]

Melanie,

I avoid pap smears - usually - just because I don't like them.  Therefore, whenever I get pregnant - I'm always due for one, by quite a stretch usually.  I've had one at the start of almost all 5 of my pregnancies and never had any issues.  I've never read anything that says that they're risky - and have never even had any bleeding - although a bit of spotting I've heard is common and has nothing to do with the pregnancy.  From what I have read, by the time most women get a pelvic exam, the mucus plug is already solidly in place and so any spotting is vaginal and has nothing to do with the baby, who is safely behind the plug.  I have one scheduled, too, with my first exam - I'll be around 9 1/2 weeks.  I haven't had one in at least 6 years, so I'm due.  I think if you've had one in the last year or two you'd have an easier time arguing it, but obviously the final decision is up to you, either way. 

[GoBecGo]

I'm in the UK.  Here the NHS pays for the prenatal care AND the cancer care.  They don't do routine paps during pregnancy here.  The changes of pregnancy can apparently lead to false negatives AND false positives and the NHS can't afford to keep doing repeats for no good reason, so they wait until the baby is born even if you're overdue.  I have had a smear done at my post-natal IUD fitting appointment both times i had a baby.

[kristenburgess]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo 

I'm in the UK.  Here the NHS pays for the prenatal care AND the cancer care.  They don't do routine paps during pregnancy here.  The changes of pregnancy can apparently lead to false negatives AND false positives and the NHS can't afford to keep doing repeats for no good reason, so they wait until the baby is born even if you're overdue.  I have had a smear done at my post-natal IUD fitting appointment both times i had a baby.

ITA agree with everyone - even if it's not dangerous, the rates of false positives are high during pregnancy.  My midwife advised against it during pregnancy, and waiting until around 6 months postpartum to have it done.  I hate them anyways and don't need much excuse to keep away, lol, but I think it's sensible just to wait and spare yourself the discomfort.

[lulu27]

The pap discussion is super interesting! I hadn't heard any risks of it previously, but my doctor opted not to do one in any case because I just had one in January. I saw my GP briefly already just to let her know I was pregnant and get the ball rolling on things - I've got a prenatal with her at 11 weeks, and a first appointment with the doctor who will likely deliver at 13 weeks. Ultrasound scheduled for 19 weeks, where I"m at in Canada they don't do early ultrasounds or scans unless there are specific concerns. Same with checking for heartbeat - my GP won't try to listen until at least 12 weeks.
 

[rebeccajm]

I have my first appointment with U/S this afternoon.  I have been lightly cramping since yesterday afternoon, and my nausea is subsiding.  I'm praying hard that everything is okay.  My mommy instincts are telling me to prepare for a M/C.  Please, Lord, let me be wrong!

[kawa kamuri]

Originally Posted by rebeccajm 

I have my first appointment with U/S this afternoon.  I have been lightly cramping since yesterday afternoon, and my nausea is subsiding.  I'm praying hard that everything is okay.  My mommy instincts are telling me to prepare for a M/C.  Please, Lord, let me be wrong!

Oh lady. I hope everything is ok. 

[phatchristy]

Originally Posted by rebeccajm 

I have my first appointment with U/S this afternoon.  I have been lightly cramping since yesterday afternoon, and my nausea is subsiding.  I'm praying hard that everything is okay.  My mommy instincts are telling me to prepare for a M/C.  Please, Lord, let me be wrong!

Hey, sending good thoughts and prayers your way that everything is OK.  Nausea can sometimes come in waves, my nausea is definitely not constant, some times it's not there, other times it's really tough to ignore.  Cramping/achy feelings too and round ligament pains can be fairly normal as well, I've had that off and on myself for around 5 weeks and with my other pregnancies.

I think the pap discussion is interesting, over here for whatever reason it's supposed to be part of the 'standard of care'.  I never knew about false positives before, I had a pap done with all four before.  However the midwives where I go won't do them until well into the second trimester for fear of causing cramping/bleeding.

The 12th week is the appointment here, I am probably going to need them to try to find a heartbeat for some peace of mind.  Hopefully they can find it super quick...I have a feeling I'm going to decline a lot of stuff this time.  Probably more than before.  I really want to be unfooled around with LOL.  I wonder how cautious they're going to be with me this time.  Last time the midwife didn't make it to the birth.  I definitely don't want to be a 'watched pot' either though!

[kel]

I haven't heard of the false positives either, but I haven't exactly been following the issues of pap smears during pregnancy;)  I feel comfortable getting one - probably because I always have and haven't had issues.  But I can certainly understand passing on it, too.  It's just like all the other tests, in a way - a personal decision based on the pros and cons. 

[organicviolin]

Originally Posted by rebeccajm 

I have my first appointment with U/S this afternoon.  I have been lightly cramping since yesterday afternoon, and my nausea is subsiding.  I'm praying hard that everything is okay.  My mommy instincts are telling me to prepare for a M/C.  Please, Lord, let me be wrong!

Hope all is ok! 

[tinyblackdot]

  My appt with my OB is this coming week, so I will have a little more time to think about it. I did have an abnormal pap about 8 years ago and have had them every year since then. I was due in April, so its just now about time. Thank you all for the information though, i feel like either way it will be fine. :wink:

,

 I swear im having braxton hicks, is that even possible? Or what else could it be? It just feels like my abdomen is tightening up and there is pressure. I hope thats not a bad sign.

 I have had one appt already with my OB, and got to see our little bumble bean (my dd named it lol), we didnt hear the heartbeat, but did see the heart. It was really really amazing.

 Sorry its such a fuzzy pic, my phone has started to not want to do close up pics anymore.

 And i was supposed to meet with the MW at the birthing center today, but they had an active labor happening. Im hoping to be able to go in to talk to them next week.
 

Edited by tinyblackdot - 5/31/12 at 3:08pm

[rebeccajm]

Well, my appt was canceled, b/c the midwife is sick.  I'm supposed to go next Thursday.  God is teaching me patience!  The cramps are gone, though!  Nausea is still better, which does concern me, but I prayed really hard last night and I am at peace.  I really think it's my uterus stretching.  I don't remember that kind of cramping with my 2 healthy pregnancies, but I was also not concerned about miscarriage with those pregnancies!

Thanks for the sweet thoughts, ladies!

[tinyblackdot]

Originally Posted by rebeccajm 

I have my first appointment with U/S this afternoon.  I have been lightly cramping since yesterday afternoon, and my nausea is subsiding.  I'm praying hard that everything is okay.  My mommy instincts are telling me to prepare for a M/C.  Please, Lord, let me be wrong!

I hope everything goes well. My nausea comes and goes. Last week it wasnt too bad. I seem to have good days and bad, so hopefully that is what is going on with you too. I will keep you in my thoughts.

[EvaLou32]

Finally scheduled my first appointment for June 20th. I know that I am 6w4d because I was tracking my cycle and I know when I ovulated. BUT, according to my LMP, I am actually 7w4d. This always happens to me because I have a long cycle. The OB never wants to base the due date on my information though and I always get a little nervous about getting to 41weeks and being pressured to be induced, although that hasn't happened yet. I mean, I always go past 41 weeks but I've never been pressured to be induced. Anyway! My Doctor is going to do an ultrasound to determine the due date. I don't usually get an early ultrasound, but if this helps give me a more accurate due date, then I won't have to worry about the threat of induction as much. And I can't help but be excited about seeing that little heart beat. :)

[kel]

I always go about 10 days past my due date, and on top of that my babies are always big and ahead in size compared to my dates.  In the past I've had homebirths and free standing birth center births - but this time we're using a CNM for a birth center birth within a hospital.  So I'm definitely more nervous about going over.  At 8 weeks I was already measuring (via early ultrasound) a few days further along then I know I am.  So I had to make sure the midwife did my due date from the first day of my last period instead of what the ultrasound said - every day counts and I want as little intervention at the end as possible.