OB visits

I am curious as to who dictates the amount of times during your pregnancy that you are in to see your OB. The practice, or your insurance?

I feel like some of my friends are always at the doctor, and getting frequent sonos, and then others say they only have a few appointments. Is each practice different? I thought something like this would be standard? TIA

ETA I am asking this while deciding between 2 practices. Wondering if i should ask them what the preg. visit schedule is like. I had assumed its the same everywhere.

Message edited 10/13/2012 11:02:22 AM.

OB visits

It will depend on the practice, your insurance and your particular pregnancy. I know people who are limited to 3 sonos through their insurance for their entire pregnancy. My coverage has unlimited sonos. Some doctors will want to see you more frequently in the beginning or at the end. Some doctors are more cautious and if you have spotting will tell you to come in for a sono and others will tell you to drink more water, put your feet up and see what is happening the next day. And then whether you are high risk, have complications, growth issues, doing a CVS/Amnio, fetal echo, etc. etc. will determine how often you go as well. From week 7 to about 17 I had around 8 sonos done, definitely not the norm. Starting at week 20 I only have to go every 4 weeks until week 32 when I will start going every week and will get a sono at each. This may or may not be the schedule for other pregnancies as well, I never really asked...

I would start by asking them what their schedules are like and then call you insurance carrier to see what your coverage allows for... the rest are really all unknowns.

Good Luck!!!

Message edited 10/13/2012 11:28:57 AM.

Re: OB visits

I would ask each dr their typical schedule. It will also depend on what they can get away with with each ins. If you are high risk or have an issue they obviously have tk approve more. I saw the perinatologist every other week since the beginning until 26 weeks when I started going every week. And I saw the high risk ob every 3 weeks then every 2 now every week. Both do sonos each time. I'm an extreme case since I'm high risk with twins and issues though. Most people go maybe once a month and don't get sonos each time.

Re: OB visits

i think it depends on both

some ins u get more than others

and if u r high risk or any other medical reason u will be seen more

OB visits

It all depends on the pregnancy. Some need to be monitored more often

Re: OB visits

I think that it depends on the pg and practice. Until 12 weeks I was getting sonos every 2 weeks and every 3 weeks since then. I have been going to this practice since I was pg with DS. Other people that I know that go to a different practice get only a handful of sonos throughout there pregnancy.

Re: OB visits

I think it usually depends on the office policy and your pregnancy.

Even if you have an insurance company that pays little or doesn't cover much, if you have a high risk or complicated pregnancy that requires additional visits/sonos then as long as the doctor bills it for the correct reason they should cover it and it wouldn't be a problem.

I know i had the billing department at my OB's office tell me that typically insurance companies only pay for 2 sono's and the check up's as necessary by the dr. I called my insurance directly and they told me that is not the case, and that the doctor decides the medical necessity of the sono's and if needed, they can perform them every day, just need to be billed correctly.

Re: OB visits

Re: OB visits

as others have said, it depends on two things

- the practice
- your pregnancy

I am now 25.5 weeks and see my OB every 2 weeks for monitoring since I am high risk. I get sonos at every appt. Starting at 28 weeks, I will go weekly.

For a normal, non-complicated pregnancy, it is standard to only receive 2-4 sonos, be seen every 4 weeks up until 28, then every 2 weeks to 36 and then every week from 36 on.