WishboneDawn Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Saw in another thread that someone was seeing their OB at 9 weeks! I'm in my 28th week and won't see my OB for the first time until next week. Up until now my GP has handled all the tests and checkups and this is pretty standard for a normal pregnancy here. Of course I then realized that not everyone's doctors are as "general" in their practice as mine and many of the ones here. Just curious now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 In ON, when I had Diva, I didn't see an OB until after 28 wks. Here, in AB, you can opt to see an OB after 12 wks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 My midwives start between 9 and 12 weeks. I think a 20 week ultrasound to check organ formation and such is pretty standard these days, so I would guess most OBs would want to see you before then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I saw mine the first time when I was about 5 weeks. I had problems the entire first and the first half of the second trimester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinmyboys Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Before we moved here I saw a family dr. Here, I don't think any family drs see OB patients because of the liability. 9 weeks is about the earliest. I think most OBs start seeing patients around 10-12 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Mine wanted to see me beginning at 6 weeks. The last two times it was 8 weeks though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k2bdeutmeyer Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Most OB's around here start seeing you between 10-12 wk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena1277 Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I saw mine about 8 weeks. Wished they would have seen me sooner because I get some awful morning sickness. When I finally saw the OB when I was preggo with ds, she put me in the hospital. I was dehydrated do to all the morning sickness (that lasts all day/night) I had been dealing with for 2 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelanieM Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 In ON the standard of care was to test for pregnancy with an MD, then get a referral for an OB. So my OB care with my first started at maybe 10 weeks. With midwives (in ON and here in NS) I just called to say I was pregnant, they determined whether or not they could take me, and my care started from there. (NS has been more complicated because of midwife shortages and catchment area, but if I'd been in the area for my practice I would have gotten in right away. As it was, I had to wait until 20 weeks because they're required to reserve vacant spots for 'locals' until then.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hwin Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Early, 6wks, because I had lost a baby previously. I think it was around 11-12 weeks with my first, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Usually around 8-12 weeks. If I get pregnant again I will need to see the doc right away due to a molar pregnancy 2 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Peach Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Between 8-12 weeks for each of my midwives (all different ones in 2 different states). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 12-14 weeks with all of my pregnancies, but I've never had a GP who handled pregnancies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soonermomma Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 My doctor saw me at 6 weeks with all three of my pregnancies. He also does an ultrasound at that appointment just to make sure it is a normal, developing pregnancy. That is how I found out it was twins at 6 weeks pregnant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJoy Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 My OB starts appointments at 6 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Around here I think it is around 6 or so for the first time but several weeks later for subsequent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckabell Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 The local midwives group here does the first appointment between 8 and 10 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 8-10 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 12 weeks with my first because it was a crappy Army clinic. My 2nd I had an appt. for 9 weeks but went in at 7 for an u/s because I was spotting & cramping (turned out to be the beginnings of a GI virus, ugh!). My 3rd my first appt. was at 8 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stages Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 My OB/GYN (in Mississippi) gets people in around 6 weeks for blood work and a pap smear, then 8 weeks for a dating ultrasound. My OB/GYN is the only doctor I see on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnsinkableKristen Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 8 - 10 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I have delivered with both OBs and Midwives. They both scheduled me at 8 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker Martin Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Here it's eight weeks unless you've had a miscarriage before. If you've had a miscarriage in the past, they want to see you as soon as you find out you're pregnant to do hormone tests and an early ultrasound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RahRah Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 With DS I was in at five weeks for a beta hCG since I was late and the HPT's were inconsistent - negative, faint positive, negative - so that was to confirm pregnancy, followed by a second blood draw two days later to confirm the hCG was doubling. Then back again at six weeks for an ultrasound to check for heartbeat, which obviously was there. Then I was part of a trial for fetal nuchal translucency test - so I was in the ten and a half week group and had my ultrasound and blood work at ten and a half weeks. Then it was the routine visit schedule until delivery. With baby-DS, a blood test confirmed the pregnancy, then six weeks for heartbeat ultrasound, we did the nuchal translucency testing at eleven weeks and then (due to my age) the maternal fetal specialist started serial monitoring at 16-weeks (IMO totally unnecessary, but DH agreed with him, so I did that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Saw in another thread that someone was seeing their OB at 9 weeks! I'm in my 28th week and won't see my OB for the first time until next week. Up until now my GP has handled all the tests and checkups and this is pretty standard for a normal pregnancy here. Of course I then realized that not everyone's doctors are as "general" in their practice as mine and many of the ones here. Just curious now. where do you live? I've always seen my OB by the ninth week, and even as early as six weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommee & Baba Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 OB's around here are between 9-12 weeks. I went to the dr. for all 3 of my pregnancies right around 9-12 weeks. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted August 4, 2011 Author Share Posted August 4, 2011 where do you live? I've always seen my OB by the ninth week, and even as early as six weeks. I'm in Nova Scotia, Canada. My GP does the initial exam (she does my pap smears as well - I don't go to an OB/GYN for that sort of thing at all. She also sees my kids, not a pediatrician) and as well as check ups and referrals for blood work, gest. diabetes and ultrasounds. Gest. diabetes test and blood work are done in a local provincial health clinic and U/S's are done in one of the local hospitals. I imagine that if I had any issues I'd be seeing the OB a lot sooner. Frankly, I'm quite happy waiting because my GP is much closer and I have a great relationship with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted August 4, 2011 Author Share Posted August 4, 2011 In ON the standard of care was to test for pregnancy with an MD, then get a referral for an OB. So my OB care with my first started at maybe 10 weeks. With midwives (in ON and here in NS) I just called to say I was pregnant, they determined whether or not they could take me, and my care started from there. (NS has been more complicated because of midwife shortages and catchment area, but if I'd been in the area for my practice I would have gotten in right away. As it was, I had to wait until 20 weeks because they're required to reserve vacant spots for 'locals' until then.) That's another factor I hadn't thought about. I've not considered a midwife - I couldn't reason out why I'd bother for the last couple of months of a pregnancy. Didn't realize if I'd opted for one I'd probably see her much sooner. It's all good though. I love my GP so I'm glad she plays as big a role in my pregnancy as she does. I also wonder if the fact that I'm rural has anything to do with it. Maybe if I was in Halifax I'd see specialists more often and wouldn't have a GP in the sense that I do now. It's actually wasn't too long ago - 20 or 25 years maybe - that in my practice is was still the GP who got the call to deliver the baby and had to meet the mom-to-be at the local hospital. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I saw mine when I got the + symbol. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aelwydd Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I didn't see an OB my entire pregnancy. :001_smile: I saw a nurse midwife instead. First appointment was about 8 weeks. Had all the regular blood draws, urine tests, and a 20 week ultrasound. I imagine your situation is set up like mine was, Dawn. The GP (or midwife) is quite competent to oversee all aspects of a normal pregnancy; however, if any indicators come up for a problem, then you get referred to a specialist (OB). The US has a much bigger emphasis on specialist practice. Fractured bone? Gotta have it seen and set by an orthopaedist. Got a funky mole? Gotta have it seen and removed by a dermatologist. Pregnant? Gotta be seen by an OB for the entire pregnancy (although, much of the time, nurses and PAs end up providing a huge chunk of the care anyway). It's not necessarily "bad," but it's a very expensive form of care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowWhite Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 For my first two pregnancies (miscarriages), my OB did not want to see me till I was 12-13 weeks. I switched practices due to that office's cavalier attitude toward my miscarriages, and my new OB did bloodwork (found out I am chronically hypothyroid), and a progesterone suppository cream. So for all three of my healthy pregnancies I went to the OB ASAP after a PPT so that I could get that progesterone prescription. I also have to see my Endocrinologist ASAP to adjust to a pregnancy thyroxine dose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 It probably depends on what country you live in. I think most Americans begin seeing their OB around 10 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeannpal Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I saw mine the first time when I was about 5 weeks. I had problems the entire first and the first half of the second trimester. I did too. Also, I had already had an ectopic pregnancy, so early visits were important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I have to be seen immediately to rule out ectopic. They like to have an ultrasound prior to 8 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelanieM Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 That's another factor I hadn't thought about. I've not considered a midwife - I couldn't reason out why I'd bother for the last couple of months of a pregnancy. Didn't realize if I'd opted for one I'd probably see her much sooner. It's all good though. I love my GP so I'm glad she plays as big a role in my pregnancy as she does. I also wonder if the fact that I'm rural has anything to do with it. Maybe if I was in Halifax I'd see specialists more often and wouldn't have a GP in the sense that I do now. It's actually wasn't too long ago - 20 or 25 years maybe - that in my practice is was still the GP who got the call to deliver the baby and had to meet the mom-to-be at the local hospital. :) Well, if you'd wanted a midwife you probably wouldn't have had much luck this time around! The only ones in the province right now are two in the valley and two in Bridgewater. I'm in at the Bridgewater practice, but couldn't get in until after 20 weeks because they had to leave that spot open in case there was a local. (I actually didn't see them until 24 weeks, and didn't do any prenatal care prior to that.) But normally, yes, midwives provide care throughout the entire pregnancy. And it's very, very different than OB care, fwiw. For example, each of my appointments is 45-60 min long, compared to the 5-10 min I saw my OB with my first! (Not sure how long you're in at your GP, but my experience with doctors for general stuff is also short appointments.) I also think you're right on the rural front. Really, a typical pregnancy with no issues doesn't require a specialist approach, so unless it's convenient (or there's a preference) there's no reason for seeing a specialist. But it does seem more and more common for OBs to be the standard of care and for GPs to not provide prenatal/birth support. I suspect these days that many GPs never attend births at all, compared to not so many years ago when they would have been the standard of care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kesmom Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Usually it is sometime between 8-12 weeks unless there are complications. I was in earlier a couple of times for severe morning sickness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Saw in another thread that someone was seeing their OB at 9 weeks! I'm in my 28th week and won't see my OB for the first time until next week. Up until now my GP has handled all the tests and checkups and this is pretty standard for a normal pregnancy here. Of course I then realized that not everyone's doctors are as "general" in their practice as mine and many of the ones here. Just curious now. Wow! That seems really late to me - but I guess things are different everywhere :) I go to a medical college/hospital. It's literally the best place around. I absolutely love it. Anyway... All my OBs have been residents. (both of them were also chief resident, after they had become my OB - yep, I know how to pick 'em. :lol: ) With DS(7), my first appt was at 10 weeks. Same with DS(5). After that, I had appts every 4 weeks until about 7 months, when I started having appts every 2 weeks. With DS(7), I had weekly appointments for the last 3-4 weeks. With DS(5) it wasn't really necessary - we knew I wouldn't be worrying about going into labor, or trying to put me into labor, because I was having a c/s no matter what. So with him my most frequent was every 2 weeks. With DD things were different because I had an ectopic pregnancy 8 months before I got pregnant with her, so I was a little scared. :) I went for a nurse practitioner visit at 4 weeks, and had my first u/s and doctor visit at 7 weeks. I then had 3 more u/s because at the 7 week u/s they found a cyst they wanted to keep an eye on. (which was ok, because then they could keep reassuring us after the 16 wk one that it was still, in fact, a girl... girls don't come often in DH's family :tongue_smilie: ) Anyway, after the 7 week they were about 4 weeks apart and then followed the same pattern as they did with DS(5). that was probably way more detail than necessary. But you know how it is, every mom likes to tell all these weird details... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 OB at six weeks; southern United States. There isn't an ob around here who would take on a patient at 28 weeks! It can be hard to get on as a new patient, period, so if you don't visit an ob/gyn routinely . . . well, lotsa luck getting someone to deliver that baby :D I'm sure part of it has to do with payment structure: one of the first things you do with the ob is figure out your insurance and payment plan, which you don't have to worry about, correct? Around here, you usually pay the ob an agreed upon amount for treatment throughout the pregnancy and delivery. That's the ob's fees only; you pay separately for the actual hospital stay, for an epidural if you have one, and so on. If you don't make plans or have insurance, someone will, of course, deliver the baby, but it's not the most pleasant route to go. For the most part, choices in doctor/hospital/etc are not yours to make if you go that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted August 5, 2011 Author Share Posted August 5, 2011 OB at six weeks; southern United States. There isn't an ob around here who would take on a patient at 28 weeks! It can be hard to get on as a new patient, period, so if you don't visit an ob/gyn routinely . . . well, lotsa luck getting someone to deliver that baby :D I'm sure part of it has to do with payment structure: one of the first things you do with the ob is figure out your insurance and payment plan, which you don't have to worry about, correct? Around here, you usually pay the ob an agreed upon amount for treatment throughout the pregnancy and delivery. That's the ob's fees only; you pay separately for the actual hospital stay, for an epidural if you have one, and so on. If you don't make plans or have insurance, someone will, of course, deliver the baby, but it's not the most pleasant route to go. For the most part, choices in doctor/hospital/etc are not yours to make if you go that route. Yep, We just have the one insurer, the provincial government. And I'm also in a rural area. I think that plays a role as well. My GP does everything a widwife/OB would up until I see an OB and if there were issues I'd probably be off to see the specialist sooner. ETA: I really didn't realize that I'd be the odd one out when I started this thread. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I never saw one, I had a general practitioner who had done some obstetrics training. the nearest OB is over 200 km away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Never saw one. Here I think they are more used when there is an actual problem, not routinely. Same with paediatricians. I have never seen either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Never saw one. Here I think they are more used when there is an actual problem, not routinely. Same with paediatricians. I have never seen either. :iagree: the only people I have met that have used one were people who were having serious complications with their pregnancy ( like my sister) or people who are having multiples (twins). Paediatricians are specialists, they deal with very sick children. Why would I waste their valuable time with perfectly healthy children? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Where I live in PA it's standard to start seeing the OB at 7 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meriwether Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Our family doctor has always been a GP with OB. With my first three, I went for a first appointment at around 6 weeks. I found out we were moving two weeks after I found out I was pg with my fourth and decided to wait. I was about 5 months before I saw a doctor with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DusksAngel Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 As soon as I found out I was pregnant. It was easiest with the last as our family doctor also delivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I am usually at an OB withint 6-9 weeks. However, with my first I was 20 weeks before I was transferred over. After him I get referred to an OB immediately because I have high risk prenancies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 With mine I saw an OB very early...like as soon as I even thought I was pregnant. However, I had a history of early miscarriage. I think with my first pregnancy I was right at 8-9 weeks when I went in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I make an OB appointment as soon as I've told my dh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in the UP of MI Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 With this pregnancy and the last one I was/will be with my family doctor the whole time. My first appointments were at 14ish weeks and 1 day shy of 9 weeks. With my first three pregnancies (different locations) I saw an OB the entire time, starting around 10 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I have a complicated obstetric history so my OB sees me within days of a positive pregnancy test at home. Around here, because of malpractice issues, I don't know of any GP's that deliver babies anymore. It is getting harder for many women to even find GYN's that will actually deliver babies. Many won't deliver babies anymore because of the high cost of the malpractice insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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