When do you plan on seeing your provider? « Back to Group Discussions

[mamaecho]

I'm considering putting it off a bit.. and go more around 12 weeks, vs what, 8? When are you going?

[Kamiro]

I was thinking first week of April. I think that will be about the 10 week mark.

[SparkleMaman]

My Midwife wants to see me in Early April, ~10 weeks. Appointment already set up!

[JonesiesGirl]

I had my first appointment yesterday at 5+2. I didn't have any bloodwork or a physical exam though. My next appointment is at 8 weeks. I'm curious, what is the reason to wait until later for an appointment? 

[SparkleMaman]

I've already had my initial bloodwork, beta for pregnancy confirmation. And I'm up to date on my well woman checks. So there's no reason for me to be seen until 10-12 weeks. Every provider is different though!

[babylonghorn]

We have an appointment with our reproductive endocrinologist at 7 weeks and our first OB appt at 9.  I don't feel comfortable with 2 ultrasounds that early even though I know it is fairly common.  I'm debating canceling the RE appointment as we aren't high risk, but we are anxious to make sure that this is a viable pregnancy.  I'm really torn.  Peace of mind versus the potential risks of repeat ultrasound.  Ugh.

[Sristi]

I'm not sure what to do in early pregnancy, so right now I'm doing nothing but taking vitamins.  My last pregnancy I spent my first trimester in a very rural area of Nepal and there was literally nothing I could do except wait.  When is a good time for me to find a provider and set up an appointment?  I had a midwife last pregnancy and I really like her.  I had some serious birth trauma (recto-vaginal fistula, healed now) and my surgeon recommended me for scheduled c-sections from here on out.  Not excited about that, but my DH is really not enthusiastic about risking more injury with another vaginal birth.  So I'm not anxious to see an OB, and my DH is not anxious for me to see the midwife.  So right now I'm seeing no one   This early in, I don't think it makes a difference, right?  Can you all tell me a good benchmark or deadline (since I procrastinate) when I need to make at least a preliminary decision and see a provider?
 

[Sleepymama]

I think 9-10 weeks is probably when you would want to have made a decision and an appointment.  You should see someone before the end of the first trimester I think, but you have some time.

I am probably going to have some early u/s and screening done between 7-10 weeks and I'll probably have my first appt. with my new MW somewhere around 8 weeks.  (She comes to my house! But I have to go to the hospital for the testing).  I haven't confirmed with her though.

[ultrafighter]

Sunday, when we officially test together and I'm no longer the only person in my world who knows, I'll text my midwife and see what she thinks.  This is my first so I am utterly clueless about everything and will rely on her expertise for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!

[Kamiro]

Originally Posted by JonesiesGirl 

I had my first appointment yesterday at 5+2. I didn't have any bloodwork or a physical exam though. My next appointment is at 8 weeks. I'm curious, what is the reason to wait until later for an appointment? 

If I didn't know my midwife, I'd probably have the "Get to know you" (which is more me grilling the midwife judging their competency- in Oregon we have some weird 'midwives') but since I know who my midwife will probably be, and I can just go to the clinic to do blood work and get the BFP...No rush for her to come out. Nothing really happens that she can assist with until you can hear the heart beat as far as my experience goes.

If some thing weird was going on, I'd see her sooner...but really the first part of pregnancy is pretty mellow. I'll see her at 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 32,34,36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 weeks and probable every couple days after 40 weeks until birth. :)

I don't do a physical vaginal exam during pregnancy.

[jjh5351]

This is my first and my GYN office does not do OB so they referred me to a new office that is apparently really great. I'm going at 8 weeks (April 1). I am super nervous but excited too!

[mommy2julia]

I already saw my midwife today, but that is because my annual was already scheduled. She was super excited when she asked when my LMP was and I said " it doesn't really matter because I'm pregnant"!!!! My first scheduled appointment is April 9-I'll be 8 weeks or so. But I forget, or maybe I never had it with my first - 9 whole years ago..... what is the blood work all of you are speaking of? 

[Vaquitita]

Ugh. I don't want to even think about this yet. My first two were born at home with a wonderful midwife. My last baby, money was so tight my dh insisted we go to the hospital, cause that was covered by the insurance ($0 out of pocket for us). I had Medi-Cal, was horrified by the treatment I got at the clinic. Spent months trying to track down midwives who take Medi-Cal, only to find out I had the wrong kind or they didn't accept new patients. In the meantime I refused to go back to the clinic, I was there 3? times. once to confirm pregnancy/apply for Medi-Cal, once they gave me the GTT (the first and last time I ever want to do that), and I had a 20w unltrasound. At 36 weeks I found an OB who took my insurance and had priveleges at the small, people friendly hospital I wanted to go to. I was SO unimpressed by the routine dr. visits. I really, really, Really, REALLY want another homebirth this time. But dh is going: last time was fine, and it's FREE. It was 'fine' but I hated it. We have a nice refund coming from our taxes, I'd like to use that to pay for the midwife, but we had planned to use it pay off some bills. Getting out of debt is more important to dh than a lovely homebirth... ok, rant over.

I know my midwife does a couple low cost births each year, I would like to ask her about this. If she would do it for us. Maybe then dh would agree. I kind of hate to ask her though.

[Sleepymama]

Vaquitita, we're in the same boat.  #2 was born at home and I really want to do it again, but our insurance won't cover it and we have horrible high deductable insurance that is going to cost us a lot no matter what, but less if we do the OB/birth center.  I'm in the middle of a career switch, and the surprise pregnancy means I have to put off job hunting a little longer, which means we really can't spare $3K for the birth I am most comfortable with.  

What's stupid is that homebirth would cost the insurance so much less.  It's less than half as much as a hospital birth, and that's the whole MW fee, including prenatal care.  It would save them a ton of money if they covered it!  So stupid.  In my state medicaid actually pays for homebirth though, but we make just enough that we don't qualify.

[Starfish11]

Originally Posted by mommy2julia 

I already saw my midwife today, but that is because my annual was already scheduled. She was super excited when she asked when my LMP was and I said " it doesn't really matter because I'm pregnant"!!!! My first scheduled appointment is April 9-I'll be 8 weeks or so. But I forget, or maybe I never had it with my first - 9 whole years ago..... what is the blood work all of you are speaking of? 

That's funny that you were already there. Mine do a blood test to confirm pregnancy and then rule out HIV/AIDs and a few other stds. And the RH blood issue, too, which I am fuzz on because it does not apply to me.

[Emmecat]

Woah....you guys PAY for a midwife? :(

Here, it's free and most women go with a midwife as their LMC, unless there's a specific reason not to , maybe high risk or something. If we went to an obstertrician privately then it would set us back 4-5k, however if I go to my mw and she decides while seeing me that I would benefit from shared care with an ob then that is free.

Lots of midwives here do home births no problem, and that also doesn't cost. Some won't but they're happy to reccomend others who will. :)

(I won't be having a home birth unfortunately) :-/

[ultrafighter]

Unfortunately, Emmecat, we do.  Welcome to the backwards American healthcare system.  haha  Fortunately, DH and I are in a good enough spot financially that we're doing a MW regardless of what our insurance decides to tell us!  I wish that wasn't a factor here.  All women deserve the gift of NORMAL birth.  Pregnancy is not a disease to be treated!

/rant

[Starfish11]

Midwives are an option with our insurer thankfully.  Maryland is in a hot debate over CPMs being allowed to do births including homebirths.  Right now homebirths are illegal in MD.  That has not stopped several of my friends from having them :)
 

[JonesiesGirl]

I'm an American living in the UK and I'm constantly surprised at the care I'm getting here. It's made me realise how screwed up the American health care system is. Everything here is free at the point of service, and all low-risk women see midwives and only midwives throughout pregnancy. My midwife has already given me a list of screenings and tests that I'll be offered at my next appointment as well as information about them, and she has made it clear that it's my choice if I want to have them or not. I think I will have all of the tests anyway, but it's so empowering to know that it's 100% my choice and that I can't be "fired" by my care provider. I feel so lucky, I can't imagine what it must be like to have no choice but to see an intervention-happy OB :(

[Emmecat]