I called my nurse midwife practice yesterday (2nd day getting a BFP) all excited, thinking they'd want me to come immediately to confirm pregnancy and check things out. I was disappointed/surprised when they wouldn't schedule me until I was around 8 weeks (next month). I spoke to one of the midwives bc I was kind of upset and felt I needed some direction in all this and she was nice, but basically said there's nothing they can do/see at this point. I should just take it easy and hope that all goes well until then. Is this normal? Did you find it hard to wait? Side note: Am I crazy that I feel like I may want to take a test every morning to make sure I'm still pregnant?
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I called as soon as I found out I was pregnant and also wasnt scheduled to go in until 8 weeks with my nurse practioner.
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My OB said the pregnancy tests these days are just as good as what they would use to confirm in their office (minus blood tests which would need follow up) so “confirmation” is unnecessary.
My doctor usually schedule women to come in right at 7 weeks because they can see a heartbeat then. My schedule was a little different because of a misdiagnosis of miscarriage from Urgent Care at 5 weeks (went there on advice of doctor b/c OB’s office was closed and I was bleeding and cramping). I saw my OB 2 days later for 2nd opinion (right at 6 weeks), and they detected a sac, fetus and a faint heartbeat.
I think part of the reason they don’t schedule women to come right in is because it is hard to see anything very early on (and to know if its viable or not).
Congrats on your BFP!
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I went in mid-week of my 7th week. I didn't call until mid week at 5 weeks. I figured my pregnancy tests confirmed it for me and I really didn't know any better. At 8 weeks they will definitely hear the heartbeat, that's probably why they're making you wait.
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I tested positive just after 5 weeks, went in for confirmation urine test. First appointment with nurse practitioner was at 7 weeks for pap and brief talk on what to/not to do. First U/S was at 10 weeks and finally met the doctor at that point and got bloodwork.
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I won't even call until week 6 at earliest if I'm pregnant this cycle, if not week 7 (late week 5 - Christmas, New Years the next week.) I plan on going through a midwife/homebirth practice, though, and my husband wants to get to know my midwife before he is good with a homebirth. I'd rather not interrupt her holidays for their first meeting (I don't imagine she'd mind, but just to be safe.)
ETA the salient point: My chosen midwife is up for appointments ANY time, and she doesn't charge to talk/just meet - but blood tests, etc will be as needed. Once we're pregnant, I'll be asking all the questions about timing ultrasounds, etc. I'm kind of a hands-off person when it comes to medical. Fewer times I'm around fetal monitors, blood pressure cuffs, IVs, etc, the better. (That month in the hospital due to a reaction to a medication prescribed to alleviate another drug reaction, which included them giving me a drug that worsened reaction #2, kind of killed any faith I had in the medical community.)
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My midwife doesn't see people until 12 weeks. I talked to her when I was 5 weeks along so it sucked having to wait 7 weeks before I can go in but my first appointment is tomorrow finally!
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WIth my first pregnancy I was almost 9 weeks at my first appt.
This second time around was a little earlier. At the time- based on my last period- I thought I was 7 weeks 1 day. A later ultrasound showed that I was really only 6 weeks 4 days.
In both cases, they didn't do anything to confirm I was pregnant, just trusted the home test. I think 8 weeks is pretty standard.
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We had the same issue. We were going to wait to tell our families until we saw the doctor ... but quickly changed our mind when we found out how long that would take.
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I got my pregnancy confirmed by my regular doctor at 5weeks and then I had my first prenatal appointment when I was 6 weeks along
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I saw my OB at 5 weeks 2 days, but she just talked to us about how everything was going to go from that point and told me to schedule our 1st appointment for when I was 8 weeks.
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I went at 8 weeks, because as others said, they can reliable confirm the heartbeat then.
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My general practioner confirmed my pregnancy via bloodwork at 6 weeks and my first OB office visit was at 8 weeks. At that appointment I met with the nurse practioner. I didn't meet my OB until 13 weeks; this was also the first appointment where we heard the heartbeat.
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My midwife brought me in at 8 weeks. I had a pap/internal exam and she gave me lots of info. She tried to find the heartbeat with the doppler, but couldn't. We had our first ultrasound at 11 weeks because we opted for the nuchal screening. Otherwise it wouldn't have happened until 20ish weeks.
And no, it's not crazy to want to keep testing. I took a test every week or so from the first positive until our first ultrasound at 11 weeks just to make sure. I had no concerning symptoms or anything, but until I heard the heartbeat I just wanted something to hold on to.
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At four weeks when I took my HPT, I called the doctors office to confirm, and they wanted me in right away, but I waited until 6 weeks when I had a day off to go in. Next appt wasn't until 12 weeks, and has been every 4 weeks to a month since.
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I had my first appointment at 6.5 weeks, but they didn't do anything to confirm the pregnancy, just took some blood for various testing. At 10.5 weeks we went back and heard the heartbeat.
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Congrats on your BFP!
No, you're not crazy about wanting to keep testing, I feel the exact same way! I actually tested again the day after my BFP "just to make sure". I called my OB and they were able to get me in next week, which will be 6 weeks along for me. Wishing you a healthy pregnancy!
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9w2d I think. I wondered why they didn't want me there sooner, too, but really there's nothing they can do - they won't be able to see baby on the ultrasound, really. You could ask for Beta checks if you feel unsure, but other than that, peeing on the stick is probably going to be about all there is to reassure you.
Just stay positive! Congrats!!!
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I was 7w5d. And the appointment wasn't worth it. Eh.
Hooray for your and your hubby! I hope youhavea veryhappy and healthy pregnancy!
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I called the day after finding out that I was pregnant, which was about 4.5 weeks. They said that the first appointment should be between 8-10 weeks, so that we can see the baby and heartbeat. My appointment ended up being scheduled on the day that I am nine weeks pregnant.
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My first appointment was around 6 weeks. My dr. did a urine test and ran an ultrasound that showed the sac. We went back 2 weeks later for confirmation of a heartbeat!
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Yep, totally normal. My regular OB's office didn't want to see me until week 8 with a nurse, and they didn't even do a physical exam at that appt. I go back at week 9 for an exam with a midwife, and then week 11 I'll finally meet the OB! I will say that they wanted a positive blood test on record before they would schedule my appointment, and didn't recommend scheduling until closer to 6 weeks. But it's an HMO....
Luckily, I got 2 betas in week 4, an ultrasound at 7 weeks, and a follow up u/s at 9 weeks, at my fertility clinic
Otherwise I'd probably go crazy! And I took a TON of pg tests that first week or two...don't feel crazy
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I'm scheduled for January 12th. I called on the day my period was due December 14th. I got faint BFPs as early as 9 DPO, but waited until my period was officially late to schedule the appointment. So, I'm at about 8-10 weeks for that appointment.
I spent the weekend with my parents and tested every day. Though the insane tiredness, cramping, and big boobs definitely meant that there's someone in there. It was hard not to scream to them that I'm pregnant, though I mentioned some pregnancy related things to them and they kept on thinking about it in the future. Even a near hemorrhoid didn't suggest anything was up.
I can't wait for the first appointment to hear a heartbeat and relax about it. I pray every night that little bean is growing and is fine in there.
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I got a BFP at 5 weeks, and called to schedule an appointment at 6 weeks. My OB won't see me until I'm at least 8 weeks, for reasons mentioned above...not being able to see anything/know if it's a viable pregnancy. My first appointment is on December 30th at 8 weeks exactly, and I have a follow-up on January 12th.
ETA: I probably went through about two dozen (mostly the cheap Amazon wondfo) tests the first week. I especially like the digital ones that say "Pregnant" and stay that way for like 24 hours. I'm a little over 6 weeks now, and am still testing, but about once every other day now. It's just reassuring to see how fast and dark that line comes up. DH doesn't get it, but whatever
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i was actually pretty darn late to the game. i didn't have my first doctor visit until i was about 18 weeks along. i had bleeding every month up until that month and i was having some health issues that caused 3 trips to the ER. the last trip in someone finally mentioned it in passing and i was like "wait back up what did you say? there is no way!"
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I suspected at around 4 weeks & got the blood test back at 6, I think? but I changed doctors before having that first appointment & my new doctor wasn't able to see me until 12 weeks, which was fine with me b/c then they didn't have to use the wand for the sonogram. I might just schedule subsequent first new pregnancy appointments for 12 weeks as well. the thought of that wand freaks me out.
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i think everyone has their own policies re: when they'll first see a patient. i think 8 weeks is reasonable. because i had infertility issues (i wasn't getting pregnant) and was seeing REs, they told me to come in the 2 times i got pregnant for a blood test.
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turned out i was 7w5d
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In most cases, there's no reason to see you any earlier than 7 or 8 weeks because- as your midwife said- there's nothing they can do or see.
In the UK, they don't ever "confirm the pregnancy" as a home pregnancy test is considered sufficient. I'm 32 weeks and still haven't had an internal exam of any kind. (I'm told they won't look up my hoo-ha until I'm in labor).
I saw a midwife to get paperwork at 5 weeks, but they didn't take any samples or anything. We actually didn't have any physical confirmation until the first ultrasound at 12 weeks. -
@MegWag: On another board I read, the UK seems hands off in internal pregnant exams until the very end. It seems like in US they're more hands on as the labor and delivery nears. I'm happy for some early ultrasounds to make sure that the pregnancy is moving along fine.
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@cascadecherub: Yep. They are WAAAY more hands off. When I was talking to some women at my antenatal aqua aerobics class, they all thought it was so weird how often Americans are seen and examined. Though there have been times that I wished for a more US-style because that's what I'd always heard about, I've been really happy with the process so far. And I feel like the actual birth process will be great for what I want (an active, natural labor).
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Congrats!!! Try not to worry so much =) Testing everyday will only achieve the following 1) making you worry 2) spend money you can use for baby gear!
I wasn't seen until 8 weeks either. Wishing you a smooth pregnancy and a beautiful and healthy baby!
I have to add that I also called as soon as I got a BFP and they don't double check with a blood or urine pregnancy test here. At my appointment I did get my blood and urine drawn but that's it, the initial bloodwork - no ultrasound. They usually wait until 10 - 12 weeks before having an ultrasound here. I was lucky and got one near my appointment because I was planning to travel internationally for the holidays and they needed to date me to see if I'll be able to do the NT scan when I get back.
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Oh, for an actual doctor's appointment, I think I don't see a doctor (vs nurse practitioner) until 30-something weeks.
But, like I posted previously, they had me see the NP the first time when I was 9.5 weeks after my LMP (but 7.5 weeks pregnant). They didn't believe me that I charted and knew when I ovulated. -
I had my first prenatal appointment, which included an ultrasound, at 5 weeks, 6 days.
However, I immediately started at an high risk office so they like to see people sooner and have them come in more frequently. -
I was 9w1d at my first prenatal appointment. Most Doctors/midwives won't schedule you until you're at least 8-10 weeks. I think they schedule you in sooner if you're high risk or have a history of miscarriages.
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My first appt was at 8 weeks and it was for a dating ultrasound and exam with the NP. So far I've seen the NP at every visit except once which was with the Dr. Too bad my NP can't deliever my baby, I love her!
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@crash806: aww, that's cool you love your NP. Actually a lot of nurses end up delivering babies, and the doctors arrive after! Good luck!
And ... which appt did you meet the doc? -
@pastemoo: I believe I meet my doctor around week 15 or so. My appts are becoming mixed together. When I make appts the receptionist always ask if I want to see the Dr or NP, and I always say NP.
No, you're not crazy about wanting to keep testing, I feel the exact same way! I actually tested again the day after my BFP "just to make sure". I called my OB and they were able to get me in next week, which will be 6 weeks along for me. Wishing you a healthy pregnancy!
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