Hellobee Boards Topic: First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?

Hellobee Boards Topic: First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 19:35:10 +0000 Arden on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-250310 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 22:24:58 +0000 Arden 250310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ You can switch providers at any point, although there will be SOME providers will not take you past a certain point. I wouldn't worry about it too much though, I've heard of several women who changed providers at 20 or 25 weeks, and a couple even at 35-38 weeks when their provider started pushing an induction they weren't okay with. And in answer to your question, my midwife typically has her first appointment (after the initial chat and q&a before I signed on as a patient) between 9-14 weeks. Mine is at 10, I think? MamaCate on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-250308 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 22:16:21 +0000 MamaCate 250308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My first appt was at 8 weeks, and included paperwork, blood work, seeing the OB and a t/v ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy and see the heartbeat. It made the whole thing seem a lot more real. I had a recommendation to the OB from a friend I trusted so I wasn't worried about the relationship. How did you find your OB? If you have diet/food/exercise/etc questions you are probably welcome to call and someone will get back to you? Sweet T on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-250288 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:25:04 +0000 Sweet T 250288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had an appt to fill out paperwork when I was around 7 or 8 weeks. My first real appointment was at 11w4d and included an ultrasound. autumnlove on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-250243 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 20:43:59 +0000 autumnlove 250243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I switched OBs at week 23! Mommy Finger on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-250237 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 20:41:46 +0000 Mommy Finger 250237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had my ultrasound at 6 weeks with the ultrasound tech and talked with a nurse then. Otherwise, i didn't see my actual doctor until 12 weeks. She's been my ob for years so I already knew I loved my doctor but I almost switched then b/c her staff was rude to me. Thankfully they've been great ever since. Mrs. Tricycle on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249638 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:12:09 +0000 Mrs. Tricycle 249638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it's probably most important that you like the practice rather than a specific OB? It doesn't matter how much I like a specific OB at the first appointment, as there are 3 OBs and 3 midwives in the practice. They try to schedule me with each one of them at different points, so even if I really liked or really didn't like smeone, I wouldn't necessarily see them more or less. . . I guess it's because any of them could be on call when I deliver, so they want you to get used to each one of them. Baby Boy Mom on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249588 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:37:27 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 249588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our likes to get us in at 8 weeks to confirm a heartbeat. Then gives a printout with things to do/not do. I wouldn't think that 12 weeks is too late to switch. We're actual going to consider changing our practice much later than that, depending on how things go with the pregnancy. BabyBoecksMom on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249562 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:09:56 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 249562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had my first appt at 8 weeks and I didn't like the OB at all, so I switched. But make sure you do it soon because some doctors don't like to take in new patients after they've already seen another doctor (that's what happened to me). I had to really push to get in with a doctor I liked. MamaMoose on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249535 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:51:15 +0000 MamaMoose 249535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My first scan was at 8 weeks and I met with the OB then too. (I had an earlier appointment but that was because I had a prior miscarriage and then some spotting so that's not the norm). Most of what I've seen the first appt is 8-10 weeks. Personally, I wouldn't want to wait until 12 weeks, especially if I've never met the OB before. I had seen my OB previously so I that wasn't an issue for me, I knew I like her. cranberryapple on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249506 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:21:11 +0000 cranberryapple 249506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't think it's late at all to see your OB for the first time in 12 weeks. I switched doctors at 18 weeks because my original OB was too "nutty/scatterbrain" for me. BEST decision EVER! :D I knew right from the get-go that I didn't jive with her, stuck it out for a bit but felt like crying each time after I saw her, but thank goodness I got a referral to an amazing OB!! Trust your intuition on this! If it doesn't feel right, find someone else! Rescuemom10 on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249498 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:15:31 +0000 Rescuemom10 249498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had the exact same thing. At 6 weeks I met with a nurse and did paperwork and what not and then at 12 weeks I met the doc for the first time and for my first appt. It fetl like forever to wait but the time went by fast. Dont worry! DillonLion on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249487 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:10:23 +0000 DillonLion 249487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ In regards to switching OBs, just make sure whatever new doctor you are thinking of going to takes new patients and is accepting OB patients specifically after some of their pregnancy has already passed. Downward Dog on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249482 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:09:40 +0000 Downward Dog 249482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I saw the midwife first at 9 weeks, then at 13 weeks. I wouldn't worry to much about getting dietary advice early on, but I would definitely start shopping around and interviewing different OBs. It's a good time to interview them about their approach to the birth: what interventions they typically use, their C-section rate, what factors would lead them to perform a C-section, how many ultrasounds they do, stuff like that. There is a wide variety of approaches and I think it's important to find someone who you feel comfortable with. edelweiss on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249475 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:08:06 +0000 edelweiss 249475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i've seen a range of dates for the first appointment, from 8 weeks to 10 weeks, but i can't remember seeing 12 weeks. i will be switching OBs at 24 weeks due to a move. you can switch whenever you want (as long as the doctor you wants to see has the time/is taking new patients). cyndistar3 on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249472 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:05:51 +0000 cyndistar3 249472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ That is when my first actual appointment was! Mrsbells on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249462 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:01:51 +0000 Mrsbells 249462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I saw my OB for the first time at 6 weeks and she gave me a list of foods to avoid or reduce intake. She said small amounts of caffeine were ok but avoiding was best, she said to avoid alcohol and only eat minimal amounts of certain fish,also to avoid prepared salads, soft cheese, heat up a deli meats to be steaming hot, and then they prescribed a prenatal vitamin and told me to try to eat atleast 200 calories more than my pre-pregnancy diet each day singingbee on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249458 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:00:52 +0000 singingbee 249458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Blue: My OB office usually schedules the first appt between 9-10 weeks. Mine will see me around 7-8 wks this next time since he knows I will worry. When I went in last time at 7 wks I had a whole list of questions for him and basically his advice was the same as @Hilsy85. : ) hilsy85 on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249457 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:59:37 +0000 hilsy85 249457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Blue: Ha yup! She said she continued to drink a cup of coffee daily with each of her three kids. I didn't have a cup every day but definitely enjoyed a cup a few times a week. kokobee on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249456 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:59:13 +0000 kokobee 249456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ my first official visit which included an ultrasound was at 10 weeks. i think part of it was because the OB didn't have any earlier appts. luckily, i had a friend who worked at a OB office and was able to scan me at 6 weeks just to confirm that i was actually pregnant. i did switch my OB at 18 weeks for insurance purposes. you should check with your insurance company's policy and the actual OB that you would like to switch to. i believe some will allow you to change OBs at any time. Mrs. Blue on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249447 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:55:16 +0000 Mrs. Blue 249447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @hilsy85: I'll take your doctor's advice on the coffee! That was one of my questions. :) hilsy85 on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249445 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:53:32 +0000 hilsy85 249445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It seems a little late for a first appointment...I was told that my OB wanted to see me at 8 weeks, and then I saw her again at 12 weeks, in conjunction with my NT scan. That's definitely not too late to switch though, if you do meet her and decide you don't like her. As for instructions during first tri, my OB didn't tell me anything other than take to take folic acid and that I could continue to drink coffee, lol. leelee on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249444 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:53:14 +0000 leelee 249444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ That does seem late. I think standard is 8weeks for first appt. it's not to late to switch if you wanted to. I switched at 20weeks however some doctors do have cutoff dates. Mrs. Blue on "First appointment with OB at 12 weeks? How late can you switch OBs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-appointment-with-ob-at-12-weeks-how-late-can-you-switch-obs#post-249430 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:46:47 +0000 Mrs. Blue 249430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I went to my OB today (in my 6th week) for what I thought was an appointment with the nurse and then bloodwork. Really, it was just paperwork with the receptionist and bloodwork. They said they like to schedule first time moms with a nurse appointment, but when my schedule conflicted with the first date they offered, they said we should just focus on making the OB appointments. So, my next appointment is at 12 weeks, which will be the first time I meet the OB or nurse. This seems late for a variety of reasons. I mean my only instruction for the entire trimester was, "Don't eat fish more than twice a week and heat up all processed meat. Call us if you need a prescription for prenatals or for mornig sickness." Is this actually late for a first appointment? If I meet the OB and we don't click, at what point does it become difficult to find an OB who will let you switch to them? Am I freaking out unnecessarily?