When are you having your 1st prenatal visit?

I like to wait until almost the end of the first trimester. I did that last time and I'll do it again. I'm comfortable with that.

I can't remember with DS1!
With DS2 I know it was 12 weeks
This time I went in for casual (my midwife does a centering pregnancy class so its not one on one.) The only reason I went was to meet a new midwife joining the practice. I was 8 weeks.
I will go back around 12 or 13.

I'm going at 11 weeks. . . three weeks to go! I am so excited to be working with a homebirth midwife. She said the first appointment should take an hour and a half. . . and none of that time will be spent waiting in a waiting room!

With my last pregnancy, I saw a traditional OB/CNM group, and they had me go for my first visit at 8 weeks. The midwife gave me an internal exam, which was really uncomfortable, and said, "yep, your uterus feels very enlarged," and that was about it. There was no discussion of nutrition or anything. It was a totally pointless appointment.

The only reason I can think of for going in early is if you're not sure about who you want your provider to be. It could be a way for you to gather information about the practice. But in terms of the pregnancy itself, I don't think you gain anything from an early visit.

amygeekgrl: please don't be surprised or alarmed if you can't hear the heartbeat at 9.5 weeks. It's definitely not a "should be able to hear it" for most people at that point. You should be able to hear it by 12 weeks, and you might be able to hear it as early as 9 weeks.



Lex

I just hired a midwife today. So, my first prenatal visit (as oposed to my consultation) is Friday the 7th. I should be about 10 weeks (or a few days shy) by then.

Tina

I had mine a week and a half ago. My OB sees patients at 6 weeks based on LMP (which I'm like 10 days behind that in reality). So I wasn't really 6 weeks or even 5 weeks yet! I go again for an u/s next Friday. I'll be 7 weeks. They usually do the u/s at 8 weeks, and they'll correct my chart to reflect the REAL date (not the LMP date) after the u/s. My OB even pushed it out a bit because he agreed that I wasn't due as early as LMP said I would be, but it's earlier than 8 weeks because he'll be out of town next week.

Last preg, I only saw a midwife, and I didn't see her until 12 weeks. I'm currently planning to use her again, so I'll see her at 12 weeks. I'm seeing an OB in tandem this time, because last time I needed an OB and didn't have one, and had to take who they assigned to me in the hospital. : This time, if something happens, I've got one I like and am comfortable with. And I really think a hospital birth with him would be fine. I'd still prefer a midwife-attended out-of-hospital birth though, of course. I just now know that sometimes things happen out of our control!

I went for my first visit yesterday only because I am not sure of my due date. Hubby and I cannot remember the last time we had sex and I was on the pill , so I am not sure about my last period because I think I missed a couple. I went in to get a script for an ultrasound - ugh! Otherwise I don't usually go until end of first trimester. My midwife and I email and chat on the phone if I have had questions. But go when you feel ready, if everything else feels good.